When most people picture a broken bone (what medical professionals call a fracture), their minds go to a sudden, traumatic incident. Someone might break a hip falling or sustain a fracture during a car accident, for example. But not every broken bone happens in an instant.
There’s another category of breaks called stress fractures. These hairline breaks in a bone typically occur due to either overuse or osteoporosis. In either case, the bone wasn’t strong enough to withstand the force of that person’s activity.
Unlike traumatic breaks, stress fractures might not be very painful at first. That doesn’t mean you should ignore them, though. In fact, if you have the symptoms of a stress fracture, it’s essential to see a doctor who treats these types of injuries. Angel J. Garcia, MD, and our team at the El Paso Center for Family & Sports Medicine can help you determine if you have a stress fracture. If so, we can help you give that part of your body the support it needs to heal.
Stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bone. They’re common in areas that are under a lot of stress, like the feet and lower legs. They’re also common in people who are candidates for overuse injuries, like runners, athletes, and people with jobs that require them to be on their feet a lot.
In the beginning, stress fractures often aren’t very painful. Over time, you may notice the area becoming increasingly tender. Physical activity usually exacerbates the condition, and short periods of rest don’t necessarily provide relief.
The bone can heal itself, but only if you stop putting strain on it. If you ignore the stress fracture and keep doing the same activities, that hairline fracture can get bigger and bigger.
Instead, if you think you have a stress fracture, you should get medical attention for the area.
Here at El Paso Center for Family & Sports Medicine, Dr. Garcia and our team can help you figure out if you have a hairline fracture or if something else is causing your pain. With a physical exam and imaging techniques like X-rays, we determine what’s going on in the problem area.
If it is a stress fracture, rest is a key part of helping the area heal. You need to stop stressing the area. Depending on the severity of the fracture, that could mean simply stopping your sport/activity for a few weeks, or it could mean immobilizing the area (e.g., wearing a boot if the stress fracture’s in your foot). Dr. Garcia helps you figure out what you need to heal as quickly as possible.
Eating a healthy diet during your recovery period provides your body with the resources it needs to support its healing process. We can provide nutritional guidance to help you recover and maintain your health.
The sooner you catch a stress fracture and start resting the area, the easier it is for your body to heal the bone. Dr. Garcia evaluates your injury to help you determine when it’s safe to get back to your usual activities.
Long story short, ignoring a stress fracture means a longer recovery period. If you suspect you may have this type of injury, don’t wait to contact our office or schedule an appointment online.
