In the game against the San Francisco Giants, Jed Lowrie suffered a leg injury while fielding a doubleplay ball from the second baseman when the base runner slid into him. According to team doctors, Lowrie had nerve damage in his right leg that prevented him from playing for 6 weeks. Lowrie also suffered a sprained ankle and twisted knee; the shortstop feels fortunate that the injury was not worse after viewing the replay.
Fortunately for Lowrie, he did not need to undergo surgery despite his injury. However, if you are suffering from an injury similar to Lowrie’s, you should consult with a podiatrist, like Dr. Bryant Tarr of Sudbury &Westford Podiatry, to determine if surgery is necessary in your case. Dr. Tarr will work with you to develop a treatment option plan to help heal your injury and provide consultations to determine if in fact you need to have surgery.
When Is Surgery Necessary?
Foot and ankle surgery is generally reserved for cases in which less invasive, conservative procedures have failed to help with the problem. Some of the cases in which surgery may be necessary are:
- Removing foot deformities like bone spurs and bunions
- Severe arthritis that has caused bone issues
- Reconstruction to attend injuries caused by accidents or malformations
What Types of Surgery Are There?
The type of surgery you receive will be dependent on the nature of the problem you have. Some of the possible surgeries include:
- Bunionectomy for painful bunions
- Surgical fusion for realignment of bones
- Nerve removal for painful nerve endings
Benefits of Surgery
Although surgery is usually a last resort, when it is undertaken, if can provide more complete pain relief than before, and may allow you to finally resume full activity.
Surgical techniques have also become increasingly sophisticated. Such techniques like endoscopic surgery allow for smaller incisions and faster recovery times.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact one of our two offices in Sudbury, MA and Westford, MA. We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.
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