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5th Metatarsal Fracture Recovery

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laura145
laura145

Hello. I have a number of questions.

8 weeks ago I broke my 5th metatarsal after falling. I just got out of my cast yesterday and was out in an air cast/boot. And the doctor left me with a number of questions unanswered and my next appointment isn't for 4 weeks with no physio or such before hand.

1. Today I have been able to start walking, worst I have been is using one crutch, mostly able to walk with no crutches, is this ok after only a day? I don't want to go on doing myself damage. The doctor told me that for my next appointment there is a chance that if I feel able I could come in my own normal footwear, but he never said anything for until then.

2. When showering, afterwards, am I able to weight bear for a step or two without the boot on to sit down again to dress etc. I'm unsure on this

3. What exercises are good to strengthen my calf muscles and also to gain back full range of motion in my ankle, I know one or two from sports injuries, but i haven't been told anything of this nature for this specific injury.

Any help would be very highly appreciated, as I just don't want to damage my foot further and either permenently injure myself or hinder the healing process

As aside information, I'm 19, a little overweight but in relatively good shape.

9 likes, 626 replies

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  • ruth11215
    ruth11215 laura145

    Posted

    hi laura and everyone who replied to her, how are you all now? i suppose you are all back to normal after several months? i'd like to learn from your recovery. from what i have read from you all, pain is the key measure of whether to hazard into normal foot use.

    i had a non-displaced 5th metastartal fracture on  left foot 8 weeks ago. i was in cast for 5 weeks, and used a walker, On the second week, ortho referred me to a PT who advised me to do left leg exercises till the cast is removed to get me ready for normal leg/foot use.  After the cast was removed, the xray showed there was "minimal callus", The ortho said it was ok, and referred me to physical therapist (PT) who taught me a new set of  leg strengthening exercises. , for the 6th week the PT allowed me to bear 25% of my weight  on my left toes, 7th week,more of foot was allowed to bear weight 25% still. im still on walker.  8th week now, no advise coz no appointment till after two weeks. my logic is to bear more than 25% weight on the so far allowed parts, and maybe try more of foot parts to bear weight, as long as there is no pain.  my family members are getting impatient why its taking so long for me to bear weight on my left heel and stop using the walker. Am i too gingerly and cautious> I tell them i did not get a go signal from the PT, and he was always cautious saying "its too soon" during my 5th  and 7th week visits. he always told me though to keep "it moving" eg my toes, ankle, leg.   when i go down and up the stairs, i move along on my butt, coz i am cautious.  ive been homebound since sliding and fracturing the left foot.  PT said he would refer me back to the ortho and xray after the 10th week.  my ortho has also not been an explainer, so i have been searching the internet.

    im not young like you. i am 56 years old, and have a sedentary office work liftstyle (tho would have wanted to have done ballet in my youth , smile). thank you very much.

     . .

    • JazziJ
      JazziJ ruth11215

      Posted

      Hello,

      I am 4 months since my 5th metatarsal break (non displaced) and would say pretty well fully fit bar the odd twinge.

      I was in plaster for 1 weeks, followed by a hard soled shoe at first fracture clinic apptment. 

      Non weight bearing on crutches for first 3 weeks, then weight bearing with crutches as pain allowed. Although during this time I was mainly at home with odd supermarket trip, and found using the crutches very tireing, so very little 'walking'.

      6 weeks after break 2nd fracture clinic apptment adviced to wean myself back into cushioned shoes (trainers), was only using one crutch by then. And started physio/ankle class once a week.

      At 8 wks did a 1mile park walk (no crutches) in approx 1 hour and found foot sore by the end of it, I repeated this the following week with no foot pain.

      Walks round town/shops OK for about 2 hours without pain, but would ache after that.

      Wks 10 and 11 after break walked 3miles (hike/ramble) with no problems.

      Wk14 walked 5 miles, slight twinge towards the end.

      Wk15 run for 1mile on a treadmill no problems.

      Wk 16 walk 6.5miles ramble no problems.

