Are Foot Fractures Always Obvious?

Foot fractures are surprisingly common, but just as surprisingly, they’re not always as apparent as you might think. Knowing what causes foot fractures and what symptoms they trigger can help you spot fractures early so they can get treated before they initiate complications.

Stephen Lazaroff, DPM, FACFAS, and Joel S Segalman, FACFAS, FACFAO, help patients at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC, find the correct treatment for foot injuries, including fractures. Here, learn the basics of foot fractures, including difficult-to-spot fractures called stress fractures.

The ABCs of foot fractures

Foot fractures are common in part because so many things can cause them. Plenty of fractures happen during sports, especially sports involving repetitive impacts from walking, jumping, or sharp pivoting movements. They’re also common among active-duty military, thanks to the repetitive nature of training.

Another reason foot features are so typical is that your foot has many bones — 26, to be exact. Each of those bones is subject to fractures from traumatic injuries, as well as stress fractures, breaks associated with repetitive stress on a bone.

Stress fracture basics

Your bones are constantly remodeling: breaking down old, damaged tissue and replacing it with new tissue. Putting occasional strain on a bone can help it remodel more quickly, strengthening it to protect against damage.

However, strain sometimes occurs too rapidly, and the bone replacement cycle can’t keep up, resulting in weak areas of bone that are far more prone to developing stress fractures caused by excessive stress.

While anyone can develop stress fractures, they tend to be more common among athletes, people who are overweight or obese, and older people whose bones may not remodel as efficiently or as quickly as they once did.

Fracture signs to look for

Like fractures in other parts of your body, foot fractures can cause pain, particularly when you place weight or pressure on your foot. Swelling and bruising are other common symptoms, and of course, some fractures (called compound or open fractures) may protrude through your skin. These noticeable fractures make it easier to know when to seek medical treatment.

Other fractures — including stress fractures, cracks, and small breaks — cause more subtle symptoms. You might notice pain or swelling, particularly after spending a long time on your feet. Those symptoms may lessen or resolve after a period of rest, especially in the earliest stages of a stress fracture. 

Stress fractures can cause bruising and tenderness, making it easy to mistake them for injuries like bumps or sprains. Unfortunately, stress fractures tend to worsen gradually, which means the fracture can become more severe without you realizing it.

Diagnosing and treating foot fractures

Foot pain isn’t normal, and neither is bruising, swelling, or tenderness. If you have severe, sudden pain or persistant pain, swelling, or tenderness, it’s time to have an evaluation.

During your visit, Dr. Segalman and Dr. Lazaroff review your symptoms and, in most cases, order diagnostic imaging to “see inside” your foot. Depending on those findings, they may prescribe RICE therapy (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) combined with anti-inflammatory medicines, a special boot to stabilize your foot, or casting. Physical therapy may also be beneficial.

Find the cause of your foot pain

Foot pain and tenderness can have many underlying causes, but you should never ignore them if symptoms worsen. To find out what’s causing your foot pain or to be evaluated for a possible fracture, request an appointment online or over the phone with the Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists team in Waterbury and Newtown, Connecticut, today.