What You Need to Know about Stress Fractures of the Foot

You may be active every day without noticing any problems, but then a pain starts in your foot and slowly gets worse. At first, it feels small and easy to ignore, but it keeps coming back with every step. This pain can come from stress fractures of the foot, which are tiny cracks in the bone caused by repeated pressure. In this article, we explain all you need to know about this problem, so keep reading to learn more.

What Is Stress Fractures of the Foot?

Stress fractures of the foot are small breaks in the bones of your foot. These fractures usually happen from doing too much physical activity without enough rest. Most cases involve the long bones in the middle of your foot.

These fractures often happen slowly over time, not from one big injury. If you put too much force on your foot every day, the bone gets weak and starts to crack. This condition is painful and needs proper treatment to heal.

What Are the Symptoms of a Stress Fracture?

The most common sign of stress fractures of the foot is pain. It often starts small but gets worse if you keep using your foot. These are the main symptoms:

• A dull, steady pain in one area of the foot
• Pain that gets worse with walking, running, or standing
• Pain that eases with rest but returns with movement
• Swelling around the sore area
• Redness near the painful spot
• Bruising in some cases
• Symptoms that slowly get worse without treatment

What Causes Stress Fractures in Your Foot?

Many things can lead to stress fractures of the foot. These fractures happen when too much pressure is placed on the bones without enough rest. Certain habits or conditions can make your bones more likely to crack. Here are the main causes:

• Doing too much physical activity without enough rest.
• Running long distances or standing for many hours each day.
• Wearing shoes that do not support your feet.
• Having weak bones due to low calcium or vitamin D.
• Starting a new sport or exercise routine too quickly.
• Changing the surface you walk or run on, like going from grass to concrete.

How Are Stress Fractures in Your Foot Treated?

Doctors follow a careful process to treat stress fractures of the foot and make sure the bone heals the right way. These are the main treatment steps foot and ankle specialists take:

• Check the foot by pressing on it to find the exact spot of pain.
• Order imaging tests like x-rays or an MRI to confirm the fracture.
• Tell the patient to stop activities that cause pain or pressure.
• Provide a walking boot, stiff shoe, or crutches to keep weight off the foot.
• Recommend ice and prescribe pain medicine if needed.
• Guide the patient on safe exercises that avoid pressure on the foot.
• Monitor healing through follow-up visits and repeat scans if needed.
• Perform surgery only if the fracture does not heal with other treatments.

Let’s Recap

Stress fractures of the foot are serious. They may seem small at first, but they can turn into big problems if you ignore them. Early care helps the bone heal right. If you feel pain in one spot on your foot that gets worse with time, you should see a doctor. Do not try to walk through the pain or wait too long. Get checked in the foot and ankle clinics of Arizona, follow treatment, and protect your foot so you can move without pain again.

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