5th Metatarsal Fracture Recovery

I just found a regular hiking boot prob best...or a trainer...you need something supportive.  I have broken bones in my foot previously and found I was limited at first...lace up boots, trainers, then possibly pump type shoes (tho I wear orthotic soles so am supported properly in them..they may be a little flat and unsupportive otherwise?)

Good question Elizabeth, I have been wondering the same thing.  Do I take a shoe to the Dr appt. on the 15th?  Since I have a neuroma in my other foot I have sought out good shoes.  I have found that Salomon Running/walking shoes are really good.  They have a good firm sole and a nice orthodic type lining along with good style. Emma, a hiking boot in July and August sounds like an extention of this 3 mo nightmare.  hahaha  We have been in the 100s lately. 

That's a good idea Pat, taking a shoe to my doctor for his blessing. Thanks for the tip on the shoe too. I was researching last night and the experts recommend an ultra supportive heal - if it can bend it isn't supportive enough. Also wide toe area, good cushion, and making sure the shoe is not too small. They also recommend not going barefoot and to have something like a Crock available for walking around the house. Yeesh. So much thinking about shoes....

Salomon fits that bill. They are on the recommended list. Croc has some cute sandles too. Due to my neuroma issue and hardwood floors I have worn them for a few years now. I even wear a pair in the tub. Happy shopping.

Hi, everyone,

just to say a big thank you to you all and specially emma81473 for her patience and determination. I'm a 50 years old female DIABETIC from the UK. I fractured my 5 metatarsal at the base quite badly. ( displaced) . I twisted my ankle in a pothole on the pavement on 8 May 2015. Went to A&E and got put in a hard cast. 3 days later saw orthopedic Doc and he just handed me a piece of paper (without letting me in the examination room) and said "go to the plaster room and get an air boot and I'll see you in three weeks if it doesn't heal we'll put a screw!" I just said "I'm a diabetic" and he replied " well let's hope it heals". 

At my 3 weeks appointment thank god I saw a different Dr and he said the xray doesn't show any healing but it's early does yet and it will take St least 3 months for a diabetic to show healing. He said that I should come back in 6 weeks. He said that I should partially WB and exercise my ankle regularly. I did not WB until week 7 but I exercised my ankle straight away.

In the meanwhile the first Dr sent a letter to my GP and one to myself stating that I was told that I had a displaced fracture and it has a chance of delayed Union or even nonunion and that I'm refusing surgery. I was horrified and more worried than ever.

yesterday at my week 9 appointment thank god my xray showed healing and yet again I saw a different Dr. He squeezed my foot twice and the first time it did not hurt but the second time he squeezed so hard I felt a little soreness. I was wondering why would he do that when clearly on the xray the fracture was still visible but I must say the gap was much smaller. 

He said that I should now bear full weight with the boot and also try to put my foot down without the boot. Honestly I'm terrified to do that, since on the xray I could still see the fracture line. 

Today my foot was a bit swollen at the fracture site and last night was the very first time I slept without the boot. I'm walking more on it now and may be that's why. I'm still worried about doing more damage to my foot and the way he squeezed it. Im such a scaredy cat! 

Is it normal for the foot to swell at week 9. I got through these weeks by reading  everyone's posts and making lots of prayers. I followed a lot of your advice about calcium and vit D,resting,elevating etc.. These Drs don't say much..

i wanted to to share my experience to give hope to Diabetics and those with displaced fractures that after all we do heal in our own time thank god. Emma your were an inspiration to me. Thanks everyone.

I will keep you updated on my progress. 

Here's my xray from A&E

Now I'm really nervous lol I get my walking boot on the 14th after being NWB for 6 weeks. I'm nervous I won't be able to walk right out of there. I'm so tired of crutches and the knee walker. I broke my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsal at least those are the ones I believe he said. My ortho doesn't really provide a lot of answers. I asked him Last week when he told me I'd be getting my cast off if I can put full weight and he's like yeah and that was it besides telling me I will have to be in the boot for 2 weeks. So I'm wondering about pain, if ill be able to walk out of the office without crutches and everything

My Dr had me use my knee scooter 1/2 time for the 1st 2 wks.of weight bearing. And he had me only walk on my heel for first week. Then heel-toe. Just FYI. 

I did not walk out on my own in the boot, I waited until I was home and took little steps slowly, I was glad that I did because the bottom of my foot hurt a bit like pins and needles with each step. The healing bone did not hurt. After a few steps the tingling subsided. This went on for a few days to a week I guess?

