Can you walk with a hairline fracture in the knee?
Can you walk with a hairline fracture in the knee?
Doctors do not recommend walking when you have a stress fracture because it may reopen the partially healed fracture, and you may have to begin the recovery process again. Although you can walk, doctors would recommend staying away from hard surfaces and not walking long distances.
What is the fastest way to heal a hairline fracture?
How to Heal Quickly from a Stress Fracture?
- Apply ice and take pain medications to control symptoms.
- Use a cast or splint to protect the stress fracture site.
- Start partial weight bearing only when pain free.
- Increase your activity to avoid recurrence of fracture.
What does a hairline knee fracture feel like?
The most common symptom of a hairline fracture is pain. This pain can gradually get worse over time, especially if you don’t stop weight-bearing activity. Pain is usually worse during activity and lessens during rest.
Do hairline fractures require a cast?
Treatment for a hairline fracture looks different than that of a more severe fracture. You likely won’t need a cast, but the doctor may recommend that you wear a brace to keep your arm immobile. You should also rest your arm and use ice to control the pain.
How is a hairline fracture of the knee treated?
Treatment. The majority of hairline fractures will heal by themselves if the person refrains from activities that put a strain on the affected area. For the first 24 to 48 hours, a person can help the healing process by elevating the affected area and applying ice where possible.
What happens if a hairline fracture is untreated?
Ignoring a hairline fracture can lead to a more serious fracture or break occurring, which is more difficult to treat. If not treated or ignored, the hairline may not heal, resulting in a non-union fracture.
Is a hairline fracture worse than a break?
There’s no difference between a fracture and a break. A fracture is any loss of continuity of the bone. Anytime the bone loses integrity—whether it’s a hairline crack barely recognizable on an X-ray or the shattering of bone into a dozen pieces—it’s considered a fracture.
Can you bend a fractured knee?
Some patients may have permanent weakness of the quadriceps muscle in the front of the thigh after a fracture. Some loss of motion in the knee, including both straightening (extension) and bending (flexion), is also common. This loss of motion is not usually disabling.
How long does a knee hairline fracture take to heal?
Your doctor may recommend that you use crutches to keep weight off an injured foot or leg. You can also wear protective footwear or a cast. Because it usually takes up to six to eight weeks to completely heal from a hairline fracture, it’s important to modify your activities during that time.
How much do hairline fractures hurt?
What is the recovery time for a hairline fracture?
Common symptoms include: pain while walking, swelling and inflammation, redness of the joint and tenderness. Recovery depends on the extent of fracture and what has caused it. Nevertheless, complete recovery for a hairline fracture may take up to 10 to 14 weeks.
What are the symptoms of a broken knee?
Some signs of a broken kneecap may include pain, swelling, and difficulty when trying to extend the knee. Diagnostic tests such as x-rays may be performed to confirm the diagnosis of a broken kneecap. Treatment for this type of injury usually requires surgical intervention.
What are the symptoms of a fracture?
Signs and symptoms of a fracture include: Swelling or bruising over a bone. Deformity of an arm or leg. Pain in the injured area that gets worse when the area is moved or pressure is applied. Loss of function in the injured area. In compound fractures, bone protruding from the skin.
What do you need to know about kneecap injuries?
Rest the injured knee to prevent further injury and allow time for inflammation to subside.
