If you’re finding it harder to get your shoes on, or your shoes have become uncomfortable in the heel region, it’s possible that you’re dealing with a “pump bump.” Also known as Haglund’s Deformity in the medical community, a pump bump is categorized by the onset of a bony prominence on the backside of your heel. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why this foot condition develops, and how you can treat a pump bump.
Causes And Symptoms Of Pump Bumps
Pump bumps can occur in both men and women, but they tend to be much more common among women because of the nature by which they develop. The most common cause of a pump bump is as a result of chronic stress in the heel region. This chronic pressure or abnormal stress on the region can lead to inflammation of the bursa, which is a fluid-filled sac that sits between the Achilles tendon and the bone. This bursa sac can become inflamed and enlarged, and this pressure can also lead to calcium build-up over time, making the bump larger and more painful if it goes unaddressed.
The reason the condition is oftentimes called a pump bump is because it typically develops and worsens as a result of tight fitting shoes, like high heels or “pump” styled shoes. Shoes with a tight heel or those with a raised heel that put excess pressure on the back of your foot are common causes of inflammation and the onset of a pump bump. Because women’s shoes tend to be more tight or form-fitting than men’s, women tend to be at a higher risk for pump bump onset. However, pump bumps can also be caused by ill-fitting cleats, ice skates, roller blades or ski boots, so make sure your shoes aren’t too tight for your feet.
Symptoms of the condition include:
- Localized pain
- A visible bump on the heel
- Swelling
- Redness
- Calluses or bruising on the heel
Treating Bump Pumps
The first thing you need to do to begin treating your pump bump is to get your feet out of the ill-fitting shoes. Re-evaluate all of your footwear choices and switch to a more comfortably-fitting shoe. Open-backed shoes or shoes with a softer heel are also good options to consider.
If high heels are required for the job, or you need a tight-fitting work boot, you can try to put heel pads in the back of your shoes to help decrease direct pressure on the site. But if you keep wearing hard-backed and tight-fitting shoes, the condition will likely only get worse, and soon it will become harder and harder to get your shoes on, further exacerbating the cycle.
Aside from switching shoes, you may want to consider taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication and icing the area to help ease swelling and inflammation. Coupled with switching shoes and limiting pressure on the area, these techniques tend to help reduce or eliminate pump bumps.
However, for more significant bony growths, more hands-on treatment may be required. For these types of pump bumps, sync up with a foot specialist like Dr. Silverman. Aside from the above techniques, he may also recommend a corticosteroid injection or a minimally invasive debridement procedure to remove the excess bone and prevent it from causing problems with your Achilles tendon. Most cases don’t progress this far, but it’s nice knowing Dr. Silverman can perform the surgery if you would benefit from an operation.
So if you are dealing with a growth or bony bump on the back of your heel, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today to learn how to treat it before it gets bigger and causes problems with your Achilles tendon. For more information or to set up an appointment, give his office a call today at (952) 224-8500.
