Yes, you can still walk on a stress fracture… but should you? Doctors will adamantly tell you to avoid putting any kind of stress or pressure on your fracture site as it can cause the crack in your bone to widen.
 
If you’re currently in the process of recovery, walking on your stress fracture will often delay your recovery or stunt it together. If you suspect that you have a stress fracture but it hasn’t been confirmed yet, book in to see your doctor. In the meantime, however, you should still avoid walking on it to prevent the fracture from worsening. 

If your foot fractured? Or is there something else going on that’s causing your discomfort? Sometimes it’s hard to know, especially if you’ve never experienced a fracture before. The following are some key signs that may indicate you have a stress fracture: 
 
● Aching, pain, or swelling in the foot/ankle
● Tenderness when you touch on or around the bone
● Pain that begins after you start moving but subsides with rest
● Pain during and after an activity
● Pain that is present at rest
● Pain that occurs during normal activities (such as walking or doing chores)
● You are unable to shift weight on the affected foot
● Your pain gets worse when jumping
 
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, book in to see a podiatrist or your family doctor as soon as possible. To confirm a stress fracture, you’ll need to get some imaging done – this will likely include an x-ray, bone scan, and CT scan.

In most cases, a stress fracture will heal with time and rest as long as the patient isn’t putting pressure or weight on the affected area. Your healthcare practitioner may recommend that you wear a walking boot, brace, or crutches to safeguard the fracture site and take the unnecessary weight off the area.
 
Surgery, while less common, may also be recommended in certain cases. This may be an option if the affected area has a poor blood supply, or for those who want to expedite their rate of healing.
 
Depending on the placement and severity of the fracture, and how well you follow the treatment plan laid out by your doctor, the healing process may take anywhere from several months to a year.

Stress fractures are a common and easily treatable injury but that doesn’t mean you should take them lightly. Without treatment and proper care, the crack in the bone may grow and your pain will intensify. Stress fractures may also cause the bone to move out of alignment when left untreated, which requires significant and costly treatment to rectify. Therefore, it’s important to take your injury seriously and schedule to see a doctor as soon as possible.
 
At New York Foot Experts, we understand that foot pain is disruptive to your day-to-day life and can prevent you from doing what you love. Our team of dedicated professionals works tirelessly to ensure you get the treatment you need in a safe, professional, and efficient manner. If you suspect you have a foot or ankle fracture or need a treatment plan to get you moving in the right direction, contact us today – we’d be happy to get you booked in with one of our specialists as soon as possible. Our clinics are located in Wall Street NYC, Midtown NYC, and Harlem NYC. We serve patients from Wall Street Financial District NY, Harlem NY, Midtown NY, Lower Manhattan NY, Brooklyn NY, and Yorkville NY.