a stress fracture is a fracture of the bone that is not caused by trauma. when it comes to the hip and pelvis there are two common kinds of fractures (breaks). the first is a traumatic fracture. this is caused by something like a fall or an auto accident. in a traumatic fracture of the hip the ends of the bones may or may not align with each other. for example it's not uncommon for the head of the femur (the "thigh bone") to break off in the socket of the pelvis. traumatic fractures of the hip almost always require surgery. in contrast a stress fracture of the hip or pelvis can occur from ordinary weight-bearing activities like walking. if a person has osteoporosis (thin bones) the simple activity of walking can cause small fractures (breaks) in the hip or pelvis. in general these breaks are relatively minor. sometimes they are called "hairline fractures" because the pieces of bones stay in place. stress fractures often can be treated with rest and diet changes like increasing calcium and/or vitamin d. calcium and vitamin d help bones stay strong. after a period of time the bones may knit back together on their own. if you've been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the hip or pelvis be sure to follow your doctor's instructions carefully. a stress fracture may be a sign of weak bones. you will want to follow all medical instructions to make sure the bone heals and you have no further problems. wishing you well!
what is a stress fracture in the hip