Another thing to think about ahead of time is, what shoe do you have to wear that is the same hight as the walking boot? I lucked out and had a Croc wedge sandle that was almost the exact hight.  This is important to not throw off your hips more. 

Hope this is helpful and you get good news.

I never even thought of that. I have some nike air max shoes that have a high kind of heel. I'm so nervous about walking again. My ortho never really goes in detail about any questions I ask just short answers. I asked about full weight bearing and he was like yeah you'll walk on it fully. I broke the 3 middle metatarsals I believe and I don't think they were completely broken he never even told me all of that lol I'm just so lost about everything. Like will I have to sleep with it on, all of that stuff. I move the very next week after the 14th he says I'm clear for that but I'm nervous about it.

The nurse from the plaster room told me to get a trainer with as stiff of a sole as possible - something about it prevents your foot from bending so fracture continues to heal - although you sound further ahead in your recovery than me.

Yeah they gave me a trainer that prevents the bending it sort of rocks the foot when you walk. Is your plaster cast worse than the one I have. Mines is like the wrap they dip in water and wrap around the leg. But I'm just glad to be getting out of it. At least your nurses and docs are explaining things to you. I barely got an explanation of what bones I broke.

I was in plaster for 4 weeks (very light fiber glass one) and for the past 4 weeks in a fixed walking boot. Have to stay in the boot for another 3 weeks then wean myself into a stiff sole shoe the hospital provided. My fracture has only just began to show a bit of healing so not back the hospital for another 6 weeks.

I'm a nurse so know to just ask as many questions as possible when I see the Dr lol

I hope you go back with amazing results because I would never wish this on noooooobody. This is such a pain. I went to the doctor today because I've been having a burning feeling on th bottom of my foot and heel which I'm sure is from the way I have my cast but I couldn't see my doctor he wasn't in so I seen resident and they literally just took the cast off and put another one on until Tuesday!!! I'm like wth can't I just NWB in the boot and come back and see him. He didn't want to make that call smh

Then he tells me I'll have to use crutches and gradually put weight when I get the boot but 2 weeks ago my actual Ortho said I can fully weight bear and just keep the boot on for 2 weeks so I'm like literally so confused I'm moving th 21st and my Ortho says I can full weight bear I'd be fine to do so immediately but the resident not even seeing my X-rays or anything says partial. I got a peek at my little paperwork with the info on it I fractured 2,3,4 metatarsals it says nondisplaced it says it healing great and I come back in 2 weeks for removal, review and convert to cam boot lol I had to peek because they don't tell me anything

Hi Andrea

I have the same injury as you, 2nd 3rd and 4th metatarsal fractures non displaced, but i also have bad ligament damage.. My injury happened 30/05/15 im still nwb. I will be untill the 6/08/15. I still have pain.. constantly and was wondering did u have much pain at all? My pain could be the ligaments.

Mines happened on May 29th and I've been nwb up until July 14th when I finally get it off but initially I had a lot of pain and swelling was pretty bad. I was prescribed tramadol and one every couple hours the pain was so bad I had to get a different prescription for tramadol dosage at 2 50mg every 8 hours with a Tylenol. It was really painful. I've been using the knee walker, currently it'll swell up every now and then if I'm cooking and on the knee walker for a long time, but I'm in the cast and I have the burning pain on my heel and bottom of my foot if I keep it laying on that side too long and when I press my foot up against the cast i definitely feel pain. I pray for a speedy recovery for you. I definitely feel your pain, literally lol

What a nightmare! I am so sorry!  My foot burned on the bottom and heal often also. It seemed to be from swelling. I was so fortunate to not hav ea cast, when I asked the Dr about the burning he said "you do not want a cast", which I didn't.  I had the air boot and just took it off when I was sitting still and foot was elevated. He said absolutely no flexing!!!! Maybe you could request an airboot instead of the cast when you go back.  Don't feel bad about reading your records, THEY ARE YOURS!  We have to be our own best advocate and if possible take someone with you.  Blessngs!

Hi I'm now in my 4th week with air cast boot after 6 in nab cast. Doc said after X-ray on Wednesday to start weaning off boot . When I use boot I wear a trainer on my good foot and I adjust the crutch on my right hand side to make it higher to compensate for the boot I feel that helps me straighten up as I was getting a sore back using crutches at same height when walking outdoors with boot . Hope thi helps .