greasywheels121 Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 http://whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/ar...t=.jsp&c_id=cws Thomas gets shockwave treatment Hitting no problem, but rates pain while running a '10' By Scott Merkin / MLB.com CHICAGO -- If there's an option to be explored that could help heal pain in his surgically repaired left ankle, then Frank Thomas either already has tried it or soon will be checking it out. Thomas continues to go through extensive physical therapy in order to reduce the pain in his ankle, suffered solely when he jogs or runs at full speed. He had special orthotic devices made for his shoes and took a cortisone shot in the ankle more than two weeks ago. On Thursday afternoon, under the watchful eye of Dr. Lowell Scott Weil, Thomas underwent shockwave therapy on the problematic area. The treatment used a much smaller machine than what was employed on Magglio Ordonez's knee in Austria during an experimental procedure this past offseason. Thomas described the accredited medical work as the use of a gun-like device right on the sore spot, sending intense shock waves to stimulate the area and temporarily knock out the pain. There also seems to be the most specific diagnosis in terms of the cause of the pain, since Thomas started having problems with soreness when he was running approximately one month ago. Thomas said Friday that the problem is more of a soft tissue issue, and not centered on the tendon, as previously thought. He mentioned that the site where Dr. Richard Ferkel performed the surgery on Oct. 6 in Los Angeles wasn't quite 100 percent healed but was getting close and could not be considered part of the problem. Instead, Thomas explained the area of pain as just a couple of millimeters wide, below the top of the foot but just above the spot where screws were inserted to repair a fractured left navicular. The shockwave treatment immediately had a profound effect in terms of reducing Thomas' pain Thursday, although he felt some soreness again Friday. The plan is for Thomas to try running prior to Saturday night's contest against Detroit. "They think it's soft tissue and the bone healing," Thomas said of his personal sore spot. "We just have to break it up. "We have to beat that pain out of it and get it tolerable. Swinging a bat is not a problem. It's running. I have to figure out a way to get around the bases." Thomas pointed out that if he was currently rating the pain felt when he runs on a scale of 10, it would rank at the maximum of 10. He also is a realist and understands waiting for the pain to get down to a one or two level could mean being sidelined for the entire season. "After I hurt my ankle last year, I played at like eight or nine," said Thomas of the pain level. Hitting the ball, and for that matter, hitting the ball with authority clearly is not a problem for Thomas. He continued to launch 450-foot drives during batting practice Friday and felt that he could perform credibly offensively even at this point. Of course, Thomas won't be back hitting at the Major League level until he takes a two- or three-week detour to Triple-A Charlotte. "I'm encouraged by going out and driving the ball into the seats the way I have been," Thomas said. "I know it's healing. I'm just worried about running. That's what is frustrating." The shockwave treatment isn't supposed to be used more than once every 10 days, but Thomas said Friday that they were working on a plan to use it on him every five days or once per week. Even with this latest venture, Thomas still refuses to set a timetable for his return. He knows that it's impossible to pinpoint a return until he can run, and the constant pain already has pushed Thomas back one month longer than he initially thought would be needed. There doesn't seem to be a worry on Thomas' part that this pain could keep him on the sideline through the All-Star break or possibly even longer, even though it's a contract year of sorts for the prolific slugger, with the White Sox holding a $3.5 million buyout after the 2005 season. Figuring out a way to run with minimal pain is the only thought that occupies his mind presently. "I can't fear it anymore because it has already taken me this long," Thomas said. "It's one of those things where I have to continue to get on it every day and just get through it. The pain isn't going anywhere. "I'm frustrated. I thought I would be ready to go right now, and I'm just waiting and waiting and waiting. It's the same pain over a four-week period. I'm trying other things and the shockwave might be helping. We will see." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelasDaddy0427 Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 Well it is good that his offense hasn't seemed to suffer that much. Lets just hope he can get around the bases soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Apr 29, 2005 -> 11:35 PM) Well it is good that his offense hasn't seemed to suffer that much. Lets just hope he can get around the bases soon. It's not that hard to hit baseballs in batting practice. Ask Brian Buchanan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosMediasBlancas Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 If it's just healing pain that will eventually go away and if he's not going to injure it further by running on it, why not just shoot up his foot to numb it and get his ass in the game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Apr 30, 2005 -> 11:48 PM) If it's just healing pain that will eventually go away and if he's not going to injure it further by running on it, why not just shoot up his foot to numb it and get his ass in the game? Wouldn't there possibly be long - term side effects from doing that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beast Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Apr 30, 2005 -> 08:02 AM) Wouldn't there possibly be long - term side effects from doing that? To be honest with you, it does, but in my situation, it didn't. My ball and socket joint was like this too, except in my shoulder. Eventually they numbed me up, and it healed on its own.. I know its not the same, however, it works...no long term affects here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LosMediasBlancas Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Apr 30, 2005 -> 02:02 PM) Wouldn't there possibly be long - term side effects from doing that? That's why I said, as long as they know he's not injuring it any worse. It sounds like they've been conservative and cautious, maybe it's time to get a little radical. Shoot him up, get him out there, if it doesn't help, or gets worse, we won't be any worse off. It's not like he's in the line up now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted April 30, 2005 Share Posted April 30, 2005 So Frank has essentially the same procedure done to his ankle Ordonez had done to his knee, which has been called "radical". And he has it performed by the same doctor who hooked Ordonez up with the doctor in Austria. Interesting. Very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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