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 In58men:
We’re just as hungry for a Super Bowl victory as much as you are. I get that it’s frustrating to see him collect a check we he’s putting out zero effort. I truly believe he’s still hurt and definitely wants to play. His body has been through some shit man. I’m surprised he’s still even out there mentoring our defense. He has been limited with practices, so that tells me he’s definitely making an effort.
The Chiefs organization has been nothing but supportive through his cancer process, he has no reason to just collect a check and fuck over the Chiefs like some think he’s doing. Just give the dude time, his body may not be healing as fast as we like, but his body has been through a lot that could potentially be slowing down the healing process.
I'd love to be there, I just can't/won't ignore 15+ weeks of "day-to-day", and radio silence beyond that. And saying "day-to-day" isn't a real update after a week, maybe two, it's just stupid. IOW, how bad are our doctors when they can't tell day-to-day from "to be honest we don't have a clue, it might not be this year given how little is known about Haglund's and where his is"? And discussing a person's medical condition is a violation of HIPPA laws unless they give permission, and I'll assume they asked for his permission and he said no. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Marcellus:
Its pretty obvious we know who hasn't listened to the Dee Ford interview. It doesn't fit their narrative.
Hunt, Reid, Ford, Mahomes etc...have all said Berry is working his ass off to come back and that he is the hardest worker on the team.
But that doesn't mean anything to 13 year old girls around here, they know more about all of this than the rest of us. The players, coaches and owner are just lying.
I heard it Franchesca, so what? And yeah, I think they're all covering for him a bit. What else are they going to do when Haglund holds all the cards? [Reply]
Originally Posted by Marcellus:
You really are just a classless douche.
And you're an overly sympathetic little girl, so what?
Meh, I still have one less called penalty than Haglund, and the same number of tackles. Let's hope the motherfucker changes that this Thursday... [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
So at first Berry not playing yesterday was rationalized by saying 2 games in 5 days was too much. But now he might not even play in any games? Reid says they have to be "careful". Careful of ****ing what? After 4+ months now of being "careful", and being in crunch time with the division and #1 seed on the line, isn't it ****ing time to throw caution to the wind? Either he can go or he can't, no more ****ing waiting.
Three plays in the 4th quarter of the SB. Duh! [Reply]
Originally Posted by GloryDayz:
I find this interesting; somehow we're supposed feel bad if a player, one of the highest paid players on our team, plays a full game.
No, I expect him to be a gladiator, he's getting gladiator pay.
How on Earth is that what you got from my post? Did you read the conversation sweet and I were having to gain any context?
He was cackling at the idea of him making through a game. I felt if he was gonna mock the idea of him playing a full game he should be willing to acknowledge he is wrong if that occurs. [Reply]
This game is for the division title. Win and we get a 1st round bye and a really high chance at HFA. If he can't suit up for this game, just put him on IR and cut him with a post June 1st designation the earliest day it is possible. [Reply]
Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan:
How on Earth is that what you got from my post? Did you read the conversation sweet and I were having to gain any context?
He was cackling at the idea of him making through a game. I felt if he was gonna mock the idea of him playing a full game he should be willing to acknowledge he is wrong if that occurs.
Well how about this, if he plays Thursday I'll treat it like any player getting paid to play because it's "normal" (not abnormal like missing 14+ weeks with a day-to-day condition). [Reply]
