How I Got Back to Diving After Lapiplasty®

 

 

September 23, 2022 — Marshall University student Lauren Henderson recently contributed an article to the Charleston Patch in which she discussed her experience living with bunion deformities, their impact on her active lifestyle, and the chronic pain she endured before finally undergoing Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™.

“I always noticed that I had bunions on my feet, but when I got to college, the pain became unbearable,” said Lauren. “When the condition started to impact my ability to train for diving and my daily life, I knew I had to find a treatment option.”

Throughout her first semester of college, Lauren tried several nonsurgical methods to treat her bunions. After months of injections, steroid pills and wearing wider shoes, Lauren’s trainers recommended she make an appointment with Dr. Michael Gentile at Marshall Health in Huntington, West Virginia.

“During my first appointment with Dr. Gentile, I learned about Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™, a relatively new procedure that used a different approach from traditional surgery,” explained Lauren. “Dr. Gentile explained that Lapiplasty® involves properly aligning and securing the bones in the foot, correcting the joint’s deformity at its root cause .”
The Lapiplasty® Procedure corrects the alignment of bones and secures using a system of patented titanium plates. This procedure provides a stable foundation and gets patients back on their feet relatively quickly (within 3-10 days in a walking boot) 1, .
After undergoing the procedure on her left foot, Lauren was non-weight bearing in a soft cast for about two weeks before she was cleared to bear weight while wearing a walking boot. After only four months of recovery, Lauren was back to diving . She underwent surgery again to correct her right foot just six months after her first procedure.

“It has been more than a year since my procedures and I am back to diving every day and training for 20 hours a week,” said Lauren. “My feet feel stronger and more stable than ever.”

As with any medical treatment, individual results vary. There are potential risks and recovery takes time. For further information on the recovery process, follow this link to Recovery Information. Please consult your surgeon for a full understanding the postoperative care associated with the Lapiplasty® Procedure.

Reference link: https://patch.com/west-virginia/charleston-wv/how-i-got-back-diving-after-lapiplasty-nodx