Can I Have a Fracture Without Knowing It?

Broken bones come in a wide manner of types. Severe fractures are often obvious, but when it comes to your feet, stress fractures are the most common, and these sometimes produce few or no symptoms. You could have a fracture without knowing it. 

Treating broken bones in the feet is part of our routine at Mastracco Foot & Ankle. Foot fractures are most likely caused by impact, crushing, or, in the case of stress fractures, overuse and repetitive motions. 

Taking a deeper look into stress fractures, we’ll examine causes, symptoms (when they exist), and what you can do about them, if you’re aware you have one. 

The nature of stress fractures

Stress fractures usually take the form of a crack or bruise in a bone. These are non-displaced fractures, meaning the bone remains in its normal position and probably won’t need to be set to heal correctly. 

If you receive treatment for a stress fracture in your foot, it will likely take the form of a boot, brace, or splint, some device that will immobilize and protect the area of the fracture to allow it time to heal. 

Causes of stress fractures usually trace back to some motion that has force, but not enough to cause a fracture with a single occurrence. Damage is often microscopic. 

When you frequently repeat this forceful moment, your foot doesn’t have adequate healing time between micro injuries, and eventually a stress fracture forms. 

Stress fracture symptoms

When symptoms occur, these can include: 

• Pain associated with certain activities or movements
• Pain when your foot is in use, but which fades at rest
• Possible visible bruises
• Possible tenderness around the fracture area
• Swelling around the site of the injury

These symptoms may be mistaken for less serious foot injuries. The RICE protocol is the right first aid option for both symptomatic stress fractures or other injuries with similar signs.

• Rest: avoid activities that cause pain
• Ice: use cold compresses to reduce inflammation and pain
• Compression: wrap your foot lightly with an elastic bandage
• Elevate: rest with your foot above heart level to encourage drainage

If you’re in discomfort, use over-the-counter medications to manage the pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also help control swelling. 

When you have no symptoms

If you have no symptoms from a stress fracture in your foot, chances are your foot will heal, and you may only learn of the fracture later if an X-ray is done for another purpose. When symptoms are mild, using the RICE method helps the fracture heal, which will likely take about six to eight weeks. 

A mild injury that gets worse over time or repeated activity is a reason to contact Mastracco Foot & Ankle for a full evaluation. Schedule an appointment by calling or clicking today.