UAN:230 Article type:--Because stress fractures of the calcaneus (heel bone) and tibia and fibula (lower-leg bones) share similar symptoms, investigations and treatments, we’re grouping them together here.Symptoms As with all stress fractures, you

UAN:216 Article type:--SymptomsThis is a stress fracture of the second (or sometimes third) metatarsal. You’ll feel pain in the middle of the long bone(s) of your foot, which will slowly increase with distance, reaching a crescendo as you end your

to prevent another fracture should you have a similar accident again.Runners are plagued by the stress fracture – to picture one, think of a crack in a china cup. The fracture occurs as a result of overuse and repeated stress to a bone, and the broken

overgrowth can occur in chronic cases.Medical investigationsProbably unnecessary, except to exclude differential diagnoses.Differential diagnosesBoth stress and complete fractures equal a calcaneal bursa in intensity and pain, so must be eliminated by x

to heal.What else could it be?There is a long list of possible alternatives, including: stress fractures, muscle pulls and tears, tibial periostitis, nerve and artery entrapment and blockage, referred pain from a lumbar disc, infections, tumours

, causing swelling of the nerve along with the pain.What else could it be?Pain over the metatarsal heads (metatarsalgia), a stress fracture of the bone, or tendinitis may mimic the pain, while conditions varying from diabetes to multiple sclerosis could

show swelling and calcification of the tendon, while a scan will give more detail if required. What else could it be?You need to be sure that the injury is not to the patella itself, such as a stress fracture or a congenital defect

it be?There is a long list of possible alternatives, including: stress fractures, muscle pulls and tears, tibial periostitis, nerve and artery entrapment and blockage, referred pain from a lumbar disc, infections, tumours, and pronation syndromes

and stress fractures.Self-treatment Rest is probably the most important element of RICE, as ice itself sometimes causes more pain. Make sure you have appropriate shoes, which will almost certainly include some sort of orthoses to limit your pronation

fracture or stress fracture of the calcaneum (heel bone), bone disease and local infection, or simply bruising of the heel’s fat pad.Self-treatmentRest aside, ice packs, good heel cushioning and a heel cup to firm up and thicken the under-heel fat pad, may