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Retrocalcaneal bursitis - Symptom

Alternative Names

Insertional heel pain

Symptoms:

Pain in the heel, especially with walking, running, or when the area is touched
Pain may get worse when rising on the toes (standing on tiptoes)
Red, warm skin over the back of the heel

Signs and tests:

Your health care provider will take a history to find out if you have symptoms of retrocalcaneal bursitis. Examining your ankle can find the location of the pain. The physician will look for tenderness and redness in the back of the heel.

The pain may be worse when the doctor bends the ankle upward (dorsiflex). Or, the pain may be worse when you rise on your toes.

Imaging studies such as x-ray and MRI are not usually necessary at first. If the first treatment fails to improve the symptoms, your health care provider may recommend these studies. MRI may show inflammation.

Flexibility exercise

Retrocalcaneal bursitis

Reviewed last on: 7/17/2008
Andrew L. Chen, MD, MS, Orthopedist, The Alpine Clinic, Littleton, NH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Aranow MS. Posterior heel pain (retrocalcaneal bursitis, insertional and noninsertional Achilles tendinopathy). Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2005;22:19-43.

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