Over the years I have been plagued with recurring heel injuries: Plantar Faciitis and Achilles Tendonitis, you name it, I had it. I've become very good in treating with ice, massage, heel lifts, strengthening...in fact, I really think I am done with all this heel stuff and should not get any injuries there anymore as I am paying close attention to any twinges in that area.
Which brings me to the object of this blog post: I have a heel spur. No, not at the bottom of the heel, but at the back. The thing has been there since my initial Achilles injury a few years back - but who knows, maybe it has been there longer and I just didn't notice until it hurt. This bony growth is where my heel pain originates most of the time and I suspect it actually might be the culprit for getting injured in the first place.
Called Haglund's deformity or Pump Bump and it is most often seen in women who wear high heels. Serves me right ;-) I just love running in my high heels. Kidding aside, I don't even own high heeled shoes.
I am wondering if anybody has had experience with these things. What worked, what hasn't? Surgery? Recovery time? Success rate?
Comments
Sibylle, foot mechanics can
Sibylle, foot mechanics can have a big affect on a Haglunds bump. Hindfoot valgus (part of what happens during overpronation) can place a lot of strain on the achilles tendon and on its insertion to the calcaneus. I can't remember if you wear orthotics or not??? Simple tightness of the achilles and calf muscle can also aggravate this area. I usually see a Haglunds deformity in soccer and hockey players because of their footwear, I actually rarely see it in women because of high heels.
If it is very tender to touch put a moleskin donut around it (double up the thickness if necessary), ice it like crazy and give it some rest. Obviously you are also more than welcome to drop in the store and have one of our team have a look at your feet and your footwear.
Graham
Hi Graham, Thanks so much.
Hi Graham,
Thanks so much. Yes, I think mine is caused by chronic tightness in the Achilles and calfs... I've been working on that (jeez, there is a full time job) and I almost feel now the bump that has developed over the last 5 years is in itself the cause for pain.
I might swing by Kintec next week to get you guys have a look - also time for a new pair of shoes, I'm afraid.
Oh no!
Despite any unsubtantiated rumors, I DON'T own high heals and am afraid I'm unable to help with this particular issue.
For what little it's worth, I do wish you the best in sorting it out, Sibylle!
Jason
What doesn't kill us will make us stronger!
Oh, I bet you'll look good in heels
Anyway, I did some more reading and heels are not the only cause for the bump. Other sources mention Achilles Tendinitis. Apparently, surgery does not have a guaranteed (or high enough) success rate and a long recovery. I've been ignoring this bump for too long. I guess I didn't realize that whenever I had heel pain, it wasn't just the Achilles tendon that hurt, but also the heel spur...which has grown significantly over the last little while.
Apart from surgery, recommended treatment is ice and anti inflammatory as well as cortisone injections (ugh). Somebody mentioned prolotherapy, but I am not sure if this applies to this kind of bone deformity.
pump bump
Hey Sibylle,
Most likely what you have isn't a tendonitis since you've had it so long. More appropriate to call it tendonosis. Ice probably not much help at this stage.
As a starting point see: http://www.tendinosis.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tendinosis
Good luck with it.
Curb
Sophia at Active Life
Sybille:
This sounds like a job for Sophia at Active Life.
She'll have you fixed up in no time.
Ryan