An X-ray is one of the most common diagnostic tests to check for a fracture . On an X-ray, bones appear bright white while fractures appear dark black. However, an X-ray may not show a fracture at times. For example, certain wrist fractures, hip fractures and stress fractures may require additional tests, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan . An MRI can create detailed images of your bones and soft tissue. It is one of the best ways to diagnose stress fractures. While looking at your MRI results, your doctor will check for swelling, bone marrow abnormalities and fracture lines. Your doctor will interpret your test results to determine your fracture's severity and estimated recovery time. This typically depends on your fracture's location (relative to the affected bone) and the extent of your fracture's misalignment.