Is Your Foot Fracture an Early sign of Osteoporosis? by: Damian Roussel, D.P.M

Many patients are unaware that unexplained foot pain or foot fracture can actually be an early sign of osteoporosis, a bone thinning disease that is blamed for 1.5 million bone fractures each year.

Osteoporosis is referred to as the “silent crippler” since it often progresses without any symptoms or isn’t diagnosed until a person experiences pain from a bone fracture. This is true because bones with osteoporosis are weakened and normal weight-bearing actions like walking can cause the bones in the foot to break. In fact I see many patients who visit my office suffering from foot pain, who come to find out they actually have a stress fracture without having experienced an injury.

While osteoporosis is most commonly seen in women over the age of 50, younger people and men are also affected. Early symptoms can include increased pain with walking accompanied by swelling. Often times I notice patients don’t seek treatments for their symptoms for weeks or even months thinking the pain will go away.

My advice is, don’t ignore foot pain of any type. Early intervention can make all the difference in your treatment and recovery. If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, it’s important to protect your feet from stress fractures. I recommend you wear shoes that provide good support and cushioning, such as athletic running shoes. If you are suffering from unexplained foot pain, don’t ignore it. Call our office for a complete evaluation.