Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James returned to action Sunday, coming off the bench and scoring 19 points in 30 minutes, and he credited his ability to return from a foot injury to one of the best foot specialists in the world.
James has been dealing with agonizing foot pain that forced him to miss the previous 13 games. He was originally told by two doctors that he would need season ending surgery, but James decided to seek a third opinion from a specialist that he effectively called one of the best in the world.
When asked why he didn’t undergo surgery, James said “Because I went to the Lebron James of feet and he told me I shouldn’t.”
James refused to name the specialist or which country the individual was located in, suggesting that it was likely an international doctor.
Surgery May Still Be In The Cards
James said that he was dealing with a tendon tear in his foot, and that doctors told him that he was healing faster than anybody they had ever seen with the same torn tendon. Despite the encouraging diagnosis and his ability to return to action on Sunday, James noted that surgery to address the tendon may still be a possibility when the season concludes.
“I don’t know,” James said when asked about the possibility of offseason surgery. “Right now, I don’t need it, so we’ll see what happens. I’ll probably get another MRI at the end of the season and go from there. But if I end up having to get surgery after the season, you guys won’t know. I don’t talk to you guys in the offseason, and by the time next season starts, I’ll be fine. I’ll be ready to go.”
The Lakers have seven games left in the regular season and trail Golden State by 1.5 games for the last guaranteed spot in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. They have a one game lead on the Dallas Mavericks for the final spot in the four-team play-in tournament, so the Lakers will need all the help they can get if they want to make a postseason push. Having Lebron back will certainly help.
As we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, seeking out a second or even a third opinion can be extremely helpful in getting to the bottom of your issue and finding a treatment that suits your need. Dr. Silverman and his team are more than happy to conduct a second or third assessment and ensure that you are satisfied with your care and your treatment going forward. For more information, or to talk to a foot and ankle specialist about an issue you’re dealing with, reach out to Dr. Silverman and the team at Silverman Ankle & Foot today at (952) 224-8500.
