Staff 
October 17, 2013The back of the heel bone, just where the achilles tendon inserts into it can be bigger in some people than in others. In those in which it is bigger, this is known as a ‘pump bump‘ as the enlargement is just where the pump style shoes can rub on it. The other name that this is given is Haglunds deformity. The problem with the enlargement of bone is pressure from the shoes pushing on it and it becomes painful. Often a bursa forms and this becomes even larger. It can become red and inflamed.
The best way to treat this is to not wear shoes that press on the enlarged bone or to wear a heel raise inside the shoe to move the enlarged bone and bursa away from the rim of the shoe that is pushing on the lump. Wearing open heel shoes is often helpful. Padding can sometimes be used in the shoe to keep the pressure off. If all this fails, then surgery to remove the enlarged bone can be an option.