Bursitis at the back of the heel bone
You may notice that the back of your heel becomes sensitive, swollen or painful. This is particularly noticeable when walking, exercising or when your shoes press against that area. Sometimes the heel feels irritated after exertion or, conversely, when you stand up again after resting.
Many people find that certain shoes are less comfortable or that they try to avoid pressure on the heel whilst moving.
This condition resembles bursitis of the Achilles tendon, but is nevertheless different. The pain is often felt around the point where the shoe, heel bone and Achilles tendon meet.
What is it?
There are bursae at the back of the heel bone. A bursa is a small sac filled with fluid that helps reduce friction. If there is too much pressure or friction, a bursa can become irritated and swell up.
This can cause pain, redness and swelling at the back of the heel. Sometimes this is accompanied by a lump on the heel bone or irritation of the Achilles tendon.
