What Are the Symptoms of a Stress Fracture?

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone, often occurring in the lower leg and foot bones. Typically, stress fractures occur after repeated use and strain on a specific area of the body, such as long distance running or jumping. Conditions like osteoporosis can also increase your risk of stress fractures. Because they do not involve the bone snapping, stress fractures may be more difficult to notice, but there are some symptoms that can indicate the condition.

Pain on Activity

• One symptom of a stress fracture is if you experience pain while doing a certain activity, but once you stop and rest, the pain decreases or goes away.

Pain at Rest

• Over time, stress fractures can cause pain in the same area, even when at rest.

Pain Occurs More Quickly

• Because stress fractures get worse over time, you may notice the pain occurring more quickly each time you do an activity. The pain may also get worse with each activity.

Swelling

• The area around the stress fracture may begin to swell along with the pain.

Specificity

• Pain, tenderness and swelling related to stress fractures usually occur in a specific area on or around the hurt bone.