Stress Fracture

Calcaneus, fractures. Technetium-99m diphosphonate bone scan depicts a stress fracture of the calcaneus, which was not apparent on plain radiographs.

A person with a stress fracture may have normal xrays. She may only have pain when she does high-impact activity. She may have enough pain to cause her to go to see a doctor. Sometimes the fracture is never detected and the person self-limits because of pain, the fracture heals and life goes on. If symptoms cause concern, an MRI test or a bone scan can detect the injury and treatment can be rendered. However, if the offending activites continue, the bone could snap and require surgery or some other "drastic" measure.