      I was advised to use the foot (walk on it) as much as I could as the stress helps to stimulate bone healling. I had 4 x 1hr ankle strengthening physio sessions from wks 8-12, with lots of balancing on one leg, I am also mid 50's.

      Hope that helps although we all heal differently

       

    • ruth11215
      ruth11215 JazziJ

      Posted

      Thank you very much, JazziJ, this is a great help.  just some clarification please, so with your cushionedtraiiners shoes at 6 weeks, you could walk normallly, like you could use your whole foot with heel and all already?! and 8th week thereafter, were you still wearing these shoes? > the balancing on one leg on wk 8-12, was on the ankle being strengthened? thank you very much! really grateful for your reply.
    • JazziJ
      JazziJ ruth11215

      Posted

      Hi Ruth,

      I was walking normally in my trainers but still using one crutch for a bit of support and not walking very far and a bit slower than normal, but was told by physio to use as much as possible and was walking up/down stairs ok.

      The ankle strengthening class was using both ankles but focusing a bit more on the injured foot, included balancing on one leg and pointing the other foot to north, south east and west, stepping off a step onto a wobble cushion or balance board, raising from a chair onto one leg, walking forwards and backwards on tip toes, heal/calf raises on a step. All to improve balance in general and regain confidence.

    • dianne71892
      dianne71892 JazziJ

      Posted

      Hello,

      I am same age group and presently at 4.5 weeks. I am wondering how you are doing now? Do you have any discomfort remaing?

    • sandi27417
      sandi27417 ruth11215

      Posted

      Wow everyone and every physician is so different depending on recovery. I have told my story before but am 67, horseback rider, walker, etc. my Jones fracture was non displaced but after being totally non weight bearing for 4 weeks it was only 60% healed so my ortho foot specialist and I decided to do surgery and put a screw in. I again, was 4 weeks non weight bearing then walking in a hard soled ortho sandal. In another 2 weeks I walk in tennis shoes. She said weight after 4 weeks encourages healing. I have no pain but it does swell when I have been on it too long. I am working out on my eliptacal machine and doing floor exercises with an exercise ball. I think pain scares people.

      My doctor also told me that surgery makes this entire process go much faster and guarantees not having a recurance which happens 50% of the time in active people. I had no pain after surgery because of 36 hour block and it took 45 min for the procedure. i wish you the best. What a bear to heal!!

  • stephiegirl1968
    stephiegirl1968 laura145

    Posted

    I feel some comraderie here because I just found out I have a stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal. I twisted my ankle on branch walking dog in October didn't hurt too much, it got better I would keep working out -skating, running, spinning etc. didn't think anything of it. But, pain kept getting worse as I kept up activity, I was having pain on side of my foot. So, 5 weeks ago I had xray that was negative. Having never broken a bone, I thought, great. I kept on working out. When it hurt, I would back off, but as soon as it felt good, I would do something, like run. I ran 4 miles in pain. Finally, went to orthopedic and they told me it is stress fracture. Now I am in a boot.

    But, the ortho was not very helpful with timelines, etc. gauging pain and resuming activity. So, this thread is very very helpful.Since being in boot for half a week I have had my first relief. But, today, I walked in boot to work from parking lot. Left work and couldn't find my keys. Walked back to work, back to car, back to work and back to car. probably a mile of walking and my foot is sore sad I am soooooo mad at myself. So, I guess I need to have crutches in case of emergency?? I had been so good not walking much on boot. And my foot was feeling better. Did I set myself back??

    Anyway, I just wanted to vent. I know I am in for a long haul of inactivity and I am not used to this. I am 46 and have never had my activity limited, it is really depressing and sometimes my brain tells me that my foot isn't going to heal and this is the new normal. Pity party smile

  • b100
    b100 laura145

    Posted

    Hey everyone, 

    Just wanted to give you an update on my recovery following my 5th Metatarsal fracture recovery in July 2014. For those of you feeling low and depressed at doing this injury and it limiting your activity I can make you feel better by the fact that my fracture was done as a result of losing sensation in my leg and foot due to a lumbar disc prolapse...so not only did I have excruciating leg pain/numbness and pins and needles...I then broke my fifth metatarsal on the same leg....and trust me despite these forums I could find noone that had done both these injuries at the same time!!! .I am super fit and due to injury on injury I have spent the last 7 months with restricted activity which has been more than a little depressing and draining at time... I was told I needed surgery on my lumbar spine in Dec 2014...but I am determined to keep from going under the knife......

