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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment varies depending on the location of the stress fracture and on how quickly you need to resume activity.
Medications
If needed, take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to relieve pain. Some research suggests that pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others) can interfere with bone healing.
Therapy
To reduce the bone's weight-bearing load until healing occurs, you may need to wear a walking boot or brace, or use crutches. In severe cases, the doctor may need to immobilize the affected bone with a splint or cast.
Surgery
Although it's unusual, surgery is sometimes necessary to ensure complete healing of some types of stress fractures, especially those that occur in areas with a poor blood supply.
- Choi L. Stress fractures. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..10014-4--s0160&isbn=978-1-4160-3143-7&sid=1047023574&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..10014-4--s0160&uniqId=217064656-4#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..10014-4--s0160. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
- Stress fractures. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. http://www.aofas.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=54. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
- deWeber K. Overview of stress fractures. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
- Dugan S. Stress fractures. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/217064656-5/1047023574/1678/73.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50072-9_1152. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
- Glossary of orthopaedic diagnostic tests. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00272. Accessed Sept. 1, 2010.
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