Yes, some rare fractures in people less than 50 are non-displaced and can be walked on with mild pain.
One type is a stress fracture of the hip. These can heal by using crutches, but many need three screws through a small incision
One 26-year-old developed a stress fracture by jumping out of his garbage truck 120 times a day, always landing on his left foot. His hip required three screws and now he steps out of his truck.
These non-displaced fractures are sometimes invisible on plain X-rays and need a CT or an MRI to be found.
Worry about any bone or joint pain that is not 50 percent better in ten days, and if your doc says, “We X-rayed it. No fracture,” wait a week, and if it is just as painful, ask for a CT to be sure.
Walker Wynkoop, MD, lives in Los Banos and is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with 30 years of experience. He works at Surgical Affiliates of California. Please email questions to: Doc@Wynmd.com.
