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28: Haglund’s Deformity & Achilles Pain | When Rehab Isn’t Enough
Season 2
Episode 2
Published 11 hours ago
Description
When Achilles pain keeps coming back, the problem may be more complicated than “just tendonitis.”
In Episode 28 of The Running Injury Podcast, Dr. Sara Raiser, sports dietitian Kelsey Pontius, and Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards walk through the show’s first listener-submitted case: an ultra runner dealing with recurrent Achilles pain, a visible bump at the heel, bursitis, and a confirmed Haglund’s deformity.After months of rest, physical therapy, cycling, shoe changes, shockwave therapy, and multiple medical opinions, she was still trying to answer one big question: Should she keep managing it conservatively or is it time to consider surgery?
This episode looks at why stubborn Achilles injuries require more than treating the painful spot and why the right diagnosis, rehab plan, nutrition strategy, footwear, and provider can make all the difference.
In this episode, you'll learn:
-What Haglund’s deformity is and how it can irritate the Achilles tendon
-Why insertional Achilles tendinopathy can be so difficult to treat
-How bursitis can be part of a larger problem rather than the primary diagnosis
-Why ultrasound can be especially helpful when evaluating Achilles tendon injuries
-When shockwave, orthotics, footwear changes, and other procedures may help
-Why physical therapy should address the entire kinetic chain—not just the calf and ankle
-How vegan athletes can support tendon healing through energy, protein, carbohydrates, B12, zinc, omega-3s, and creatine
-When it may be reasonable to discuss surgery after conservative treatment has failed
This case is a reminder that persistent pain deserves another look. If treatment isn’t working, it may be time to question whether you’re treating the right problem in the first place.
Featured Experts
Dr. Sara Raiser MD – Running Medicine Physician
Kelsey Pontius, MS, RD, CSSD – Sports Dietitian
Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards PT – Physical Therapist & Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Chapter Highlights
00:00 Welcome to Episode 28
03:00 The first listener-submitted case
05:30 Recurrent Achilles pain and Haglund’s deformity
10:45 Is it really Achilles tendinopathy? Getting the diagnosis right
16:30 Ultrasound, bursitis, insertional tendinopathy, and tendon changes
24:00 Physical therapy: What good Achilles rehab should include
31:30 When conservative treatment isn’t working
36:45 Haglund’s surgery and return-to-sport outcomes
42:00 Vegan athletes, fueling, and tendon healing
49:15 Choosing the right provider and the right treatment
55:00 Final takeaways
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-running-injury-podcast-formerly-interdisciplinary-case-miles--6623567/support.
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and subscribe so you never miss a case.
Have a question or a case you'd like us to explore on the show? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out anytime at runcasemiles@gmail.com.
In Episode 28 of The Running Injury Podcast, Dr. Sara Raiser, sports dietitian Kelsey Pontius, and Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards walk through the show’s first listener-submitted case: an ultra runner dealing with recurrent Achilles pain, a visible bump at the heel, bursitis, and a confirmed Haglund’s deformity.After months of rest, physical therapy, cycling, shoe changes, shockwave therapy, and multiple medical opinions, she was still trying to answer one big question: Should she keep managing it conservatively or is it time to consider surgery?
This episode looks at why stubborn Achilles injuries require more than treating the painful spot and why the right diagnosis, rehab plan, nutrition strategy, footwear, and provider can make all the difference.
In this episode, you'll learn:
-What Haglund’s deformity is and how it can irritate the Achilles tendon
-Why insertional Achilles tendinopathy can be so difficult to treat
-How bursitis can be part of a larger problem rather than the primary diagnosis
-Why ultrasound can be especially helpful when evaluating Achilles tendon injuries
-When shockwave, orthotics, footwear changes, and other procedures may help
-Why physical therapy should address the entire kinetic chain—not just the calf and ankle
-How vegan athletes can support tendon healing through energy, protein, carbohydrates, B12, zinc, omega-3s, and creatine
-When it may be reasonable to discuss surgery after conservative treatment has failed
This case is a reminder that persistent pain deserves another look. If treatment isn’t working, it may be time to question whether you’re treating the right problem in the first place.
Featured Experts
Dr. Sara Raiser MD – Running Medicine Physician
Kelsey Pontius, MS, RD, CSSD – Sports Dietitian
Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards PT – Physical Therapist & Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Chapter Highlights
00:00 Welcome to Episode 28
03:00 The first listener-submitted case
05:30 Recurrent Achilles pain and Haglund’s deformity
10:45 Is it really Achilles tendinopathy? Getting the diagnosis right
16:30 Ultrasound, bursitis, insertional tendinopathy, and tendon changes
24:00 Physical therapy: What good Achilles rehab should include
31:30 When conservative treatment isn’t working
36:45 Haglund’s surgery and return-to-sport outcomes
42:00 Vegan athletes, fueling, and tendon healing
49:15 Choosing the right provider and the right treatment
55:00 Final takeaways
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-running-injury-podcast-formerly-interdisciplinary-case-miles--6623567/support.
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow and subscribe so you never miss a case.
Have a question or a case you'd like us to explore on the show? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out anytime at runcasemiles@gmail.com.