Paul George says he's playing through 'dead foot' nerve issue
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George disclosed to reporters after Thursday’s 111-107 victory over the Charlotte Hornets that he is playing through a foot injury.
George said he has peroneal nerve palsy in his left foot, calling the injury “dead foot.” He told the Oklahoman it happened during the team’s third preseason game against Atlanta.
“I’m just trying to play through that,” George told reporters. “It’s nothing that’s major. It’s nothing that’s going to hurt me. It’s just something that’s going to come back when it feels right I guess.”
Paul George said that since the game against the Hawks in preseason he’s been dealing with a nagging nerve issue in his left foot. “Dead foot,” he called it. pic.twitter.com/vtH2qYtXtE
— Erik Horne (@ErikHorneOK) November 2, 2018
What is peroneal nerve palsy, or ‘dead foot’?
Peroneal nerve palsy causes numbness in the foot and weakness in the ankles, feet and sometimes legs. It’s an extended feeling of the extremity “falling asleep.”
The most common cause of the injury is compression of the nerves that control the muscles used to lift the foot, according to the U.S. Library of Medicine’s National Center for Biotechnolgy Information (NCBI). Risk factors include prolonged kneeling and wearing a plaster leg cast that encloses the ankle and ends just below the knee, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Most patients, according to NCBI, see results from non-surgical treatment, such as modifying their activity, bracing, physical therapy and medication.
Though not typically identified by “dead foot,” it is known as “foot drop.”
George glad to be on the court
George suffered a gruesome compound fracture of his right leg while with USA Basketball in the summer of 2014 and missed time in May for an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.
He told reporters he’s happy to be on the court playing through it this time.
George shot 4-for-20 in the 111-107 win against the Charlotte Hornets. He’s averaging 23.4 points, but with a 38.5 shooting percentage from the field and 29.2 from the 3-point arc. He’s averaging 7.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists over seven games.
His return to the Thunder over the summer on a four-year, $137 million contract has the team in contention in the West.
More from Yahoo Sports:
• Reporter’s bad posture ripped by Lions coach
• More Kaepernick snubs as untested QBs get shots
• Vincent Goodwill: Jimmy Butler deal may not help either side
• Pete Thamel: Durkin situation shows Maryland’s incompetence
