Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for stress fractures in feet

by Kiel Wuckert Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Surgical Treatment
Some stress fractures require surgery to heal properly. In most cases, this involves supporting the bones by inserting a type of internal fixation. Specialized pins, screws, and/or plates are most often used to hold the small bones of the foot and ankle together during the healing process.

Medication

Treat the area with the RICE method.

  • Rest your injured foot as much as possible. If you must walk around or put weight on your foot, wear a supportive shoe with a thick sole. ...
  • Ice your foot. ...
  • Compress the area gently with a soft, loosely-wrapped bandage.
  • Elevate your foot, keeping it above the level of your heart. ...

Self-care

What is the fastest way to heal a stress fracture?

  • Get Proper Nutrition. What you put in your body has a great impact on how well you’ll heal from your stress fracture.
  • Quit Smoking. Better blood flow equals better healing for your bones.
  • Eliminate Alcohol.
  • Get Plenty of Rest.
  • Listen to Your Doctor.
  • Get Moderate Exercise.

Nutrition

#151 12 Steps to healing and running with a metatarsal stress fracture

  1. Confirm you have a metatarsal stress fracture. The very first step, when you have a metatarsal stress fracture, is you have to confirm you actually have a metatarsal ...
  2. Determine severity. The second step is to figure out how bad the stress fracture really is. ...
  3. Timeline for healing. ...
  4. Your most important goal. ...
  5. How dedicated are you to healing quickly. ...

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What’s a Stress Fracture and treatment?

  1. Get Suitable Nourishment. That which you set in your own body includes a fantastic effect regarding how you’ll mend against the anxiety fracture.
  2. Quit-smoking. Better the flow of blood equals far better therapeutic for their own bones. ...
  3. Expel Alcoholic Beverages. ...
  4. Get Loads of Rush. ...

What is the recovery time for a foot stress fracture?

What is the fastest way to heal a stress fracture?

How to heal quickly from a stress fracture?

How to heal a stress fracture faster [6 helpful tips]?

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Can you walk with a stress fracture in the foot?

It is important to rest your foot. Elevate your foot to decrease swelling and pain. Do not do the activity or exercise that caused your fracture. If walking is painful, your doctor may advise you to use crutches to help support your body weight when you walk.

How do doctors treat a stress fracture in your foot?

Your doctor may need to put a cast or fracture boot on your foot to keep the bones in a fixed position. Using a cast or boot help remove the stress on the leg and promote healing.

How long does it take for a stress fracture to heal in your foot?

How long does it take for a stress fracture to heal? Many stress fractures of the foot or ankle will heel in 4 to 6 weeks. However, healing times vary, depending on which bone is broken. Some foot bones, such as the navicular or the fifth metatarsal, can take a much longer time to heal than do others.

What is the most common treatment for a stress fracture?

The most important treatment is rest. Individuals need to rest from the activity that caused the stress fracture, and engage in a pain-free activity during the six to eight weeks it takes most stress fractures to heal.

Do you need a boot for a stress fracture?

The boot you have been given is for your comfort only and is not needed to aid fracture healing but will help to settle your symptoms and should be worn for walking for 6 weeks. Follow up: You will see a Foot and Ankle Specialist about 6 weeks after your injury.

Does it hurt to walk on a stress fracture?

However, the more often you participate in the damaging activity without allowing time for the bone to heal, the more likely it is that the stress fracture can worsen and cause the following symptoms: Pain, aching, and tenderness that worsens during and after physical activity or movement.

Should you wrap your foot if you have a stress fracture?

Compression. If swelling is present, utilize a simple ACE wrap around the foot and ankle to help with the swelling and pain. Start at the toes, and work up the leg. Take care to not apply the ACE wrap too tightly as over squeezing the foot can be irritating.

What happens if I ignore a stress fracture?

Stress fracture complications On the contrary, ignoring your stress fracture can lead to a range of complications, such as: Additional stress fractures. Delayed healing and increased pain. Worsening to a complete fracture.

Do compression socks help stress fractures?

Compression socks are a great tool for preventing stress fractures, especially when paired with the right training techniques and workout gear. When a stress fracture does occur, compression socks will help alleviate swelling, so you can get back on your feet sooner.

How can I tell if I have a stress fracture in my foot?

Symptoms of a Foot Stress FractureTenderness. The injured bone may feel painful or sore when touched; this is called “pinpoint pain”.Deep, dull pain. The pain may be felt deep within the foot or toes.Weakness. ... Intermittent pain. ... Swelling. ... Changes in biomechanics. ... Sharp, localized pain. ... Bruising.

Do podiatrists treat stress fractures of the foot?

In the foot, stress fractures most often occur in the heel and the bones of the midfoot. A doctor of podiatry may also treat a stress fracture that occurs in the ankle bones.

Will a stress fracture show up on xray?

Doctors often use X-rays to diagnose fractures, but many early stress fractures are too small to appear on an X-ray. If an X-ray looks normal but symptoms suggest the presence of a stress fracture, your doctor may recommend another imaging test, such as an MRI scan.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Preparing For Your Appointment

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Shreenidhi Kulkarni
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
It usually resolves with rest, supportive devices helps heal faster. Treatment depends on the severity of the fracture.
Medication

Anti-inflammatory drugs: Relieves pain and discomfort.

Ibuprofen . Diclofenac

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Provide rest to the body to help remodeling and provide strength to the bones
  • Use walking shoes
  • Use braces or splints
  • Use crutches

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Calcium rich food including salmon, broccoli, spinach, sesame seeds
  • Vitamin K rich foods such as eggs, avocado, rye bread, kale, spinach, broccoli
  • Lysine rich foods including dairy products, beef, pork, soy products, lentils
  • Vitamin C rich foods such as citrus fruits, green peas, mangoes, berries

Foods to avoid:

  • Avoid overly salty food
  • Avoid high in sugar food

Specialist to consult

Sports medicine doctor
Sports medicine doctors are medical professionals who focus on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of injuries related to athletic activities.
Orthopedic surgeon
Specializes in the surgery of bone and joint disorders.
Physical therapist
A health professional who helps patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

Terminology

  1. Recognize the symptoms of a stress fracture in your foot. The first sign of a stress fracture may be a slight discomfort towards the front of the foot. This is the part of the foot that often takes the brunt of stress during repetitive activities. Over time, you may notice other symptoms, such as swelling of the foot or ankle, tenderness to the touch at the injury site, an…
  2. Stop exercising if you notice stress fracture symptoms. As soon as you notice pain in your fo…
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Causes

Epidemiology

Risks

  • To reduce the bone's weight-bearing load until healing occurs, you might need to wear a walking boot or brace or use crutches. Although unusual, surgery is sometimes necessary to ensure complete healing of some types of stress fractures, especially those that occur in areas with a poor blood supply. Surgery also might be an option to help healing i...
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Clinical significance

  • It's important to give the bone time to heal. This may take several months or even longer. In the meantime: 1. Rest.Stay off the affected limb as directed by your doctor until you are cleared to bear normal weight. 2. Ice.To reduce swelling and relieve pain, your doctor might recommend applying ice packs to the injured area as needed — 15 minutes every three hours. 3. Resume acti…
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Symptoms

  • You're likely to start by seeing your primary care provider. If you are a competitive athlete, you might go directly to a doctor who specializes in musculoskeletal problems.
See more on mayoclinic.org

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

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