My main question: The articles that I read said that treatment for a stress fracture in the foot requires total non-use of that foot. What does that mean? Does it mean non-use in the athletic situation that caused the fracture, or like, “don’t-walk-AT-ALL-use-a-crutch” kind of situation? For how long? I extrapolated that he’d be bed/chair-ridden for about a week before walking around lightly - is this correct? (I really hate how the articles were like “LOL it depends, it depends, it depends.” I just want a *rough* estimate of a timeline!)
Also, the articles I read said that sometimes a cast is used, or a special kind of shoe, or nothing at all - just rest. Which situation would be most common?
Lastly, how realistic would it be for a stress fracture to heal in exactly one month? The athlete MUST go back to training after a month, and preferably start some light training after two weeks. Will there be any major complications, or will it mostly be gone? (I should mention that the athlete develops the stress fracture just days before a competition, competes, and then goes to the doctor right after - possible complications in healing time there?)
The purpose of the stress fracture, plot wise, is to give the character a month off for some friendship development with another character - if there’s anything that would work just as well (that doesn’t involve casts or immobility), I’m all ears. I’d prefer not to maim him permanently with chronic future pain - he needs to be in tip-top shape for the next competition.
And I guess while I have your ears, I’m looking for another injury to inflict on my athlete during the off-season (so he has lots of time to recover). I don’t want anything permanent that would cause him trouble competing in the future, just something to take him out for a month or two. I was thinking a twisted ankle with tearing/ruptured ligament, but again, I don’t want any lingering complications or pain. Does that sound ok?
Thank you so much in advance!!!
