Crofton Office

1657 Crofton Blvd, Suite 201

Crofton, MD 21114

(410) 721-4505

(410) 721-2394

Woodbridge Office

14010 Smoketown Rd., Suite 103

Woodbridge, VA 22192

(703) 583-5959

(703) 890-4970

Chantilly Office

3914 Centreville Road, Suite 200

Chantilly, VA 20151

(703) 490-5599

(703) 583-5995

Sterling Office

46440 Benedict Dr., Suite 111

Sterling, VA 20164

(703) 444-9555

Haglund’s Deformity: What’s Up with the Pump Bump?

The kind of shoes you wear can really affect your foot health. Someone who typically wears tight, high-heeled shoes is going to experience more foot pain than someone who wears cushioned, supportive walking shoes most days. That might explain part of the reason why women tend to experience more foot problems than men do.

In fact, women who wear pumps (high heels with a low cut front and no fastening strap) are likely to develop a “pump bump.” If you’re not familiar with it, you’ll know it because it’s a small bony bump that can develop at the back of the heel bone. That growth, in combination with the constant friction against the back of the shoe, can also cause inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs (bursa) around the bones. This condition is called Haglund’s Deformity.

You’ll know if you have Haglund’s Deformity if you:

  • Feel pain at the bump.
  • See redness, swelling, and a pronounced bump at the back of the heel bone.
  • Get blisters, also from rubbing the bony part against the back part of your shoes (especially rigid backs, like with high heels)

If you start to experience symptoms, you’ll want to try your best to mitigate your pain. Try some of these at-home treatments:

  • Ice and Elevate – After a day of experiencing back of the heel pain, rest your feet, ice the bump, and elevate your feet if there is swelling.
  • Use heel pads if you have to keep wearing specific shoes for work or if you are very fashion conscious.
  • Try changing out of uncomfortable or tight shoes as soon as your workday or event is over.
  • If you can, change the types of shoes you wear. You’ll want to wear comfortable, supportive shoes that do not have a rigid back. This will reduce the rubbing against the heel bone.

If symptoms keep getting worse, you’ll want to come to see our podiatrist. He might suggest:

  • Custom orthotic shoes – especially while you get your symptoms under control.
  • Medication – anti-inflammatory meds, which could be steroidal or non-steroidal.
  • Surgery – if the condition gets to the point of becoming untreatable, and it interferes severely with your day to day, you may need to have surgery to reduce the bony spur. This would be a last measure after trying to treat with more mild methods.

If you have feel that you may be developing a bony spur at the back of your heel(s), make an appointment with our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Brad Toll. He will assess your feet and find the appropriate treatments to get you comfortable in your own shoes. Call Crofton Podiatry at (410) 721-4505, which provides services to Crofton, Gambrills, Odenton, and Bowie, MD areas.

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Office Hours

(We have new hours as below!)

Crofton Podiatry

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

7:30 am-3:30 pm

Friday:

By Appointment Only

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed