Haglund's Deformity surgery anyone?

Here's my experience without surgery:

I have been running with Haglund's Deformity for over 11 years. Today it is like a golf ball on the back of my foot and "toothache" as someone described it, is about right.

In its earlier stages 10 years ago, I enjoyed the best racing and training of my career (1:04 half-marathon), felt it after races, some workouts. Some year's later, it became an issue during training, finally racing, then running easy and even walking and I backed off.

Was no problem for me emotionally because I was beginning to get older anyway and my goals shifted to fitness running coupled with some nice weight-training.

I still maintain 60-70 miles per week, but I have to avoid hills, my left foot has weakened and sometimes I run with a hitch. I can do speed work once a week, but I limit it to about three miles worth of interval/tempo and I can still do 16-22 milers once per week, but again, off hills and a bit slower (can't tell if it's fitness related or pain related, but I am guessing the pain caused me to be slower by actually HAVING to run slower).

Still when I race, I can run a 1:10 half-marathon and a 15:30-15:40-ish 5k and I am in my 40's now. I've had to give up raw speed intervals as short as 100m sprints for the first time last year which has diminished my speed significantly.

I found heel lifts and soft heel counter shoes to work. Pull a shoe off the rack at a running shoe footwear store and you should be able to crush down the heel counter with your hand. This usually leaves you with Nike free's or some racing flats as training shoe options.

My pain is severe at times. I walk like a cripple some months and others I am ok so long as I wear heel lifts in ALL my running shoes for extended periods of time. When it gets really good I get lazier about using the lifts and then I flare up again and remember I have to go back to the lifts.

It really sucks, but I am a long way from not being able to not run at all. You kinda half to accept pain like you accept it in intervals.

Dr. Salamon at Ellis and Badenhausen in Louisville did my surgery in November. He did an amazing job. He takes a conservative approach to recovery and says to expect it to take a full year to be training fully. I keep seeing posts and blogs from people who never recovered from the surgery. The common thread seems to be that they rushed everything: out of the cast, PT, walking, and running. I don't expect to run any time soon and that's okay. I had the surgery so I could run for the rest of my life. This is not a quick fix. Being sedentary, my shrunken calf, not being able to drive, needing help with the little things, it all sucks. But it's worth it if I can run every day again.

Ok, I went through 4 weeks of having my foot casted to avoid surgery. Has anyone else done that? Now it's 3 weeks out of the cast, and I am in pain most of the time when I walk. Plus I'm taking Tylenol and an anti-inflammatory. I've been going to Physical Therapy twice a week. The physical therapists seem to think my experience is normal for having been casted. Also I have ultrasound therapy, electrode therapy, do wall stretches, and use the bilateral Pro-stretch. I am so not happy, but am wondering if I am expecting too much??? When I got the cast removed, the doctor said that he didnt think I would need surgery in the future. He did say that he thought the inflammation of the Achilles could be tamed with repeated castings if necessary. BTW, I have a tight Achilles. Can anyone relate to what I'm saying? I just need to know if my expectations are on target or not?

Don't want to be a Davy Downer but a friend obtained a permanent disability with casting. He can only walk with a cane now. Pretty near-medieval treatment as far as I'm concerned.As for myself, seven years of pain ended three weeks ago when I went running in nasty unstable snow and ice and seemed to break up the remaining scar tissue around the heel and ankle. No surgery or medical treatment (not even ibupro and gave up on ice years ago). Just cut the back out of my shoe and worked gradually back, with lots of setbacks, but kept moving the whole time. People looked sideways at my cut-up shoes but I'm laughing now. I now have complete mobility and at age 55 I just ran 60 miles this week with lots of hills, rough terrain and speedwork. Nature heals best.

See my blog. I kept a detailed journal prior to and post Haglunds... IMO: Take conservative approach; do not try and come back too fast. There will be a great strength discrepancy between legs which will lead to bigger problems in other joints( knees, hips, back) even if you recover from the heel surgery.

scottlewes69.blogspot.com

Hello Matt, are you the footballer ?. I am having surgery next week. Which surgeon did you use

Hello Matt, are you the footballer ?. I am having surgery next week. Which surgeon did you use

I have used sporadic casting over the past 7 years to "quiet down" the inflammation in my Achilles and have successfully avoided surgery while improving my condition. I also have a very tight Achilles. I can relate very well to your situation and expectations. Send me an e-mail at dlw6@psu.edu and I will get back to you with the specific details of my treatment and positive outcomes.

