Lowell has been soldiering through a balky right hip for much of the season, and things seemed to have reached critical mass on Tuesday when he struggled just running up the first base line.

"We've all seen that he can handle a lot (of pain)," manager Terry Francona said of his third baseman, who reported feeling slight improvement in the right hip Thursday. "He has exhibited an unbelievable ability to go out there when most people couldn't (play)."

The Gold Glove third baseman is expected to sit in on a conference call with Red Sox officials as well as a hip specialist and go over potential options for the torn right labrum in his hip.

Enter Dr. Marc Philippon.

Philippon is a world-renowned orthopedist who has done some revolutionary work in the world of labrum hip surgery.

The French-Canadian is a partner at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo., and has performed labrum hip surgery on such familiar names in the athletic world as hockey starts Mario Lemeiux and Rick DiPietro, golfer Greg Norman and second baseman Luis Castillo.

Basically, Philippon is considered to be to hip injuries what Dr. James Andrews has been to elbow injuries: the man with the reputation and the answers to go along with it.

While Philippon hasn't treated Lowell and wouldn't comment on specifics involving the third baseman's hip ailment, he was able to fill in some blanks about the injury itself.

"It all depends on where it is, what kind it is, how big the tear is," said Philippon. "I would compare it to guys with a meniscus tear in their knees. It is a similar kind of problem. The whole key to the thing is how stable the area is and how much his muscles can accommodate (the hip).

"That's the whole key. Some guys are very strong and their muscles are going to be able to accommodate (the injury) and the muscles will be able to adjust. Short term, some players will be able to adjust to (the injury). It all depends on how fit the guy is and what his pain threshold is. It also really matters how big the tear is. In general with a labral tear, short term they can play through it but long term it's going to need to be addressed."