Can you break your femur and not know?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 20, 2026
A broken thighbone (femur) — the strongest bone in your body — usually is obvious because it takes so much force to break. But fractures of your shinbone (tibia) — the major weight-bearing bone in your lower leg — and the bone that runs alongside your tibia below your knee (fibula) may be more subtle.A broken thighbone (femur) — the strongest bone in your body — usually is obvious because it takes so much force to break. But fractures of your shinbone shankbone, an archaic term for the tibia. › wiki › Shankbone
Can you walk with a broken femur?
Full recovery from a femur fracture can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 12 months. But you are not alone. Most people experiencing a femur fracture can begin walking with the help of a physical therapist in the first day or two after injury and/or surgery.
Can you break your femur and not know it?
Believe it or not, sometimes people can break bones and not realize it. Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen says some bones are more prone to fractures. Swelling, trouble moving a joint, or lingering pain after a few days can all be indications of a bone fracture.
What does a hairline fracture femur feel like?
What does a femoral stress fracture feel like? A femoral stress fracture often starts with a deep, dull gnawing or aching in the groin (inside of the leg) or front of the hip. Sometimes, the pain is felt in the thigh. It may even travel down into the knee.
What are 4 signs of a stress fracture?
The symptoms of a stress fracture can include:
- Pain, swelling or aching at the site of fracture.
- Tenderness or “pinpoint pain” when touched on the bone.
- Pain that begins after starting an activity and then resolves with rest.
- Pain that's present throughout the activity and does not go away after the activity has ended.
How can I tell if I have a stress fracture in my femur?
What are the symptoms of a stress fracture of the shaft of the femur? A stress fracture of the shaft of the femur is characterised by a dull ache felt in the front of the thigh that will develop over a period of weeks. The pain is often hard to localise and may even be felt in the knee.
How hard is it to break a femur?
The femur, the longest and strongest bone in the human body, is quite hard to break. Unless your bone has been weakened (most commonly the result of osteoporosis, medication side effects or cancer), it takes quite a lot of force to sustain a femur fracture.
How painful is a femur break?
A femoral shaft fracture usually causes immediate, severe pain. You will not be able to put weight on the injured leg, and it may look deformed—shorter than the other leg and no longer straight.
How do you tell if a bone is broken or just bruised?
If you've broken a bone:
- you may hear or feel a snap or a grinding noise as the injury happens.
- there may be swelling, bruising or tenderness around the injured area.
- you may feel pain when you put weight on the injury, touch it, press it, or move it.
How much force does it take to break a femur?
If you're looking for the specifics to snap a piece of your skeleton, it takes about 4,000 newtons of force to break the typical human femur. But don't run out and start applying pressure to femurs and then get upset at us when things don't crack correctly.
Do hairline fractures bruise?
A hairline fracture, also known as a stress fracture, is any of your bones receiving a small crack, or even an acute bruise. The damage may be instant but mostly occurs over time, due to repetitive tasks where the injury first appeared.
Can you walk on a hairline fracture?
Your doctor may recommend that you use crutches to keep weight off an injured foot or leg. You can also wear protective footwear or a cast. Because it usually takes up to six to eight weeks to completely heal from a hairline fracture, it's important to modify your activities during that time.
How do you know if your leg is fractured?
Signs and symptoms of a broken leg may include:
- Severe pain, which may worsen with movement.
- Swelling.
- Tenderness.
- Bruising.
- Obvious deformity or shortening of the affected leg.
- Inability to walk.
Can a broken femur heal without surgery?
Most people with a fractured femur need some sort of surgery, usually ORIF. Without the surgery, your broken femur may not heal properly. ORIF can place your bones back into their proper configuration. This significantly increases the chance that your bone will heal properly.
How do you sleep with a broken femur?
Invest in a specialized pillow, like a body pillow, for elevation—keeping the broken bone above your heart prevents blood from pooling and causing swelling. Try sleeping on your back first while propped up on a few pillows. If that doesn't work, slowly adjust yourself to a side position if possible.
How long does it take for a broken femur to stop hurting?
Full recovery can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 12 months.
What part of the femur is most commonly fractured?
the femoral neck (just below the femoral head) – called an intracapsular fracture (most common) immediately below the femoral neck – called an intertrochanteric fracture. the upper femoral shaft below the femoral neck – called a subtrochanteric fracture (least common)
Can a stress fracture go unnoticed?
Stress fracture symptoms can go relatively unnoticed in a person and may become known only after a bone has broken completely or another injury has occurred. If you think you might have a stress fracture, it is important to see an orthopedic surgeon who can diagnose you and help prevent further injury.
How can I tell if I have a hairline fracture in my leg?
MRI: The best imaging test for determining hairline fractures is an MRI. This test uses magnets and radio waves to provide images of your bones. An MRI will determine a fracture before an X-ray can. It'll do a better job of determining the type of fracture as well.
Is hairline fracture painful?
Hairline fractures can occur from overuse or repetitive activity. They can be hard to notice, but a dull pain often develops over time. Feelings of pain from light to moderate pressure can indicate a hairline fracture. Pain may be reduced using common painkillers, such as paracetamol.
How painful is a bone bruise?
While bone bruises are less severe than bone fractures, they can make the bone more vulnerable to fracture. In some cases, a bone bruise can be excruciatingly painful, severely limit movements, and take several months to heal.
Can you have a fracture without swelling or bruising?
It is common knowledge among orthopaedic surgeons that there may be no external signs of bruising in association with a fracture, and this is one of the many reasons why so much emphasis is placed on marking the limb before surgery.
What does a bruised bone feel like?
Symptoms of a bone bruise can include: Pain and tenderness in the injured area. Swelling in the area and soft tissues around it. Hard lump in the area.
Whats worse a fracture or break?
There's no difference between a fracture and a break. A fracture is any loss of continuity of the bone.
Is a femur stronger than concrete?
2) Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.
The thigh bone is called a femur and not only is it the strongest bone in the body, it is also the longest. Because the femur is so strong, it takes a large force to break or fracture it – usually a car accident or a fall from high up.
