Posterior Heel Pain

Heel pain along the back of the heel can be debilitating.  This type of heel pain can be frustrating to treat for both the patient and also the physician.  Dr. Eric Silvers and the staff at Advanced Foot and Ankle Center have successfully treated posterior heel pain (heel pain to the back of the heel) for over 14 years.

Some causes of posterior heel pain can be trauma that results in a fracture or a boney bruise with or without inflammation to the Achilles tendon (tendonitis).  The pain can also be due to mechanical problems such as a tight heel cord (Achilles tendon).  In addition, bone spurs that result from long term pulling (traction) of the Achilles tendon can develop and produce a bump or prominence along the back of the heel.   Some types of arthritis can also cause spurs to the heel.

Many times bone spurs along the back of the heel are not painful.  When they do become painful, the experts at Advanced Foot and Ankle Center in McKinney and Prosper, Texas can help you find relief.  Our treatment plans for posterior heel pain are conservative yet aggressive.  Dr. Silvers will evaluate your heel pain both clinically and radiographically (x-rays, CT and/or MRI if needed).  He may choose to have blood work taken after conducting a history and physical examination.  Some conservative treatment options include heel lifts, walking boots, casting, oral steroids, oral or topical anti inflammatories, shoe modifications, physical therapy, and altering activity.

If a course of aggressive conservative treatment fails after 3-9 months, then surgical options for patients who are surgical candidates may be explored.  Such surgical treatments involve addressing the heel spur and the Achilles tendon.  If Dr. Silvers finds that the Achilles tendon is short or tight, he will suggest lengthening in addition to removing the heel spur.   Dr. Silvers uses the most advanced techniques for treating heel spurs along the back of the heel.  Today, Dr. Silvers utilizes the Arthrex Speed Bridge System.   “I like the Speed Bridge because it provides a stable and strong means of reattaching the Achilles tendon to the heel after bone spur resection.  In the 14 years that I have been performing poserior heel spur surgery, I have yet to find an anchoring system that matches up to the Arthrex Speed Bridge.  The speed bridge is nice not only because it utilizes 4-3.5 mm bioabsorbable anchors, but it is also a knotless system.  Using the Arthrex Speed Bridge means that we no longer have to bury knots within the tendon as it is reattached to the heel bone.  In addition, the criss crossing of the sutures attached to the anchors provides a wide surface area of compression to the Achilles tendon and the heel bone.”

Despite the great advancements to reattaching the Achilles tendon to the heel bone, recovery does take a minimum of six weeks of non weight bearing on the involved foot.  After the six week period, another 2-6 weeks of utilizing a walking boot is required.

If you suffer from posterior heel pain (pain along the back of the heel), call Advanced Foot and Ankle Center to schedule an appointment to see Dr. Eric Silvers.  Dr. Silvers has patients that have come to Texas from all over the country to see him including, Florida, California, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Illinois, just to name a few.

You can reach us by calling 972-542-2155.  Our friendly staff is sympathetic to your heel pain needs and will do their best to get you into our office for a personalized consultation with Dr. Silvers directly.