REPORT: Eric Berry has a Haglund’s deformity on his heel
New information on Berry’s sore heel injury emerged on Saturday.
By Pete Sweeney Sep 29, 2018, 1:15pm CDT
Eric Berry has not practiced or played for the Kansas City Chiefs since August 11 in St. Joseph, Missouri, because of what the team has described as a “sore heel.”
The last we heard from the Chiefs athletic training staff was in early September, when head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder described the injury as “literally day to day.”
More information on Berry’s injury emerged Saturday morning, via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo:
Mike Garafolo: “My understanding, and I’ve spoken to people familiar with his injury situation. He’s got what’s called a Haglund’s deformity in that Achilles. That’s a bone spur that basically digs into the Achilles. Shaun O’ Hara, our colleague at NFL Network, he had it. I spoke to him this week. He said it is extremely painful. He actually used a more colorful word that I won’t use here. It’s just something that continues to irritate the area. Some guys have been able to play with it—you get a shoe here or there, you can adjust … but that’s what’s going on. It’s going to be a pain management thing. It’s not like this thing will tear the Achilles necessarily. A lot of these cases don’t result in a tear, but that’s why with Berry right now, he has not played, and they’ve been doing OK. That’s going to allow them a little bit more patience with Berry, but it is extremely painful.”
This provides a little more clarity than Berry’s injury simply being a “sore heel,” which is good, but what’s bad is there still seems to be no timetable. Remember, Berry missed nearly the entirety of the 2017 season due to a ruptured Achilles on the other leg.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was mum on the injury when asked about it Saturday afternoon after the Chiefs’ final practice of the week.
Berry is officially ruled doubtful heading into the Monday night game against the Denver Broncos.
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Here are the notes from our in-house medical expert, Aaron Borgmann:
A lot of talk today regarding something known as a Haglund’s deformity. It was reported by a media source that the player in question suffers from this condition. This discussion is not to confirm or deny that possibility, as I can only explain the available information that we have been given. To be clear, the team has not confirmed this diagnosis and I have no advance knowledge of the player’s current condition.
The simple explanation here that it is indeed a bone spur on the backside of someone’s heel. This is frequently known as a “pump bump” from the occurrence that it is often seen in women’s fashion from the shoes that they wear. However, incidence in football players is also common, sometimes referred to as “retrocalcaneal bursitis” as well.
The bone spur irritates the bursa (fluid-filled sac) that sits between the bone and the tendon or even the tendon itself directly. This can cause a great deal of inflammation and discomfort with any sort of dynamic ankle/foot movement, worse with pressure on the spot itself.
Having one in and of itself it not uncommon, but the degree to which it bothers someone is the issue. Depending upon demands of movement, these can range from debilitating to just a nuisance. Obviously, in football players, the degree of inflammation is what dictates the level of function.
These are diagnosed both visually and radiographically and it is a situation where if you see it and player complains of certain symptoms (pain with movement in that exact spot, swelling, redness) then you can be pretty sure that is what it is.
Treatment focuses on reduction of inflammation obviously directly over the spot. This can be done both topically and through systemic medication. Soft tissue lengthening in both the calf and bottom of the foot is also done to alleviate the issue from both sides – this is due to the fact that both the calf and plantar fascia connect to the calcaneus (heel bone) on either side.
Not to be forgotten is footwear modification and adjustment. Very rigid shoes can cause this irritation, and in some athletes, I would even cut the shoe in the heel to allow room for the bump. Other options include specialized padding and friction reduction methods. Heel lifts have been shown to be helpful in some.
For this condition, non-surgical intervention is preferred to reduce the inflammation as opposed to surgical due to the immobilization period.
If the inflammation can be reduced and the function level high, many players learned to adapt their daily routines to accommodate. They may have to put in a bit more time in order to get ready due to the condition’s demands but can nonetheless get by and still perform at a high level. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rausch:
As an internet researcher (and keyboard warrior) I'd prefer to have the surgery. Pull the tendon and shave down the bone and give up on him for this year.
It's that or leave it alone and it can go away or get worse.
Just me but I'd prefer to be proactive and give up this season to have him back the next...
This team has a potential SB run in it THIS YEAR.
If Eric Berry has to "give up this season" he can go play somewhere else at this point. I love the guy but it's put up or shut up time. [Reply]
Kind of an under thought here, but the Chiefs kinda do have some leverage here. Dirty Dan is an okay safety, Watts has really flashed the last 3 weeks and so has Lucas. If Lucas continues to play well, you don’t need Berry at that price tag.
I have no issue with rolling with those 3 and one of our first 3 picks in the draft next Spring if it means we get money back from cutting EB. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Kind of an under thought here, but the Chiefs kinda do have some leverage here. Dirty Dan is an okay safety, Watts has really flashed the last 3 weeks and so has Lucas. If Lucas continues to play well, you don’t need Berry at that price tag.