    So on a more positive note I am now 9 months post disc herniation and 8 months post 5th metatarsal fracture and can give all those that have done this injury hope by saying I have basically no pain in my foot...I am restricted on exercise due to the disc herniation so have not been able to run, but I walk/cycle and swim miles everyday and have no discomfort in my foot, i occasionally feel it if I have done a lot of dancing ( I like to break dance! ) and if it is really cold...otherwise it is great. Have to say for those that are super active like me, I would say that having my acivity restricted due to my disc herniation meant I could really only swim at the start and I think this has been the best thing for my foot....so my advice would be...swim and swim more as this helps to mobilise and strengthen the muscles of the ankle and foot before you return to higher impact WB exercise....Good luck everyone, believe me I have been there and hoping am out the otherside....wink 

  • daphne1950
    daphne1950 laura145

    Posted

    HI laura

    I have joined the forum as I  too have broke my 5th metatarsal.. I am wondering how long before I will be well again.... I broke it 4 days ago and was put in an air boot and at the moment I am non weight bearing and on crutches.... ( Hands already sore from crutches , so put some soft fluffy socks on the handrests and this works well)... I am a Yoga teacher and distressed at this happening.. I have had to cancel all my classes.. I will be doing upper body work and hopefully abdominal work to keep me going. ... I can do both of these exercise lying down, using straps and hand weights.  I would ask a medical practioner about calf and ankle exercises as. you are right to be concerned about further damage.    As long as we move something I think we will feel better and more confident..  good luck and at 19 you will hopefully heal very quickly..  Daphne

  • sylviesw1
    sylviesw1 laura145

    Posted

    Hi. I broke my 4th and 5th metarsals in Nov 2011. 4th with no displacement, but 5th was quite badly displaced.

    i had to wear a boot for about 5 months, and then physio for 3 months.

    then things were ok for a while. I started living normally again and exercising regularly. Also started wearing heels again but not too high. 

    The problem which came later is that as my weight shifted differently on my feet. because of the injury I started putting all my weight on the 1st toe, and a serious bunion developed, with my big toe starting to shift at an odd angle. It was more and more painful and I had to have surgery for Agnus Valgus in April 2014. The surgery went well. Another 2 to 3 months later, and physio, etc.

    now the pain has moved under my foot at the level of my 2nd and 3rd metatarsals.

    the surgeon which I went to see again explained that because of the break first and then the surgery, my 1st, 4th and 5th toes had been shortened and I may need surgery and the 2nd and 3rd toe to shorten them !!

    i had cortisone injection to see whether things would get better. It didn't work.

    i am now trying some insoles, but this is not a long term solution. I really would like to avoid surgery again.

    any idea ? Please let me know

  • joe64636
    joe64636 laura145

    Posted

    Hi, I just wanted to share my expierence with my 5th metatarsal fracture so far. I sustained a jones fracture in my left foot 4 weeks ago whilst on Holiday. I was put in an old fashioned plaster cast for 2 weeks before visiting the NHS fracture clinic and am now in a walking cast - though they should call it a hard to walk cast.

    The first 2 weeks were quite painful and very depressing as I found even the most basic of tasks at home very difficult. I am 36 and very fairly fit and active. Ive been doing upper body weights at home as well as core excercies to try and stay in some sort of shape.

    As metioned the long walking cast makes it hard to walk - I can achieve a kind of shuffle but at four weeks I am now able to walk around my flat without cructhes and there is no pain so I am taking that as a good sign. Both my achillies are a bit clicky due to lack of activity but I am planning to get out and do more walking in the coming weeks. I get my cast off in 2 weeks and have booked 2 weeks physio after that.

