When I was researching Haglund’s Deformity surgery and recovery, I found a dearth of information online that detailed what it was like day to day. This is my attempt to document that for others who may be out there seeking real and unfiltered information to make an informed decision on treatment options for Haglund’s Deformity.
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Haglunds Recovery 
Thanks for your journaling of your recovery. I’m tentatively scheduled for the surgery in early December, and having your account is a great thing. A long road, for sure, but worthwhile.
Hi…I am going to have this surgery. The pain has been do-able for the past 5-6yrs, but has suddenly turned to unbearable (and I have a very high tolerance to pain!)…I am a nurse, so the surgery itself, because I know it is clinically “hobbling” someone scares me. I am also so afraid of gaining weight during recovery…I know it is a longggggg no weight bearing, to partial weight bearing period. Thanks for sharing. Also, I am also in Pittsburgh-helped me identify even more!! I am so ambivalent, but I know this needs done. To be pain free, no longer limp, and to be able to wear any shoe again will be worth it.
Another ‘Burgher! Dee, I was really concerned about the surgeon splitting/detaching my Achilles too. Once he explained that it had to be done to create blood flow and also enable him to debride it properly, I felt much better. Basically he said not detaching it, he could end up leaving a lot of calcification untouched and I’d still have a lot of pain after healing. Sold! Cut me! Who’s you’re surgeon? I used Gregory Flinn Habib – would recommend him to anyone.
Thank you SO much for this blog….the information is invaluable and a huge help to those of us wondering whether or not taking the big surgical step is worth it. I also love in Pgh, and I’m only 25 years old with diagnosed Haglunds on both heels. Initially, I was completely opposed to surgery, but the daily pain is becoming unbearable, especially because I am a retail pharmacist and spend upwards of 14 hours a day on my feet. Do you have any insight on when the “right” time is for surgery? I know, difficult to answer, but I’m so worried that this procedure will jeopardize my ability to work in the future. At the same time, I’m at the point of being in tears at the end of the work day.
Also, what physical therapist did you use?
Nicole, my breaking point with this was when I realized the pain of staying the same was worse than the pain of changing. Also the fact that the longer I waited, potentially the more calcified the tendon would become, which would leave less good tendon for the surgeon to work with. I reasoned that I could *always* be in pain every day and not enjoy the active things I like to do, or I could take the chance to be so much better off, with a small chance that things would stay the same and a miniscule chance things would get worse. You are way too young to be in that much pain every day! My surgeon was Gregory Flinn Habib and my PT was Cliff Milowicki – he owns a practice on Washington Rd in Peters Twp and also has hours at Habib’s office, I believe. Great surgeon, great therapist. I think with a job being on your feet, after your first few rough months of recovery, being on your feet will actually benefit you. I get stiff when I sit at work or in the car. The more active I am now, the better the heel feels. Big change!
Thank you for your very thoughtful and detailed account of your recovery! Your time and effort spent in writing your blog will have an effect on people facing this surgery for years to come. After 2 years of pain, 1000 mg/day of Aleve, then 10 mg of Piroxicam (that actually worked pretty well for the first 6 months) I had my surgery on Dec 3 2015. The orthopedic foot surgeon removed large calcified mass at the insertion of the achilles, removed about 65% of the damaged/diseased achilles, and used my big toe tendon to fortify what was left of the achilles. I also have a plastic anchor (which seems intuitively better than metal parts). I had a splint for 2 wks, a hard cast for 4 weeks, a boot for 3 wks, then physical therapy! Today I am at the point of walking my beloved best friend 2.5 miles (takes 1.5 hours :). Thanks to your blog, I know know it is normal to be stiff and sore, to need to ice, to feel some zings and zangs. I will take to heart what you said about remaining active with the foot because you feel better the next day! Today it is rainy here, and I was going to sit this one out, but I think now I will put on wool socks and my heel free “sandals” and grab the umbrella and go for a walk anyway; my incision is still to sensitive to have any pressure on it so I wear Okabashi sandals-they have good support. I am grateful to you for sharing your experiences; it is truly the best record I have found on the Net, and I have been researching this issue for about 2 years now. Pity I did not find your blog sooner. I am glad you have healed well and are doing great. There are so many horror stories on the net about this type of surgery. Thank you so much for sharing your good experience! At three month post op, I would definitely have the surgery again. I am in less pain now than before, although not totally back to normal yet, nor “discomfort” free.
I have a question for you. Did they have to remove much of your achilles tendon? Did they do the “big toe transfer” to help your achilles? I know my surgery was a “worse case scenario” barring complete removal of the achilles due to degeneration (how they would fix that, I do not know). A word to the wise for the folks who are considering this surgery: I waited TOO LONG to have my surgery (the prescription anti inflammatory worked too well the first half a year, and i suppose I just did more and more damage to the achilles by using it at this compromised state). I wish I had the surgery a year sooner-then maybe I would still have the 65% of my tendon they had to remove!
Again, thank you for your awesome record of your recovery! I will come back and read it as the weeks progress. Knowing of your experience helps keep my heart at ease!
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
It made me so happy to read your comment. That is exactly what I set out to do when I started this blog, because, like you, I could only find horror stories when trying to do research. Achillesblog.com was also a great resource post op for me.
I think my doc said I had 65% good tendon left (? I honestly could be remembering it incorrectly and it’s not on my operative report) – I did not end up needing any tendon transfer.
I will echo your advice – this is not a condition that heals itself with rest! Every step, that bone spur is shredding the tendon and calcifying what’s left of it.
It really made my day to hear that this helped you. That was my entire purpose in cataloging every mundane detail of this journey. I didn’t want anyone to go into this with the complete lack of first person accounts that I had found. Happy recovery and remember to be patient!
Just an addition to the above, for completeness: I also had the Haglund’s bump shaved down–not quite as far as you did as depicted in your x-rays, but they removed a bit of it so that it is not so pronounced. I would have liked them to remove more of it, but hopefully they took away what they needed too.
Hi. I just started reading your blog. Great insight! Is there an email I could reach you at? I am debating on having this same procedure..
Sure. You can reach me at JMiller@SouthBridgeEms.com
Hi.. Am getting ready for surgery in the next month. I am a runner and making this decision has been one of the hardest things to do. The idea of maybe never being able to do long distance running again scares me to death. Are you around for questions via email or facebook or something? Would love to have someone to bounce questions off of. 🙂 PS Im in Maine.. glad you had a good vacation here
Hi,
I really appreciate your blog. I too, had been “dealing” with this for (i think) 5 years. Last year was the painful bursitius that finally made me see a Dr. to figure out what in the world is going on – this after years of “it will go away” after running 5+ miles and limping for the remainder of the day. I am going to have the surgery I just hope I have not shredded my tendon so badly for all these years that I figured it would go away.
I soon will be a member of “Das Boot”.
The recovery is arduous, but being pain free (eventually) is so worth it. Good luck!