Nearly one fourth of all the bones in your body are located in your feet. When you fracture your foot, one of these bones is partially or completely broken. Fractures or breaks are often painful but are rarely disabling. The severity and pain you experience varies significantly, but treatment is always needed to prevent further injury and long-term problems.
How Does a Stress Foot Fracture Differ from a Foot Fracture?
Stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bones surface and frequently occur in the bones from the middle of your foot to your toes. This can occur with sudden changes in stress to the foot or longer ongoing stress such as walking or jogging longer distances.
Stable fractures occur when the fracture continues to extend through the bone but does not cause a shift in alignment to the bones. A displaced fracture continues to extend through the bone and does cause a misalignment of the bones. This type is most often caused by dropping a heavy object on your foot or twisting the foot into an irregular position.
What Causes a Foot Fracture or Stress Fracture?
While it is impossible to prevent everyday accidents that cause fractures, it is important to know when to seek medical help for the problem. You should see a podiatrist if you:
- Fall from a height or step down awkwardly.
- Drop heavy weight on your feet or toes.
- Consistently walk or run on uneven surfaces.
- Overuse and put stress on your foot over time.
If you experience any pain or discomfort after experiencing the above, you should schedule an appointment with Board Certified Dr. Verville in Frisco, Tx.
Symptoms of a Foot Fracture and Stress Fracture
To avoid developing more serious injuries related to a foot fracture, you should look for the following symptoms of a broken foot:
Immediate throbbing pain at the fracture site.
Significant swelling, bruising, and blistering.
Difficulty or inability to walk.
Inability to put weight on your foot.
Bones through your skin.
A snapping or popping sound.
If you have a fracture in your foot you should avoid walking, even if you are able, as it may cause additional pain and prevent healing.
Let Us Know How We Can Help You
Contact us if you have any questions, or if you would like to request a consultation.
Treatments for Foot Fractures, Ankle Fractures and Stress Fractures
If you think you have fractured or broken your foot, ankle, or toe you should see Dr. Verville in Frisco, Tx as soon as possible. Try to keep weight off the injured foot and apply ice to reduce swelling until your appointment. Treatments for a broken ankle or broken foot depend on the exact location and severity of the fracture.
While treatment will vary from person to person, a broken foot or ankle is commonly treated with:
- Anti-inflammatory medication to stop swelling and pain.
- Rest to allow fractured area to heal.
- Physical therapy to stretch muscle and restore range of motion.
- Proper exercise to rebuild mobility and strength.
In most cases of foot fractures, a combination of several treatments may be recommended. More severe conditions may require surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
Additional Treatment Options for Foot Fractures & Ankle Fractures
Broken bones, foot, and ankle fractures, especially stress fractures are serious injuries and Dr. Verville may recommend additional imaging scans depending on the severity of the fracture. These imaging scans may include:
- X-rays: Most foot and ankle fractures can be seen clearly on an X-ray. Several different angles of bone images may be necessary to successfully diagnose the condition. However, stress fractures may not show up on x-rays until they begin to heal, which is why additional scans or imaging tests may be necessary.
- Bone Scan: This scan helps to identify breaks, fractures and stress fractures by imaging a small amount of material that is injected into the imaging area. Damaged areas show up as bright spots on the image.
- CT Scans: Computerized tomography scans are used because oftentimes they may reveal more detail about the bone and soft tissue around it than an x-ray image. CT scans combine multiple x-ray images to provide Dr. Verville with cross sectional images of your foot and bones.
If you have a foot fracture and need treatment, call our Frisco office at (214) 385-8822 to schedule an immediate appointment.
