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]
I looked up his cap numbers. Apparently, his cap hit next season if on the roster is $16.5 million. His dead cap is $15 million. Post June 1 it's $7.5 million. If he doesn't play this season, or if he only comes back for the playoffs, I say he can be cut June 1 and we move on. I hate that injuries have shortened his career, He was a great safety. But he's useless if he can't get on the field. [Reply]
Is it really too hard for you guys to realize he's too hurt to play effectively right now?? People saying Berry doesn't care or just wants to milk a pay check...Pathetic [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
Technically, he's not hurt too much to play but rather it hurts too much to play.
Technically there is no difference. You can play on a broken leg if you can handle the pain.
It absolutely sucks balls we are paying this guy $12MM a year and he has barely played a season under his new deal, its just really frustrating given the way our safeties suck ass and could hold this team back. I get it.
But the constant questioning of the guys character and desire to play is mind blowing.
I did notice that even though the Clark Hunt story was posted this part is ignored-
Originally Posted by :
“It’s no different than what you’ve heard from Andy (Reid) or Rick Burkholder,” Hunt said. “It literally is day to day. I do know that nobody’s working harder at his rehab than Eric. Eric is a young man who loves the game of football and wants to be out there on the field, and as soon as he feels that he’s ready, he’s going to be out there.”
I still don't see how if they didn't think he was going to play why he hasn't been placed on IR. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pasta Giant Meatball:
Is it really too hard for you guys to realize he's too hurt to play effectively right now?? People saying Berry doesn't care or just wants to milk a pay check...Pathetic
Originally Posted by O.city:
As soon as Eric feels he’s ready he’ll be out there.
Fuck that. This isn't a torn knee ligament or a broken arm. It's a goddamn pump bump. Get your bitch ass out there and earn at least a smidgen of the 30 million you've already robbed from the Chiefs. [Reply]