When Foot Pain Doesn’t Go Away: Could It Be a Stress Fracture?

It’s easy to brush off foot pain. Maybe you walked a bit more than usual or your shoes weren’t quite right. But what if that ache in your foot doesn’t go away? Or worse—what if it slowly gets more painful, even when you're resting?

If this sounds familiar, you could be dealing with a stress fracture—a small but serious injury that needs the right care to heal.

What Exactly Is a Stress Fracture?

A stress fracture is a tiny crack in a bone. It often shows up in the metatarsals, the long bones in the front of your foot, but can also happen in the heel or other areas. Unlike a full break, it’s caused by repeated pressure over time, not one big accident.

Think of it like bending a paperclip over and over—it eventually snaps. That’s what happens to your bones under constant stress, especially without enough rest or support.

Common Signs of a Stress Fracture

Here are some red flags to watch for:

• Persistent pain in a specific spot on your foot

• Pain that worsens with activity but improves slightly with rest

• Swelling or tenderness in the area

• It’s painful to press on one small area

• You may even feel like you’ve "bruised a bone"

Sometimes the pain comes and goes—making it easy to ignore at first. But without treatment, a stress fracture can get worse and even lead to a full break.

Why Do Stress Fractures Happen?

You don’t need to be an athlete to get a stress fracture. We see them at our foot clinic in Bishopbriggs in all kinds of people.

Some common causes include:

• Sudden increases in activity (like walking longer distances or exercising more)

• Wearing shoes without proper support

• Walking or standing for long periods on hard surfaces

• Flat feet or high arches causing uneven pressure

• Bone health issues like osteoporosis

At our musculoskeletal podiatry clinic in Glasgow, we often find stress fractures in patients who didn’t even realise they were at risk.

How a Podiatrist Can Help

If you think you might have a stress fracture, don’t wait. The sooner it’s diagnosed, the quicker—and easier—it is to treat.

At The Springfield Clinic, we offer:

• Thorough assessments to pinpoint the problem

• Access to diagnostic imaging if needed (like X-rays or scans)

• Gait analysis in Bishopbriggs to understand pressure patterns in your feet

• Custom orthotics from our Glasgow podiatry team to offload pressure

• A clear recovery plan to help you return to normal activities safely

Don’t Tough It Out – Get It Checked

We get it—foot pain can seem like “one of those things.” But if the pain isn’t going away, your body is trying to tell you something. A stress fracture is small, but if ignored, it can cause bigger problems down the line.

Our podiatry clinic in Bishopbriggs is here to help. We’ll listen, assess, and create a plan that actually helps you move forward—not just put a plaster on the problem.

Ready to Find the Cause of Your Foot Pain?

Book an appointment today with a podiatrist in Bishopbriggs and take the first step toward lasting relief.