Article says they're small, like a grain of sand. Bone spurs tells me Ray is dealing with an inflammed tendon. Bad news.
It's always tendons with this team that do us in. KG, Shaq, and now possibly Ray. All tendon issues.
Hopefully it's not so bad he can't play. Also, SG happens to be our position of greatest depth. It's possible we might be able to survive with out Ray for a bit.
Link:http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4692629/ray-allens-timetable-still-cloudy
An MRI has revealed tiny bone spurs (Allen said they are the size of a grain of sand), which appear to be the culprit. He said it was nowhere near the problem he had with his ankles in 2006-07, when he had larger bone spurs that necessitated surgery.
Hmmm, well, not sure where you got the info from, but having a bone spur is not an automatic indication that someone is dealing with an inflamed tendon.
Bone spurs are generally related to age, (as in osteoarhritis), when the soft tissue and cartilege between bones breaks down and deteriorates, causing bones to rub together, or pressure and stress being applied more directly to the bone surface by exterior means.
This causes the bone to produce more of itself to repair the area in distress, and that build-up becomes a bump or spur, (which is not sharp, as some people assume from the sound of the word).
It also occurs in the heel, and can be from the patient being overweight, having poorly fitting shoes, or abnormal repeated stress to the area, (as in sports).
For example, this happens when the long ligament on the bottom of the foot, (the plantar fascia), becomes stressed and shortened. This produces a build-up of bone which then inflames the ligament, (maybe this is what you're referring to?).
Anyway, bone spurs are not directly a tendon problem, nor an indication of such, though that can sometimes be an indirect complication or secondary diagnosis.
I personally wouldn't make that assumption in Ray's case, as it sounds like it's from normal ageing and repetitive activity.
Well, obviously I wasn't trying to imply any such possible tendon issue causing the bone spurs. That's not even possible (I think). My point is the bone spurs are most likely causing the tendon in the area to become inflammed. This is a common side affect of bone spurs. If the bone spurs are in an area where they are rubbing against the tendon, the tendon can become inflammed, resulting in swelling.
Ray has already had one cortisone shot, not a treatment for just bone spurs. Cortisone shots are frequently administered to calm inflammed tendons. My guess is, even though the bone spurs are small, they just so happen to be in the exactly wrong location and I'm willing to bet Ray ends up needing surgery again for this issue.
Hopefully the bone spurs are small enough that Ray can play through the pain and manage the swelling throughout the playoffs.
It depends a great deal on where the bone spurs are, and what the MRIs show.
Cortisone shots are not always a quick-fix, but are generally successful in relieving inflamation if the tendons are indeed inflamed from the bone spurs
directly.
Depending on the location, the injection of steroids (in liquid form) can actually cause a separation of bone and soft tissue, (or joint), which can actually prolong the recovery time.
The location also dictates whether or not flouroscopy is needed to guide the needle to the injection site, in which case the invasiveness also can cause additional irritation to the site, and in turn more inflamation.
NSAIDs given in relatively moderate doses in conjunction with steroid injections will help shorten the recuperative period, and I'm quite sure Ray is getting regular ultrasonic and temperature modulation therapy as well.
Here's hoping it's as minor as they indicate, as spurs can be a chronic problem for the life of the patient, if not taken care of by both treatment and preventative medicine/behavior modification.
