Plantar Fasciitis (heel spur)
Haglund's Deformity

Plantar Fasciitis (heel spur)
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation due to a tear of the connective tissue, or ligament that attaches from the ball of the foot to the point at which it inserts into the heel bone. Also called “heel spur syndrome,” the condition can usually be successfully treated with conservative measures such as use of anti-inflammatory medications and ice packs, stretching exercises, orthotic devices, and physical therapy. It is important to know that the “heel spur” is never the cause of the pain, but merely the result to the tear of the plantar fascia on the heel bone. The custom appliances or “orthotics” hold the foot in a normal position, so that the arch doesn’t roll in, lower and cause the ligament to pull at the attachment to the heel. If conservative treatment fails, simple outpatient surgery can help resolve the pain in most cases and return to shoes, usually in 4 days. Sometimes a diagnostic ultrasound of the heel, done on site, can help determine the severity of your heel problem and predict which treatment may be necessary for you.

Haglund's Deformity
Haglund’s Deformity (also known as “pump bump” or “retrocalcaneal bursitis”) is a painful enlargement of the back of the heel bone that becomes irritated by shoes.

It normally appears as a red, painful, and swollen area in the back of the heel bone. Women tend to develop the condition more than men because of the irritation from rigid heel counters of shoes rubbing up and down on the back of the heel bone.

Changing shoes, icing the heel, and anti-inflammatory medications often mitigate the symptoms of this problem. If conservative measure fail to relived, then a simple outpatient surgery can remove the “bump” and the involved bursa.