8 Signs a Broken Bone Is Not Healing
Key Facts
- 80-90% of fractures heal without complications when treated early.
- Nonunion occurs in around 5-10% of fractures, depending on the bone and risk factors.
- Smoking can reduce bone healing speed by 25–30%.
- Diabetic patients are twice as likely to develop slow bone healing.
- Persistent pain, swelling, and poor limb function are top warning signs of poor healing.
- Infections, even mild ones, can completely stop the bone healing process.
- Early diagnosis and treatment improve the chance of full recovery by more than 90%.
- Imaging tests, especially X-rays, are the most reliable way to track bone healing.
A broken bone usually takes weeks to months to heal. But sometimes, the healing doesn’t go as expected. When a bone doesn’t heal properly, it can lead to complications and long-term problems. It’s important to recognize the signs early so that you can seek help. In this blog, we’ll discuss the key signs that a broken bone may not be healing correctly and when to visit your doctor.
8 Signs a Broken Bone Is Not Healing
1. Persistent Pain
Pain is normal after a fracture, but it should reduce as the bone heals. If you still feel sharp, throbbing, or constant pain weeks after the injury, it could mean the bone isn’t healing.
Pain that increases with movement, doesn’t improve with rest, or becomes more intense over time may suggest a nonunion (where the bone doesn’t heal at all) or a delayed union (where healing is taking longer than usual).
2. Swelling That Doesn’t Go Away
Some swelling is normal in the early stages of healing. But if the swelling remains the same, gets worse, or returns after going away, it may be a red flag.
This lingering swelling can be a sign of inflammation, infection, or poor blood flow to the area, each of which can delay or stop bone healing.
3. Trouble Using the Limb
If you broke your leg or arm, you should slowly be able to put weight on it or move it with less pain over time. If you’re still struggling to use your arm, hand, leg, or foot like before, even after weeks of healing, your bone might not be healing properly.
Difficulty using the affected limb can limit your ability to do everyday activities and may cause long-term stiffness or weakness if not treated.
4. No Improvement on X-Rays
Doctors usually take X-rays during follow-up visits to check the healing progress. A healthy healing bone should show signs of new bone growth (called a callus). If your X-rays don’t show any improvement after several weeks, it may suggest a nonunion.
Sometimes, a CT scan or MRI may be used to confirm if the fracture is healing or not.
5. Instability at the Fracture Site
Once a bone starts healing, it should become more stable. If you still feel movement or clicking at the fracture site, that’s a sign the bone hasn’t fused properly.
This movement may be painful and could make the injury worse if not treated. It also increases the risk of deformity.
6. Numbness or Tingling
You should not feel numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations in the area of the broken bone. These signs may point to nerve damage, especially if the fracture involved the spine, wrist, elbow, or ankle.
If the bone isn’t healing and putting pressure on nearby nerves, it can cause these sensations. Over time, untreated nerve issues can lead to permanent damage.
7. Infection Symptoms (If It Were a Compound Fracture)
If the bone pierced through the skin (an open or compound fracture), there’s a higher risk of infection. Watch out for signs such as
- Redness and warmth around the site
- Fever
- Drainage or pus from the wound
- Increasing pain
Infection can stop the healing process and may require antibiotics or even surgery.
8. Fatigue or Feeling Unwell
Although this may seem unrelated, a broken bone that isn’t healing can affect your overall health. You may feel more tired than usual, have low energy, or even get frequent low-grade fevers.
This can be a sign of a lingering infection or the body using up extra energy trying to heal the fracture.
What Causes Slow Bone Healing?
Several factors can affect how well a bone heals:
- Smoking
- Poor nutrition
- Diabetes or other health conditions
- Infection at the fracture site
- Inadequate blood supply
- Improper alignment or stabilisation of the bone
These factors can contribute to a slow-healing fracture and increase the chance of complications. Quitting smoking, eating a balanced diet, managing health conditions, and following your doctor’s care plan are key to improving bone repair.
What You Should Do
If you notice any of these signs, contact your doctor. You may need:
- X-rays or other imaging tests
- Changes to your cast or splint
- Surgery to realign or stabilise the bone
- Bone grafts or bone stimulators
- Physiotherapy
Do not try to push through the pain or self-treat with home remedies. Proper medical guidance is crucial when a fracture is not healing as expected.
Fracture Stages of Healing
Bone healing happens in phases:
- Inflammation Stage (0-7 days) – Blood clots form, and inflammation helps clear debris.
- Soft Callus Formation (1-3 weeks) – New tissue begins to grow around the fracture.
- Hard Callus Formation (3-6 weeks) – The soft callus becomes hard and stable.
- Remodelling Phase (6 weeks to months) – The bone reshapes and returns to normal strength.
If healing is slow, it might get stuck in an early stage, leading to a slow bone healing issue.
How to Tell If a Broken Bone Is Healing
While only X-rays can confirm healing, some signs that a fracture is healing include:
- Less pain
- Improved range of motion
- Decreased swelling
- Return of strength
If these signs aren’t happening, it might be a slow-healing fracture or a case where smoking slows bone healing or certain medications slow bone healing.
Home Care Tips for Better Bone Healing
- Eat a balanced diet rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin D.
- Avoid smoking—smoking slows bone healing.
- Stay active, but only with approved movements.
- Keep follow-up appointments for scans and reviews.
- Avoid medications that slow bone healing unless advised.
When to See a Doctor
If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to contact your doctor. They may do further imaging tests and recommend treatments like
- Surgery (bone graft, internal fixation)
- Bone stimulators
- Physical therapy
- Changing your cast or splint
- Treating infections
Early intervention can help prevent long-term problems and improve healing outcomes.
Final Thoughts
Most broken bones heal well with rest, a cast or splint, and proper care. But in some cases, the healing slows down or stops completely. If you’re dealing with a slow healing fracture or any symptoms of bone not healing, early detection and treatment can make a big difference. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t wait; talk to your doctor and get checked.
A healthy recovery starts with awareness and timely action.
Frequently Asked Questions
If pain, swelling, or weakness continue after several weeks, or if your X-rays show no change, your bone may not be healing. Always follow up with your doctor.
Persistent pain, swelling, and visible gaps on X-rays are signs of nonunion. It means the bone is not healing naturally and may need medical treatment.
Yes. If the bone heals in the wrong position, it’s called a malunion. It may cause pain, deformity, or limit movement.
Smoking, poor nutrition, infections, or lack of blood flow can all slow healing. Chronic conditions like diabetes can also be a factor.
Most bones heal in 6 to 12 weeks. Larger bones or severe fractures may take longer. Healing time also depends on age and overall health.
No. Non-healing fractures need medical evaluation. Home remedies can’t fix the issue and may delay proper treatment.
If untreated, it can lead to chronic pain, deformity, infection, and limited movement. Surgery or bone stimulation may be required.
Yes. Numbness or tingling could mean nerve damage or improper bone alignment. It’s important to tell your doctor right away.
Yes. Blood thinners are among the medications that slow bone healing by affecting blood flow and clotting, which are necessary for the bone repair process.
Yes. Smoking slows bone healing because it reduces blood flow and oxygen supply to the healing site. Smokers are more likely to experience slow healing fracture issues than non-smokers.
Yes. Itching is common during recovery and is often due to skin stretching or nerve regeneration. It can be one of the natural signs that a fracture is healing.
Yes. Tingling is part of the healing process and may indicate nerve regrowth. It’s a normal sensation in many cases.
