When you picture breaking a bone in your foot, you might imagine falling or twisting your foot in a way that snaps a bone. When this happens, you would surely be aware of it; not only would you remember the injury but you would also probably see the bruising, swelling and other symptoms of a broken bone. Sometimes, however, it's possible to have a broken bone in your foot without knowing it. Read on to learn more about stress fractures in the foot and what you can do about them.
What Is a Stress Fracture?
A stress fracture is when a force is applied to a bone frequently, causing it to weaken. Over time, the weakening gets worse and, eventually, the bone will break in that spot. Generally, the bones will stay in place, so there might not be the swelling and bruising that is associated with a fracture caused by a trauma. You might be more prone to a stress fracture if you are an athlete or if you often wear high heels, which force your foot into an unnatural walking position. Another risk factor is any foot condition that causes you to walk with your foot at an awkward or unnatural angle.
How Can You Know If You Have a Stress Fracture?
You wouldn't know for sure if you had a stress fracture unless you saw a foot doctor for an evaluation and an x-ray. However, there are some symptoms that might arouse your suspicion that a stress fracture is a problem. For example, you might not have any pain when you are simply walking around in your home, but when you put on your high heels or go for a run, you begin feeling the discomfort. Also, if you press your foot in the specific spot where the fracture is, you're likely to elicit moderate to severe pain.
How Is a Stress Fracture Treated?
If you have a stress fracture, you won't have the type of cast that you might have after a fracture caused by a traumatic injury. This is because the bones haven't moved, so there's nothing to set. Instead, your doctor will likely give you a soft cast or some other type of foot protection. You might need to use crutches or otherwise stay off of your foot. Rest and over-the-counter pain relievers often control the condition and allow for healing within several weeks.
If you are having foot pain, particularly if it lasts for more than a week, rest your foot and make an appointment with your general practitioner, who can refer you to the appropriate specialist to have your pain addressed.
Share9 January 2018
One day I was playing a game of basketball with a friend, and the friend I was playing ball with tripped and took a hard fall to the ground. He hit his head hard, but he insisted he was okay and just wanted to go home and take a nap. I knew in my heart that he was not thinking clearly, and I didn't feel right letting him go home. I talked him into letting me take him to the hospital, and after some tests, it was determined he had a bad concussion. The doctors told me that if I had let him go home and sleep, things could have taken a turn for the worse. I created this blog to remind everyone to look out for each other after injuries. Not everyone thinks clearly after a head injury, and just being a good friend could save a life.