5th Metatarsal fracture. Questions for you guys

Hi Kim, I know the drill. I am almost 68, have osteopenia but take Prolea which has helped, ride horses and work out as well. I had a stress fracture of my 5th metatarsal 5 months ago. I went to a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon who told me these fractures heal better and faster with a simple screw but since mine was non displaced stress fracture that I could wait 6 weeks to see how it was healing. I was non weight bearing 4 and knew it was not healing properly nor fast enough for me. She put a screw in at week 4, was non weight bearing another 4 weeks with bone stimulator which I swear by!! She sent a rep out with one and I actually still have it. My medicare would not pay! After 4 weeks I was weight bearing in a hard shoe another 4 weeks then healed!! No issues. My surgeon did say surgery guaranteed no recurrance. Surgery for me because of block was painless. Just wish I had not wasted the first 4 weeks. Hope my story helps.

calcium and vitamin D and lot of weight bearing exercise will strengthen your bones.

Carefully weigh the possibility of developing an osteonecrosis after use of osteoporosis medications...to my knowledge, it remains unpredictable as to who is at risk and who is not at risk. I lost a hugh section of bone, as in no longer in my mouth, and many teeth of my mandible to osteonecrosis of the jawbone.

I am in the USA, if a bone stimulator is what we term an anodyne, my response is, yes it works. An anidyne is external with infrared electrodes you place in position for set periods of time with some number of repetitions per day. I have used my anodyne for bone and tissue recovery. Thevprincipal is that infrared light spectrum attracts red blood cells. Red blood cells carry nutrients and oxygen. Nutrients and oxygen promote healing.

hugs

I am 62 I broke 5th metatarsal last April I was put in airboot 24hour a day not allowed to take it off when showering. Ankle stiffened had phisio and now I am back doing everything swimming walking and driving had no surgery. Take Dr.Advice if operation is not necessary don't have one.natural way is always best.

Thank you all for the input. I was speaking to an acquaintance last night who broke her foot about a year ago. Not the 5th metatarsal, but her xray looked similar to mine. She did not have surgery, and did use the bone stimulator (external unit with the pads you stick on your skin) and she healed well. She was down about 8 weeks total. My dr said 8-10 weeks before I was walking normally without the boot, so that makes sense. I guess there is no way to know for sure how something will heal. 

After this is all done, I'll check into the bone density issue. Dont want to complicate things further by adding in any new meds or treatments. 

I am still debating back and forth on whether to get the bone stimulator. $600 is a lot to pay, but hopefully it really does help. My insurance covers 80%, so that thing is pretty darn expensive! My husband wants me to wait and see if it heals ok without it, but I want to heal as quick as possible and not wait too long. 

I'll keep you posted. 

I have used a bone stimulator for about 5 months and have seen some improvement, but probably would have been in better shape if I had not waited so long to use it.  My insurance would not pay for it for 90 days and I felt that nature would heal it without it.  My out of pocket before 90 days would have been $3,000.00. Whether using it before the 90 days would have improved the results, I'll never know. At this point, the plate doc used to secure the fusions (I had 6) has moved and I'm in a lot of pain.  Doc says he probably let me out of the boot too soon, but my husband was diagnoised with in-operable stage 4 lung cancer in August, and he let me wear a good support athletic shoe because I was in and out of the hospital. I'm going to need surgery to remove the plate, but the delima is I need to help with my husband with his chemo treatments and can't do surgery at this time.  My advice is, if you're going to use the bone stimulator don't wait too long.

Went back today to see the dr. Today was suppose to be the day when he was going to tell me I could start walking in the boot.. but alas, it wasn't. He said that the gap top and bottom is not closing. Boo hoo. So now we are going to stay non-weight bearing for a few more days, then next week I will start walking on it (in aircast boot) 2 hours a day. He thinks that maybe it needs some actual pressure on it so the bone can heal. I sure hope so! He says as long as it doesnt hurt, then I am good to go. I am a bit scared, I will continue with the bone stimulator, which hopefully will help, too. I know that this bone is slow healing but he seemed really surprised that it had not healed more.