Stress Fractures

Stress fractures are very small breaks in your bone typically caused by repetitive force and strain. This is often seen in cases of overuse and overexertion. When you consider that your foot and ankle carry the entire weight of your body, it is easy to see why stress fractures most commonly occur in the foot and ankle. Other medical conditions such as osteoporosis may also make you more susceptible to this condition. Symptoms generally include pain that worsens with time and typically made worse with activity. Evaluation starts with ankle X-rays and clinical evaluation. Depending on the severity of your pain, advanced imaging studies such as a CT scan or MRI may be recommended. Stress fractures typically become prevalent on X-rays about 2 weeks after initial injury, which makes advanced images studies extremely use for a definitive diagnosis. If you had X-rays obtained elsewhere that were negative and are still in pain, this could be a reason why. Most patients will typically get better with conservative treatment measures, but it is imperative not to delay your treatment and see a Foot and Ankle Specialist as soon as possible for proper evaluation and treatment. Make an appointment today!