Hi Matt, I am a British runner who is also suffering from haglunds deformity. I'm only 26, I've tried everything and not being able to run or even walk is killing me! Please could you tell me the name of the surgeon and physiotherapist you saw please? I would be so, so very grateful! Thank you! X

Hop Along, I'm thinking about surgery. Can you give us an update? Are you running? Any residual pain or discomfort? Tips?

Not sure if you will get this since it's been so long, but here's to hoping. I am in Lexington and an currently suffering from Haglund’s Deformity. My doctor is adamantly against having surgery, saying that my Achilles is still healthy and pushing it to the side to get behind it will weaken it. He wants to just keep it from getting worse. That's fine and dandy, but I can't get back to work if it doesn't get better. And advice works be greatly appreciated. Who are the doctors you used. I can see if they are still in practice. Thanks!

DK

Not sure if your are still active on this site or will see my post. I am in the same situation as you. How is going for you ? Did you do the operation ?

Anyone knows of a good doctor in the Orlando, Melbourne Area of Florida.

Thanks

G

Had haglunds for about 30 years,,, grew to a golf ball size lump sticking out the back of my heel,,, ran with it but pain worsened over time until at age 53 nothing would touch it, icing , orthotics, nothing helped,,, I got to the point I could barely walk let alone run.

Had surgery with full detachment of achilles as the bone was huge, cast for 6 weeks non weight bearing,, boot after cast came off with gradual return to full weight bearing,,, I'm at week 9 and just beginning to walk in boot without crutches.

I'm really glad I enjoyed a full running career (since age 16),,, before I had surgery.

Listen, just like my surgeon told me there are no guarantees ,, I was lucky not to get an infection so far on the incision cuz that is a real risk.

Docs don't focus much on the potential complications and they are real.

If it's such that you can go with a lateral incision without messing with the achilles,, probably better,,, but better be prepared when dealing with surgical intervention of a large haglunds bump. There is no guarantee of being back to running in any certain amount of time.

same ad yours no pain in heel but ankle problems what was the result of surgery if you had one?

Once upon a time I made the Olympic Trials in the Marathon - now I can barely walk; due to a bone spur going through my achilles - the surgical repair is basically Haglund's surgery, the doc wants to cut my calf and graft it into my tendon to lengthen it as well. I am willing to try any non-surgical fix but I walk with a bad limp and I can even play with my six year old or lace up hockey skates.

I am terrified because I know a few guys who got the Haglund's surgery and never ran again; in fact they walk worse than me. Does anyone have any surgeon recommendations for the midwest? Prefer Indy area but I am willing to travel if I have to.

Hi Jonathan.......someone posted on another "haglund's thread" about a doctor in Indy that was really good!! I'll see if I can find it and report back. Mark O.

Hi Jonathan............found the doctor in Indy.His name is Dr David Porter.The poster(Heel Talons) had the surgery in August 2016 and was up to 80mpw with a 14:42 5k in Spring 2018.Good Luck!! Mark O.

Anyone have any surgeon recs in the Raleigh/Dirham/Chappel Hill area?

I had surgery 2.5 months ago after 1 year of non-operative treatment with no success. I did not have tendon debridement. I have been doing physical therapy for a month and am showing slow progress. I still feel a dull ache where the bump used to be. In addition I'm having peroneal tightness and pain near the top of the foot for some reason that the doctor thinks was caused from being in a walking boot for two weeks. This is the worst injury to have for active people because people don't understand the pain you are going through on a daily basis. I'm hopeful to return to basketball if the pain ever goes away but I wouldn't guarantee that will happen at this point. You will have days where you feel good and days when you still hurt. I will post again at 6 months to let you know how I am healing up. Time will tell if I would recommend this surgery. I think it has worked, but it also may have caused some nerve damage or lead to other issues in my foot.