Rugby Star Kurtley Beale To Prolong Surgery

Wallabies star Kurtley Beale revealed that he needs surgery to remove bone spurs in his foot but is waiting until he can no longer take the pain from the deformity. 
Beale was given the green light to play in today's game against the Blues at the Super Rugby showdown at Eden Park. 
The midfielder limped off the field before halftime in last week's win against the Bulls with what was believed to be a jarred ankle.
Beale admitted yesterday that he's played the first eight games of the season with a bone spur in his left, non-kicking, foot. 
"There's a bit of a spur in there," Beale said. 
"So obviously at the beginning of the season I always knew that there'd be a bit of pain here and there and it's just unfortunate that it got jarred a little bit more than it had in previous instances. 
"Because I wasn't 100 percent and couldn't continue the game, I just thought the rest would do it good. 
"During the preseason I did a lot of running- hill running, long-distance running- and that just naturally kind of flared it up. 
"So the medical staff have got different ways to help manage that- going back to icing and compression, and deloading it helps a lot and that's what we've done this week and it's worked."
Beale says he definitely needs surgery that will sideline him for at least four to six weeks, but "when I get a bit of time off."
"At the moment, the medical staff here (at the Waratahs) are doing a fine job at managing it and we've got a really good understanding there of how to approach it," he said.
"Depending on how it goes, I think we'll just take it week by week."
Beale is being guided by the recommendations of the Waratahs doctors. "I know my body and how it copes with certain injuries and it's great how I can have a really good medical relationship here with the Tahs and it's pretty mutual," he said.
This is the first time since 2011 that Beale has been able to play eight consecutive games, so he's in no rush to have surgery. But he knows that every game brings the possibility of injury, or further damage to an injury.
"You go into every game knowing that it could be risky. It's a contact sport," Beale said.
"It's just unfortunate that there is a minor problem there, but it's managed- easily managed- and that's the best thing about it."
Bone spurs are a very common foot problem. In the foot they develop most frequently in the heel, near the toes, and on top of the big toe joint. The spurs are small outgrowths of bone. In and of themselves, they are generally harmless. However, their location may cause friction or irritation from shoes or other foot structures, which can lead to other foot problems.
Anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone shots, corrective shoes, and/or orthotics are some of the common treatments for spurs. Surgery may be prescribed if spurring around the joint becomes severe or leads to recurrent pain from persistent corns.
Reference: Sydney Morning Herald
If you are a rugby player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
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