5th Metatarsal Fracture Recovery

Hi Laura, I trust you are now healed and that your questions have been answered. I am a lot older than you (68). I broke my fifth metatarsal running to the car in the rain! I slept with an ice pack on my foot that night, had a partial plaster put on for four days and was then given a plaster slipper with associated velcroed shoe. I walked with a Zimmer frame for the first week then found I could manage with one crutch. I am at the end of week three now and often walk ( limp) without crutches. It was a straight break and I have not had much swelling or pain but am wondering if I should be resting more than I am. I go back to the hospital in another 3 weeks and hope to be on holiday two weeks after that ..with some street walking included!

Hoping someone has had a similar experience and might be able to give me some advice!

Over 4 months ago I broke my 5th metacarcal......I went to the local hospital, was told I needed to see the ortho surgeon, waited 5 hours, then sent home with a boot, no instruction and didn't see the ortho.  2 weeks later I had a follow up appointment at the ortho clinic at the hospital with follow up xray.....once again, ortho was busy, didn't look at my foot or xray and popped his head into the room to basically tell me i was ok and to see my own doctor in 4 weeks.  4 weeks later another x-ray, which seemed to show it was healing but had some way to go.  Another 6 weeks in the boot, then x-rayed again yesterday, and that x-ray showed it has now stopped healing and is non-union.

I'm very angry with the hospital as reading what I have above it seems I should have been told not to put weight on it for at least some time.  

This morning my doc is arranging an appointment with a surgeon but I will not let them do surgery as I've had many life threatening drug reactions in the past.  Are there going to be other options for me?

I think it would be good to avoid bearing weight on that foot without an Aircast boot unless the doctor looks at an xray and thinks you have health enough that you don't really need the Aircast any longer. 

By the way, most do not mention this but it is important to ensure you have enough vitamin D. If you live in the northern hemisphere, you are probably short on vitamin D and would do well with some D3 supplements. D3, not D2, is the best form of vitamin D. How much should you take? That depends on your size, diet, and time in the sun. I personally don't weigh a lot but I need about 3,000 IU per day to keep my level high enough. At times, I have taken as much as 10,000 IU per day because my vitamin D level was lower than desired.

I am facing same the issue .

Hi Laura,

I too fractured my 5th metatersal.

But maybe it's my age57 but very active.

It was 12/3/15, it hurt by burning using a fracture boot but by 2/1/2016 I needed another opinion. Now this may not happen to a person of 19 my foot didn't heal I needed surgery with a bone graft and a screw. Did I do to much before? No I did what I was told to do. I would use your crutches and your boot until you see your doctor. Exercises you need to have a trained knowledge person .

I'm not at all patient but try don't rush it.

I'm still in physical therapy and I'm not a person to say it hurts I want to quit no I keep on going but will say it's a little discomfort

Call your doctor make an appointment to discuss exercises

Good luck it's a slow process

I am 68 years old and broke my 4th and 5th metatarsal dancing on the beach 7 weeks ago. Great NHS service , X-ray, crutches and put in a cast boot for 4 weeks then wore stiff soled shoes. Had final check at hospital 10 days ago, was told to go easy but gradually get back to normal in good stout shoes, now walking up hills and over rough ground around the countryside in boots with the aid of a stick. There was pain and aching at the beginning which gradually improved, had a tight calf and stiff ankle, probably due to cast boot, so stretched hamstring progressively and did ankle mobility exercises whilst watching TV, plus picking up a pencil with my toes to strengthen my foot. To  conclude take the advice of the orthopaedic surgeon, and push yourself just a little, can be uncomfortable but persevere through the ups and downs. Although everyone is different don't get dragged down by all the horror stories on the internet, it's usually only the problem cases people write about. I'm an OAP young bodies heal quicker, will be back to normal soon. Best of luck.

WOW I am just on day 23 of brake and 19 post op, cast off, nonweight bearing boot, 3 days ago, and took my first shower today per dr requesting i wait a few days. He did advise me not walk without boot, I did try and swelled up real nice. I have been on strick bed rest with heal over head 98% of the time since break.

​I noticed heal over head reduced a lot of the pan and swelling tho so I try an keep elivated. Our local lions club allowed me to use a scooter an potty to assist in my initial recovery but I find walking to bathroom more enjoyable. Personally against pain meds so sitting still was medication.