Stress fractures can occur for a number of reasons. This small crack that occurs in the bone is caused, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, by overuse of the location. Muscles become less able to absorb shock as they fatigue, and this places more stress on the bones themselves. As small as these fractures often are, they can be very painful and limit the use of the location. The recovery times of stress fractures can last weeks--sometimes as long as other types of bone fractures. Identifying a stress fracture should be done through a systematic process.
Step 1
Observe how much pain you feel in the bone in question, and how that pain changes when pressure or weight is applied to the spot. Stress fractures are likely to cause increased pain when the bone is in use, and the pain then recedes back to lower levels as rest is provided to the bone.
Step 2
Notice how pain levels change throughout the day, including during your daily routine and activities. Stress fractures cause pain levels to rise during mundane activities, and not necessarily the ones that caused the fracture.
Step 3
Observe the skin and flesh around the possible fracture, looking for swelling and possible bruising. Swelling commonly occurs on top of your foot or outside the ankle when you have a stress fracture, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Bruising is possible, but some stress fractures do develop without causing bruising on the surface of your skin.
Step 4
Lightly touch the part of the foot where you believe a stress fracture has developed. These breaks will cause the skin and flesh around then to be very tender and sensitive to touch.
Step 5
Visit a doctor to have an X-ray examination or other diagnostic methods used to determine whether you have a stress fracture. Because of the cost of these procedures, it is wise to look for symptoms on your own, but if you believe a stress fracture has developed in a bone in your foot, only a doctor or foot specialist can conclusively determine what is causing the pain in your foot.