    Liek most people I was given very little info on this condition and from researching the internet it seems people have wildly differing experiences of recovery. The young footballer from Preston has the record for a comeback from a 5th fracture, back playing soccer after only 6 weeks.

    I'll keep you posted.

    Joe

    • kristian15214
      kristian15214 joe64636

      Posted

      Hey,

      I badly fractured my 4th and 5th around 2 months ago, I was in a non weight bearing backslab for just under a week then switched to an air boot. I was back at work after 3 or 4 weeks but with wednesdays at home to recover. Between week 4 and 6 I alternated between airboot and shoes. Between week 6 and 8 I was wearing normal shoes but limped a fair amount. I'm currently on week 8 and there's some mild aches and pains walking on the foot; key thing is to try and walk properly if you can - if you ease or favor the broken area it triggers pains and limps due to stresses on other areas.

      So for me, it was walking in 2-3 weeks, walking normally in 8 weeks and I expect to be 99% good in 12 weeks.

    • catherine54524
      catherine54524 joe64636

      Posted

      Hi Joe, how is your foot? I have a displaced 5th metatarsal break and one doctor said surgery if it doesn't mend. I saw another doctor 4 weeks after that, two days ago, and he said, no need to x-ray after squeezing around a bit, wean myself from the boot this week, go outdoors without it. I have pretty swollen ankle and I am concerned it isn't going to heal properly and I will have pain always in the future. My foot is swollen today as it was days after the initial injury. I don't feel confident with this prognosis. Any help with the ankle swelling? Thanks
    • joe64636
      joe64636 catherine54524

      Posted

      Update on my progress:

      I wore a carbon fibre cast for 5 weeks with a walking shoe on it. I was nwb for 3 weeks then partial to full wb with crutches for 2 weeks. The jones fracture healed after 5 weeks in a cast.

      I then wore trainers and soft shoes for 4 weeks. My calf and shin were painful for the first 2 weeks out of the cast and my ankle would swell intermittently too.

      I was able to do cross trainer , bike and rowing machibe at week 6. I have been seeing a physio from weeks 8 - 9 and can hop on my bad foot, run backwards , do 180 degree jumps on both legs and do one leg calf raises as well as other weight bearing leg machines.

      I should be fine to do normal running from next week.

      I have kept a positive mindset , eaten a lot of good foods and pushed myself as much as possible to get back to full fitness.

      I hope my story helps those who have read only negative experiences. Oh and don't smoke ...smokers don't heal well

  • daphne1950
    daphne1950 laura145

    Posted

    4 weeks since my 5th metatarsal..no weight bearing I am  in the tall air cast boot. but i take it off to have a bath , I sleep in it without the  hard plastic front and put a cushion between legs for comfort. Going mad because i cannot do Yoga, but  I am doing core exercises and using the opportunity to concentrate on arms with some small weights and also using  a band for stretching on arms and legs. long passive stretching opening the fascia keeping flexibility for when I can return to teaching Yoga.... Meditation also helps especially when I cannot sleep. Good luck everybody..... it is only time!!! and we will repair!!! imagine being disabled for life, how lucky we are we will get better.

     

    • catherine54524
      catherine54524 daphne1950

      Posted

      Daphne, hi hope things going well with you. I have displaced 5th metatarsal,6 weeks tomorrow. I was only given the long boot to wear and no crutches, so I have been weight bearing since the beginning. My ankle has also been a bit swollen. I saw the doctor one week after the injury and he said it may need surgery if it doesn't heal. Two days ago I saw a different doctor and he squeezed the foot and seemed happy as I didn't have any pain, only in the ankle. He said wean myself from the boot this week. I walked around in the house without it yesterday and my ankle and foot were so swollen last night. He said come back in four weeks but if you feel you don't have to just cancel the appointment. I was a bit shocked. Not feeling too confident or happy. Did you have ankle problems too?
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