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I fractured my 5th metatarsal a number of weeks ago, I have a few questions:

Posted , 3 users are following.

richard95076
richard95076

Hello all,

I am an 18 year old male, very fit with sport and gym regularly. ( 6 days a week usually)

About 7 weeks ago, on holidays, I fractured my fifth metatarsal and went over on my ankle.

I went straight to the clinic to have it xrayed and they said that it was fractured from both sides, and that i would need to be in a half cast for 6 weeks.

So, i returned after 6 weeks ( last week) and I got the cast off and xrayed again. They told me at the start that this was standard lrocedure and that it would be fine after this six week period.

Unfortunately though, the new xray showed that it was still pretty bad, so the orthopedic consultant told me that I would need to wait another 3 weeks and have an airboot on for for those weeks.

What bothers me is that, I could be sitting down and home, or in bed, and it would suddenly get sore. Is this the bone healing itself? Or is the problem just becoming worse?

Also, i found that when i had the cast taken off, my ankle was extremely painful to move into certain positions. Was this a problem for others or is this just a double blow of injuries for me?

It's frustrating as I will be 9 weeks atleast immobile and wish to be fit again.

As I am only 18, would I need intense rehab? And how long will the rehab/recovery process take?

Thank you all!

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Blueshell
    Blueshell richard95076

    Posted

    Have they said what type of fracture it is? As 5 th metatarsal can have a few different types? I also went over on my ankle and had a displaced shaft fracture and it wasn't until I'd had the cast off and into walking boot at 8 weeks that I had physio - the pain in my ankle was far worse than at the fracture site - physio soon discovered that I'd torn the ligaments around my ankle (apparently quite common when you fracture by going over on your ankle) I'm at 14 weeks and just had the ok to come out of the walking boot and into trainers however the fracture is no where near healed. My main problem is ankle pain along with calf due to muscle atrophy - I've got a great physio who's given me support and exercises to strengthen both ankle and calf. I'm not due back the hospital for another 8 weeks but at least I'm mobileish and able to drive!
    • richard95076
      richard95076 Blueshell

      Posted

      Did you have the displaced shaft fracture in you ankle? Or metatarsal? Because if that's your metatarsal thwn 14 weeks is a long time! The lobgest I've heard of anyway!..
    • Blueshell
      Blueshell richard95076

      Posted

      Yeah metatarsal - it's still not healed as only slight callus formation noticed on last X-ray at 14 weeks! I've got to go back in 8 weeks but looks like I've avoided surgery 😀 I've also been using an ultra sound machine daily to try and increase healing. It's been a hard slog but I'm walking and driving so pleased with that!
  • jp66967
    jp66967 richard95076

    Posted

    What you sustained was an "inversion injury of the ankle" of which the fractured metatarsal was only a part, albeit the most obvious (soft tissue injuries do not show on conventional X-rays).

    The time to healing is not surprising.

    Te stiffness and discomfort in you ankle would be usual after that period of immobilisation.

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