Have you ever felt that sinking feeling inside your stomach, that minor soreness or shin splints because it hurts when you run? It’s the strike of fear that most athletes know: stress fracture. But what are the ways to know without getting an expensive bone scan or MRI? How long does a stress fracture heal if you have one? In this article, we’re going to share what is a stress fracture and the causes of this injury. We’re also going to share with you how long to wear a boot for a foot with stress fracture. So read on.
What is a Stress Fracture?
Stress fractures are popular in athletes and those who perform several weight-bearing physical workouts, including running or walking. Running or walking creates stress and results in a minor crack or bone bruise. Such stress fractures are more prevalent in foot bones, where you focus much of your weight when performing regular exercise. Fractures arise due to overuse, physical movement, surface shifts, damaged muscles, improper training, lousy equipment, and more.
There are two beliefs about why stress fractures are induced. One is that repeated stress muscle fatigue causes a lack of shock absorption and enables the force to be transmitted to the bone. The second belief is that the stress fracture is by repetitive muscle pressures operating on the bone. Both opinions are likely to lead to stress fractures, but in particular situations, the amount each contributes will differ.
The typical case is when a person experiences discomfort and inflammation. With the operation, the discomfort grows worse and decreases with rest. There is usually no history of getting an apparent accident. The participant would typically think of competing in a new, strenuous exercise, raising the difficulty of an old task, or exercising at a high pace for an extended time.
What Causes Stress Fracture
A fracture happens as anything more substantial struck a bone than the bone itself. It triggers fractures from athletics, and injuries are common sources of fractures.
Repeated stress on a joint, such as driving, may trigger small fractures as well. Those are considered cracks in the tension or hairline.
Often fractures occur from a bone-weakening infection or disease. Weakened muscles, or osteoporosis, are usually a common source of injuries in older adults.
Based on the severity of impact and trauma to the bone, the fractures may range from mild to severe. Several other forms of harm that may happen are:
- Breaks in the skin
- Nerve damage
- Muscle damage
- Organ damage
Ways to Diagnose If You Have a Stress Fracture
Pain is the primary symptom of a fracture. Most of the fractures can hurt, particularly if the broken bone is moved or placed.
These are other symptoms of injury that you may notice
- Swelling
- Numbness
- Bleeding
- Bruising or change in color
- Bone poking through the skin
Your doctor will test you for movement and any harm to the blood flow or joints and will evaluate the injured location. Many fractures can be detected with an affected bone X-ray.
Testing away from X-rays can also be required to assess the severity of the fracture and the effects.
When the fracture is minimal, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a bone scan may give more information. The MRI will often display the soft tissue region behind the hip, which can suggest damage to the muscles or tendons around it.
How to Treat a Stress Fracture
If you suspect you have a stress fracture, see the doctor and obey the instructions he or she sends you for the care. Do not neglect the suffering, because it may contribute to serious problems.
These are some of the medications that your doctor can recommend:
- Avoid the pain-causing practices. Stress fractures arise due to excessive stress; hence it is necessary to stop the action that contributed to the fracture.
- Apply an ice pad to the wounded place.
- Rest between 1-6 weeks. When you are willing to carry out low-impact workouts without suffering over longer stretches, you will continue performing high-impact movements.
- When sitting back, lift your foot to heart point.
- Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications to help alleviate inflammation and swelling.
- Use a lightweight boot to relieve foot or leg pain. That may be a stiff-soled shoe, a wooden-soled sandal, or a flexible bridge pair for thin legs.
- Your doctor can put a brace or fracture boot on your foot to hold your bones in a fixed position and relieve your leg pain.
- Use the crutches to hold the foot or leg weight off before a boot can be needed.
Certain stress fractures need surgery to recover fully. That is regarded as internal fixation. In the recovery process, sticks, bolts, and plates may be used to secure the foot and ankle bones intact.
How Long To Wear A Boot For A Foot With Stress Fracture
Wearing a walking boot will help shield it from further damage if you have a stress fracture in the ligaments, shin, or ankle. Also, a therapeutic walking brace will offer the comfort you need when helping the bones recover. Based on the extent of a stress fracture, it will take 6-8 weeks to heal.
Many stress fractures can recover by themselves if you decrease the exercise frequency and wear supportive boots for a while. As described above, the most effective thing to do is to avoid the action that triggered the injury. Whether you have or suspect you might have a stress fracture in your foot or ankle, you should consider a doctor’s treatment.
You will need to avoid all high-impact operations for a time for fast recovery.
Conclusion
If you have a stress fracture, I hope this article will help you. Stress fracture can put you on the sideline. Knowing how long to wear boots with stress fracture helps manage your bone wound. That should help you understand and prevent this injury from happening in the future. Find out more about first aid.