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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

626 Replies

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  • siobhan15506
    siobhan15506 laura145

    Posted

    I have 3 weeks left on NWB but can walk on my cast, I'm thinking its a good sign that my bones are healing.... I'm still NWB as I don't want cause further damage.

    My bones weren't joining at last xray.....

    • susan69134
      susan69134 siobhan15506

      Posted

      NWB means just that so don't walk on it till they tell you to. My last x-rays at week 18 still showed no joining, I've a screw in mine so Dr hopes that will hold it together. I'm now week 22 walking (hobbling) mainly without crutches, just use one for if I'm out on uneven surfaces or if I'm going to be on my feet a long time.
    • angela78631
      angela78631 siobhan15506

      Posted

      NWB means no weight I was told not to walk with cast for 6 weeks so I didn't try to put weight on cast used crutches, as I want a quick recovery . After 6 weeks doc said it was healing and I was given boot and told to use 2crutches then 1eventually just boot. 
  • naz1965
    naz1965 laura145

    Posted

    Hi, update on my progress. I've had my first physio appointment yesterday. Our yet again fabulous NHS!!! The physio was ready to see me but she hasn't received my xray yet. I had to brief her on my whole history. However she was very nice and helpful.she gave me a few excercises to do which I think will help me getting my foot ready for walking without the boot soon hopefully. 

    I've managed to get around the hospital without my wheelchair! I also went to a wedding in the evening.  My foot was a bit sore at the end. It swelled up a bit too.

    my next ortho appointment is on 10th of August and physio 14th and I'm hoping to be out of the boot then. It would be just over 3 months since my fracture. Thank god my ordeal should be over soon biggrin

  • Blueshell
    Blueshell laura145

    Posted

    For the past 4 weeks I've progressed from 2 crutches to 1 fully weight baring in a fixed walking boot (one with big rocking sole on) consultant told me to progress to a stiff soled shoe (they gave me one at the hospital) which I've done today - OMG how have other people coped?! It feels really weird across the front of my ankle - although physio decided a few weeks ago that I'd torn ligaments around my ankle when I fell (no one else had picked this up during the previous 9 weeks) so I'm thinking this may be part of the reason it feels so weird? I've got no pain on the fracture but I've not had any pain for a few months now.

    I'm on week 13 now and not due back the hospital for another 3 weeks - last appointment at 8 weeks shown only a slight bit of healing and I was given an ultra sound machine which I've been using every day. I'm a bit worried I may do some damage in this shoe but gonna do as the consultant said and hope it's healed a lot more when I go back.

    Has anyone been given the go ahead to drive in one of these shoes? Consultant told me to get into a trainer but the nurses in the plaster room gave me the shoe instead?

    Thanks

  • siobhan15506
    siobhan15506 laura145

    Posted

    So i have an appointment in the fracture clinic tomorrow after 9 weeks NWB. I'm hoping to get the boot. I still have a bit of pain which is a bit worrying. I have fractured my 2nd 3rd and 4th metatarsals and did bad ligament damage. At my last xray the bones weren't healing so im really hope they have. Im just hoping I'll be PWB at least.
    • siobhan15506
      siobhan15506 susan69134

      Posted

      Back in a cast for 2 more weeks. Dr said its more than likey ill need pins because the 2nd and 3ed metatarsal are not healing straight. I dunno why they want to wait another 2 weeks tho. It's very frustrating. Its410 weeks today!!
    • siobhan15506
      siobhan15506

      Posted

      I ment 10 weeks not 410 weeks... lol
    • susan69134
      susan69134 siobhan15506

      Posted

      It just feels like 410!!

      At this time of year it could just be that holidays are dictating when to do your op, or perhaps surgeons wants to see if it will heal on it's own, you'll have to ask.

  • emma92012
    emma92012 laura145

    Posted

    Hi everyone I am new to all this, I've never broke anything in my life and on the 5th August 2015 I fell of a drop kerb😢 and broke my 5th metatarsal anyway I went away from A&E with a temporary cast no answered question nothing, I've got to go to the fracture clinic on the 18th, anyway I was wondering if anyone will know what is going to happened when I get there, I am hoping for a boot cast? I don't know if that will be to early, I have been trying to exercise my leg muscles and my toes I wiggle them all the time, I don't have any pain when i do this, I trying to use the crutches to help with toilet and stuff so I've not put any weight on my broken foot, and rest it as much as I can, I don't think it's swollen now but I have nasty bruise. Many thanks for reading xx
    • graham00230
      graham00230 emma92012

      Posted

      I guess it all depends on the tour of break you've got, however I broke my 5th metatarsal on 24th June. I was given a temporary cast at A&E and an appointment at the fracture clinic 11 days later.

      At the fracture clinic I was given a boot, told I could start putting weight on it and to go back in 7 weeks.

      It was still swollen and bruised when I went to the clinic, but swelling son went down when I started using it. Back at clinic on 24th, but no swelling and no pain anymore, so hoping xray shows it healed.

      I had a shaft fracture that was displaced a bit, however consultant thought it would knit back together without any surgery.

      The first couple of weeks are the worst and feel like they go on forever, but it goes much quicker once you're in a boot.

      Also, do you have to have the anti-clot injections while you're in your cast. They weren't very nice, especially as I had to self inject in my stomach

    • emma92012
      emma92012 graham00230

      Posted

      Hi, thank u for taking ur time to replying back to me. I have had no injection for anti- clotting. They didn't say much to me apart that to come back on 18th and just rest. Many thanks xx
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