Facts on Haglunds Heel Pain

Haglund's syndrome is a common injury that can result from athletic or simple daily activity. It often is caused by wearing footwear that compresses the Achilles tendon, located in back of the ankle, causing the bursa sacs at the back of the heel to become swollen and inflamed.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of Haglund's syndrome include pain, swelling and redness at the back of the heel, along with a bump that can be seen and felt.

Haglund's Deformity

• Haglund's syndrome usually occurs in people with Haglund's deformity. People with high arches and those routinely wearing high-heeled shoes sometimes develop this condition, in which a bony protrusion grows on the back of the heel because of constant irritation to the Achilles tendon.

Callus

• Tissues usually thicken over the bony protrusion, resulting in a thick callus that can become inflamed along with the bursae.

Treatment

• An effective treatment is wearing backless shoes, such as sandals or clogs. When wearing shoes with a back, placing pads on the foot over the back of the heel can relieve pain. Arch supports or heel lifts may be prescribed to control foot movement.

Surgery

• If the problem continues to cause pain, a surgeon can remove the heel bump, or shorten the heel bone by taking a wedge from it.