Is an operation on her foot the only thing that will help?

Dear Ask The Doctor: Hi there. 13 years ago my friend accidently dropped something really heavy on her foot and since last summer she has been getting unbearable pains in her foot and they keep getting worse and this is obviously connected to damage she done all they years ago. Her doctor says the bone was knocked out of place and as a result it is rubbimg off the other bone and causing her alot of pain and discomfort. They wanted to fuse the 2 bones together and told her she would then not be able to bend her foot which has freaked her out. I know she is scared to get an operation and is worried about taking time off work for it to heal afterwards too. I know she can handle alot of pain but she can't even touch it sometimes it is that sore and I hate knowing how much pain she is in. Is there anything she can do for temporary relieve and do you have any other solutions she could benefit from? Please help.

Dear Vicki: Unfortunately, your friend's options are limited due to the length of time she has had this injury. Tremendous scarring and inflammation has taken place around the bones involved. This makes surgery the only viable option. Fusing the bones together will relieve her pain while still allowing her to function fairly normally. I am sure she is currently taken painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications to minimize her discomfort but surgery is the only course that will offer her permanent relief.