5th Metatarsal Fracture Recovery

Hi Terry

I have the same injury as you which happened to me 16 weeks ago. I had lots of swelling and bruising for quite some time. My swelling started to improve once I was weight bearing. My foot is not healing well however and I go back in May to see if things have improved any. So I continue wearing my boot during the day but not when I go to bed. It has been a slow, frustrating process. I did a lot of soft tissue damage as well, my ankle and foot are very stiff and sore with limited mobility. The good news I guess is that in the big picture this is not life threatening.... more of an inconvenience. I am hoping when I see the surgeon in May a decision will be made whether I need surgery or not.

Continue following your doctor's orders and I hope you are mending well. You will find once you weight bearing that your foot will let you know when you need to ease up.

Pam

Thanks for the response Pam.  You have encouraged me since I am not bearing weight yet.  You are so right about this being an inconvenience and certainly not life threatening.  I hope you get a good report when you go back to the doctor in May.  I really like my doctor and he has been encouraging, but can make no promise if I will heal on its own.  He did tell me this type fracture has a history of slow healing.  At least I feel better knowing that the continued swelling is probably normal while NWB.  Thanks

So sorry for you all. I delt with this for 3 months starting in June. I am 68, was a month NWB and when I went back to my ortho physician she told me healing was slow and I would be another 6 to 8 weeks but if she put a pin in the entire process is 4 off, 4 in boot then good to go. I chose that and all was amazingly easy. No pain from surgery which took literally 45 minutes. Wish I had told her to preform surgery right away. She offered telling me how slowly these heal. I wish you luck and hope you make your trip!!

I am glad that recovered post surgery.  It is always hard to know if surgery is the fastest/best route.  If I don't find progress at next office visit, I may seek a second opinon.  I have read that surgery is the fast way to recovery.  I've also heard from friends that had lingering problems post surgery, so the decision is difficult.  Thanks for the response.

 

What country do you live in? I can not imagine walking on a fracture even in a boot. They take at least 4 weeks to heal and 6 for100%. My ortho was extremely specific about what to do or not do.

I could not bear weight in the shower but that was for 5th metatarsal break. You need to be your own advocate in medicine no matter where you live. Make a list of questions and call back! Remember medicine is a business and they work for you. Well in the US they do and my husband is a physician. Good luck

I can understand your confusion.  At the urgent care center I was offered a cast or boot, and was told I should schedule appointment with orthopedic doctor within a few days.  I left urgent care walking in a fracture boot, and given instructions to RICE (rest, ice, compression and to elevate) until seeing the orthopedic.  At the orthopedic doctor appointment, he showed us my xray, and defined the break as a "Jones fracture" of 5th metatarsal, which has very low blood supply, and very slow healing (if it heals).  He told me that I could not put any weight on my foot for 6 weeks and that if I did try to walk on it too soon the bone would not heal.  I used a knee scooter, and have just now begun to bear weight by walking in the fracture boot.  I read Sandi's story about how the healing process is faster if you have surgery, so I plan to bring that up at my next appointment.  If you want to read the most recent posts on this forum, scroll to the bottom of the page and change the settings from "Oldest" to "Newest".  Good luck! 

Thank you Sandi and Terry,

I live in the US.

Wow, i didn't get any sense that i should avoid walking, just that should only walk with the boot. 

I wasn't told about continuing to ice 3-4X/day or elevating -- am doing both now!

Yes, for sure -- we need to be our own advocates -- thanks for reminding me of that which is all too easily forgotten

Sam

Want to add that my orthopedic doctor put me on supplements of calcium, vitamin D (3000 IU) and folate in addition to a multivitamin.  He also instructed me to wear the boot day and night - yes he wants me to sleep in the boot so that my foot doesn't get twisted while I sleep. 

Hi Samfoot

What was it that you fractured, how did you manage to do it?

I fractured my 5th metatarsal in my left foot 10 weeks ago today... (Feb 13th!)...went over on my ankle in gym..! Freakish accident...whilst skipping..!

So after having initial x-ray and foot in a type of slipper cast.. and on crutches.., I was instructed not to weight bear on it, keep it rested and elevate as much as possible..and return after 6 weeks for another xray and check if healed. Unfortunately in my case it has not healed so they wanted to give it a little further time to see if healed. I'm no expert but the xray even after 2 weeks looked to me like it would not heal..

No 2 fractures appear to be the same... don't let me panic you into thinking you may be waiting a longer time than you thought... As you do... I'm sure like yourself you looked up on the web the types of fractures etc...