I have no issue with rolling with those 3 and one of our first 3 picks in the draft next Spring if it means we get money back from cutting EB.
Like I said, I love the guy. But I'm a Chiefs fan. This team wants to win a Super Bowl and if Berry can't help with that, he needs to step aside for somebody who can. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Kind of an under thought here, but the Chiefs kinda do have some leverage here. Dirty Dan is an okay safety, Watts has really flashed the last 3 weeks and so has Lucas. If Lucas continues to play well, you don’t need Berry at that price tag.
I have no issue with rolling with those 3 and one of our first 3 picks in the draft next Spring if it means we get money back from cutting EB.
Our only option is to make him a June 1st cut next year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
Like I said, I love the guy. But I'm a Chiefs fan. This team wants to win a Super Bowl and if Berry can't help with that, he needs to step aside for somebody who can.
Fuck him. We have to use Kemp as a contingency plan this week at S and he STILL won't try and play through the pain. Fuck. Eric. Berry. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Claysexual:
Did you not just accuse a poster of absurdity, believing that there was more than meets the eye to this situation? That the Chiefs and/or Berry might not be disclosing the full details of this matter?
You did. So, I pointed out that said poster( and anyone else following this situation with skepticism )has every viable reason to "read too much in to this" based upon past dealings with Berry, his agent, and the front office.
A horrible and damaging contract was negotiated and signed-off on by the ownership of this franchise contrary to the sound advice of the teams GM( the man who was hired to handle these responsibilities ).The Chiefs GM was relieved of duty and says nothing to anyone regarding the details of his departure, and when the smoke clears months later, we find out that said GM was only trying to protect the franchise from a potentially devastating and cap-demolishing contract with a player who has shown little gratitude( and even less production since said contract was signed )to the franchise who treated him like family and not a number during his time of need.
Whatever the final case may be, I'm over it. No defensive player is worth all of this nonsense. If he can't get on the field this season and stay there, I'd just as soon draft his replacement or acquire him in FA.
I'm a fan of Berry the player and his story is incredible. That said, it's no longer enough.
Your comments about his contract negotiation regarding this matter still make no sense.
Nor is there any merit to the idea the team or Berry are hiding something. There is literally no advantage in any way shape or form to them doing that.
You and others simply have a case of believing that because this isn't going how you want it to that there MUST be some kind of shenanigans going on when really its exactly what's been portrayed. I mean whats the motivation for hiding Berry's actual status? That literally makes no sense because its of zero benefit to the team. If he was done he would be on IR and someone else would have his roster spot.
Dude has a bad heel and he cant play. If they knew he wasn't going to play he would be on IR, its really that simple. There really is nothing more to the story. Hell he could end up on IR at any point the decide he isn't getting better.
I think its pretty basic, they believe he likely has a limited numbers of games in him this season and they are holding him out as long as possible. :-)
The pain is likely manageable to an extent but the longer he has to deal with it the harder its going to be to manage until he has surgery or something to fix it. I don't think its reasonable to believe he can just shoot it up every week for 15 weeks and keep going.
But hey if it makes you feel better keep believing its some type of conspiracy regardless of whether that makes a lick of sense or not, go for it. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Marcellus:
I think its pretty basic, they believe he likely has a limited numbers of games in him this season and they are holding him out as long as possible. :-)
I of course have no proof of this but my personal opinion is that the Chiefs have left it up to him and he simply doesn't want to play.
It's a pain mgmt issue so they've told him to tell them when he's ready. He doesn't feel he's ready.
So no mystery or conspiracy, just frustrating. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
I of course have no proof of this but my personal opinion is that the Chiefs have left it up to him and he simply doesn't want to play.
It's a pain mgmt issue so they've told him to tell them when he's ready. He doesn't feel he's ready.
So no mystery or conspiracy, just frustrating.
Its for sure frustrating but if he doesn't think he is ready I am not going to doubt the guy either.
Its impossible for me to believe the guy doesn't want to be out there playing for a 5-0 team that appears to be very close nit and having a blast. [Reply]
Okay ... several poster people have been saying that Dorsey did NOT negotiate the deal with EB. Rather, these esteemed Planeteers have stated that Hunt stepped in, took the reins from Dorsey, and made the deal with EB for public relations purposes.
I have a question about this; where did you guys get this information? Can anyone cite a source?
Not questioning you ... don't get it twisted. I'd just like to know from whence this story originated - and from whom.
Originally Posted by FAX:
Okay ... several poster people have been saying that Dorsey did NOT negotiate the deal with EB. Rather, these esteemed Planeteers have stated that Hunt stepped in, took the reins from Dorsey, and made the deal with EB for public relations purposes.
I have a question about this; where did you guys get this information? Can anyone cite a source?
Not questioning you ... don't get it twisted. I'd just like to know from whence this story originated - and from whom.
What's the numbers on how many games Houston and Berry have played together? It seems pretty fitting that Houston is joining his trauma ward buddy on the bench. [Reply]
