Treat a Stress Fracture

Stress fractures are caused when a bone is subjected to recurrent injury or stress over time. Conditions such as osteoporosis can also make stress fractures more likely. Athletes or those starting a new exercise program are most likely to sustain a stress fracture. If you have a stress fracture, handling it properly can help it heal quickly and avoid future complications.

Steps

Treating a Stress Fracture

1. Schedule an appointment with your doctor. If you suspect you have a stress fracture, you will want to visit with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to confirm the fracture, where it is, and how best to treat it. Before you go to your appointment, take note of the following:
   • Any pain in an area that increases with activity.
   • Where the pain is located.
   • How intense the pain is.
   • If rest makes the pain in that area subside.
2. Come prepared for your doctor's questions. Your doctor will have some questions to ask you in order to learn more about your possible fracture. Knowing what to expect can help you answer as clearly as you can, which will allow your doctor to best treat your fracture.
   • You should know when you first noticed symptoms.
   • You may be asked about any activities or sports that you play or are involved in. Let your doctor know about any increase in these activities.
   • Your doctor may ask you about any previous broken bones or injuries to that area.
   • Prepare a list of any medications you are currently taking.
   • Be ready to inform your doctor of any other health issues or conditions you have.
3. Know what tests your doctor may perform. Since stress fractures are smaller than acute fractures, your doctor will need to perform specialized tests to detect the stress fracture. Beyond the general physical examination, your doctor may want to perform the following examination techniques:
   • X-rays may be ordered if your doctor feels that it may reveal the stress fracture. However, since stress fractures are often small, they may not show up in an X-ray until weeks after the injury.
   • Bone scans may be used to locate the area of the injury. These scans use radioactive material which is introduced to the body via an intravenous injection. The radioactive material is highly visible during the scan, and shows which part of the bone is injured.
   • MRI makes use of magnetic fields and radio waves to get a clear image of both bones and soft tissue. This method is also able to detect the injury much sooner than the others, usually within the first week.
4. Take care of your fracture at home. There are a few steps you can take at home to help your stress fracture heal more quickly. This should be used in conjunction with whatever instructions your doctor may have provided.
   • Try to keep the affected area elevated. This will help reduce any swelling, inflammation, and pain.
   • If swelling is persistent, you can also try applying ice to the area.
   • Try not to make use of the area with the fracture. If your fracture is in a body part that you often use, such as a foot or hand, try to avoid using it more than necessary.
   • If your fracture is located in a foot or leg bone, your doctor may prescribe crutches.
5. Use pain medication if needed. There are many different types of pain reducing medications available. However, they vary in strength and side effects, so you will need to find one that works best for your level of pain. Ask your doctor to help you make the best choice.
   • Over-the-counter pain medications can help with a wide range of pain types. These include acetaminophen, NSAIDs, aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen.
   • There is some controversy regarding the use of NSAIDs. While they can reduce pain, they may also slow healing.
   • If your pain is not manageable with "over the counter" medications, ask your doctor for a stronger prescription.
6. Use the R.I.C.E method of treatment. R.I.C.E. stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Using each step in the R.I.C.E. method can help reduce pain and swelling to area affected by the stress fracture. R.I.C.E. is used during the first two days of sustaining the injury.
   • Rest the wounded area as much as you can. Keep weight off the injury to prevent further damage or a slower healing rate. If the injury is serious enough you may need crutches or a cast.
   • Apply ice to the injured area. Never apply ice directly to the skin, always wrap it in cloth. Apply the ice for up to twenty minutes and then remove. Applying ice for too long can cause frostbite or injury.
   • Compression will help prevent swelling in the injured area. There are some bandages and special tapes that can be used for compression. However, do not apply these too tightly, as it will cause circulation to be cut off.
   • Elevation is the final method to help reduce swelling in the injured area. If you can, elevate the affected area above the heart. This allows blood to return to the heart more easily and keeps blood circulating.
7. Return to your doctor. After your initial visit, you will have to return to your doctor for a check-up to determine how well your fracture is healing. Even if it begins to feel better, you should still visit to help ensure that everything healed correctly.
   • Talk with your doctor about how your fracture is healing.
   • Ask your doctor when you can stop using anything they may have prescribed, such as crutches or medications.
   • Your doctor should be able to tell you when you can resume normal activities.
   • Call your doctor sooner if you notice any increase in pain.

Understanding and Preventing Stress Fractures

1. Learn the symptoms of a stress fracture. Stress fractures aren't always as obvious as acute fractures. A stress fracture will likely not have the external symptoms, such as bleeding, bruising, or disfiguring. However, a stress fracture does have the following symptoms that can help you identify if you have one:
   • Most stress fractures occur in athletes or people beginning a new exercise program. The most commonly afflicted areas of the body are the foot and lower leg.
   • Pain and tenderness in the area will be the main identifier of a stress fracture.
   • Many stress fractures will not be noticeable at their onset.
   • If you notice pain during activity, over a large area where you suspect the fracture, it could be a stress fracture. This pain should fade when you stop the activity that caused it.
   • If left untreated, the pain will intensify and become constant. The pain will also become more localized at the site of the fracture.
2. Lower the risk of stress fractures. There are a few lifestyle choices you can make in order to help reduce the chances of sustaining a stress fracture. Try implementing some of the following practices in your life:
   • If you are starting a new exercise regime, or increasing an existing one, make your changes slowly. Don't overdo or overwork your body as you work towards your athletic goals.
   • Try mixing up your training routines. Training one type of action or body part will increase the chances of a stress fracture occurring. By mixing in low-impact exercise in your routine, you allow stressed areas to heal properly.
   • Make sure you are getting enough calcium in your diet to help build strong and healthy bones.
   • Check that your shoes are helping, rather than hurting your feet. Most stress fractures occur in the foot, and proper shoes that support and fit the foot can help prevent them.
3. Ease into new routines. If you play a sport or participate in some other physical activity, and have recovered from a stress fracture, you will want to slowly work back up to your normal level of intensity. Jumping back in too quickly can cause you to re-injure the area and wait once again for it to heal.
   • Pay careful attention to any activities that are high-impact, such as running. Start easy and slowly add more intensity and time to your exercise.
   • Monitor the area as you increase activity. If you notice pain or discomfort returning, rest the area and lower the intensity.

Warnings

• Work with your doctor to make sure the fracture is healing properly. If the fracture heals incorrectly, it may cause chronic pain.

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• Prevent Ankle Injuries
• Exercise With a Broken Wrist
• Splint a Fracture of the Upper Arm

Sources and Citations

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See also

• Diagnose a Frozen Shoulder
• Splint a Fractured Hand
• Heal a Broken Toe
• Cope With a Broken Wrist
• Heal Broken Bones
• Provide First Aid for a Broken Bone
• Recover from a Bone Fracture
• Treat Broken Ribs
• Treat a Broken Finger
• Diagnose a Broken Thumb

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