Can I Have a Fracture Without Knowing It?

When you think about breaking a bone — what medical experts call getting a fracture — you probably picture a specific moment in time. Someone might break an arm falling off a bike or break a toe stubbing it badly. And certainly, a lot of breaks happen in a traumatic incident like those.

Not all fractures do, though. Particularly in your feet, some fractures develop slowly over time. Fortunately, Christopher Vittori, DPM, and Ameet Thakrar, DPM, specialize in treating these kinds of fractures, called stress fractures. Visit us at Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist in Homer Glen or New Lenox, Illinois, for the care you need. 

Understanding stress fractures

A stress fracture develops because of repeated stress on the bone. This results in tiny cracks (the fracture). 

Usually, this kind of fracture develops because of overuse. When you get a stress fracture in your foot, for example, it might come from running or another activity that puts recurring strain on your feet. 

In the beginning, the stress fracture might only feel like a mild discomfort. You can absolutely have this fracture without knowing it. You might notice, though, that the pain gets worse over time. It might get particularly uncomfortable during physical activity.

A stress fracture can make your whole foot hurt, but you might notice that one particular area is especially tender. That’s probably where the fracture occurred. 

Long story short, if you’ve been living with worsening foot pain, it could be a stress fracture that you developed without knowing it. Come see Dr. Vittori or Dr. Thakrar. At our office, we can use tools like X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans to see if you have a fracture. If you do, we’ll pinpoint where it’s located and how serious it is. This allows us to tailor treatment to help it heal. 

Getting care for your fractured foot

Here’s the good news: the body can usually heal a stress fracture on its own. Resting the area allows the bone to go through its natural repair processes. If you developed the stress fracture because of an activity — like your exercise of choice — taking some time off is key. 

To ease your discomfort and support healing, we might also recommend:

• Elevating the affected foot
• Periodically icing the area
• Wearing a brace or cast to immobilize the foot

If you need medication to manage the pain, take acetaminophen, not a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen. NSAIDs can slow bone healing. 

In some cases, a stress fracture requires surgery to properly heal. We can talk to you about your options if your foot needs a procedure. 

All told, if you’ve been dealing with persistent foot pain, it could be a fracture you developed without knowing it. To find out what’s going on with your foot, call us at Vittori Foot & Ankle Specialist, or schedule an appointment online today.