Stress fracture in the neck of the femur

What is a stress fracture?

A stress fracture is a tiny hairline crack in a bone. It can occur at the neck of the femur as shown opposite. The can occur as a result of prolonged over use for example long long distance and ultra distance running.

Symptoms include:

• Pain in the hip when running and also afterwards.
• Pain in the hip joint during movement.

What should you do?

• Seek medical advice. You will need an X-ray but stress fractures do not always show up on X-rays until they have started to heal.
• Rest for 5 to 8 weeks. The new bone growth should be visible on an X-ray after 4 weeks.