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Shaq Seeks Medical Treatment In L.A.

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Jan 7, 2008 1:50 pm US/Eastern

Shaq Seeks Medical Treatment In L.A.

MINNEAPOLIS (CBS4) ― Heat center Shaquille O'Neal is seeking medical treatment across the country in Los Angeles for a hip injury that has left him sidelined for the past five games, according to CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald.

O'Neal, who has missed an average of 20 games over the past six full seasons, bruised his left hip when he dove for a loose ball during a game against Utah on Dec. 22nd. He aggravated the injury two games later in Philadelphia.

Doctors told O'Neal to sit out until the hip was completely healed.

He had already been playing with pain in his right hip and surgically repaired left knee since the preseason. O'Neal had taken cortisone injections to relieve the pain in his knee and hip. He said he stopped taking the shots during his Dec. 27 doctor's visit.

O'Neal's departure two games into a five-game trip is the latest setback for an injury-plagued team that has the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 8-26 and has lost seven games in a row.

The hip injury and a sore left knee have contributed to the least productive season of O'Neal's 16-year career. He is averaging just 14 points and 7.8 rebounds in 29 games.

Injury layoffs have been common for O'Neal in recent years. He missed 39 games last season, when he underwent left knee surgery.

He sat out 21 games during the Heat's 2005-06 championship season because of a sprained ankle and sprained thumb.

The Heat lost O'Neal's backup, Alonzo Mourning, for the season when he tore two knee ligaments in a Dec. 19 loss at Atlanta.

Dwyane Wade, Jason Williams and Dorell Wright have all battled injuries recently.

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report)

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