Mine is a displaced acute fracture which runs diagonally along the shaft of the 5th metartarsal..I have been off work for 10 weeks (luckily I get paid!) I have an appointment with Consultant tomorrow, hoping that he will suggest surgery to speed up the recovery process.

About your travel question - I'm assuming that as you have a boot you may be weight bearing on it and not on crutches,....? Anyway, again no expert here.. but in my case the foot has circulation issues which lead to temperature differences...during day it is cold, then at night it swells and gets too hot, . Personally I would be wary of long haul flights, obviously bus class helps, but I would consult your doc or hospital prior to departure. (By the date on your previous post you may have already made your way to China)

Hope this helps, and you make a full and speedy recovery

Hope

Oh my!! I do not understand why these doctors don't recommend surgery!! My fracture did not heal after 4 weeks so put a screw in. Simple after that!!man do I feel for you. Are you dealing with gov medicine? I donot get waiting 8 months!!! So sorry!!

Hi Melissa,

I have also broken my 5th metatarsal. My specialist refuses to tell me exactly what the break is. Initially I was informed it was aligned and I had my follow up appointment a few days ago (the break happened 8 weeks tomorrow) for him to tell me it's always been displaced and when A&E told me initially they must consider things differently! Sounds absurd! I have now been informed that it's not healed, it's displaced and that I may need surgery still but will need a CT scan. He has advised me to come back in 3 months, as I'm currently also 7 months pregnant as we speak, once the baby has born. I'm furious he didnt just take some action sooner as now I feel as though it's harder for them to fix with bone grafts now aswell as pins etc. Plus with a newborn baby and moving plus a toddler already this is going to be ten times harder than if they had just operated 8 weeks ago! I could have been healed by now. My specialist has refused to do another xray due to the risk to the baby so just keeps informing me that it's not healed, which I gathered from the pain I'm still in. Are you walking on your foot? Have you been in an air cast the whole time? My specialist has advised me to get a supportive trainer but I don't know where to begin!?

I was also told to weight bare right away which was impossible until 5 weeks after the break due to the huge amount of swelling I had so have only been walking for the last 3 weeks even though alot of the information online suggests not walking on it at all. I have now looked to find a private consultant which is going to cost me a fortune!!

I have no words except that this physician should be shot!!😡

LoL I agree! Mine too..after 8 months of a non union displaced fracture my doc says oh let's get a cat scan.. meanwhile his resident was ready to do the surgery..grrr

I've had this non union displaced fracture for 8 months now and it's still not healed..yes I'm walking and working on it but with help of walking boot to keep it stable..they're trying to do a cat scan first but my insurance through the hospital hasn't gone through yet..I'm still in a great deal of pain and the foot goes blue and cold.. mine is also my left foot 5th metatarsal.. and hopefully I can get this done soon..it's driving me crazy

Wow...8 months can't bear to think how bad that must be.. Mine too is non union 5th metatarsal.. I've had 10 weeks of non weight bear and on crutches...

Luckily for me I have surgery next Wednesday (2 screws) - saw consultant this week.

I also have the blue & cold in the day then swollen and too hot & uncomfortable in the night..

I purchased a gel pack which can be warmed in microwave or frozen as required to aid temperature change of foot.....hope this helps

Why in the world these doctors let people be non weight bearing for so darn long. My doc said right away that she could put a screw in because this fracture is so difficult to heal. I am so sorry because being NWB is awful!!

My consultant simply felt my foot at my last appointment and even though I was in no pain and it wasn't swollen he told me it wasn't healed? I don't know how he knew this just by touch when I haven't had an x-ray since it happened 11 weeks ago. Surely an x-ray is the only way to see if it's healed/healing? Would he be able to tell by touch? I am currently in no pain in the foot at all and walking on it all the time. Sometimes it may ache by the end of the day but being 8 months pregnant so more weight to carry plus not having used my foot for 5 weeks and it was broken I can only assume this is normal? The only other pain I get is if my foot is out of the boot and it rests at a weird angle but again I can only assume this is due to having been in no position other than a straight angle in the boot for so long?

The walking boot actually gives me more pain than anything due to it being very awkward. My consultant said I could wear a supportive trainer but gave no further advise so I don't know whether this means a mesh type trainer or leather solid trainer? Any advice?

He initally said come back in 3 months at my last appointment and I didn't ask anywhere near the questions I should have done just to being in so much shock by his answers so I have another appointment on Tuesday with him. 

How are you getting on now Melissa?

How are you getting on now Melissa?

There's none of that aversion to surgery in Japan. Plus when you need surgery, there's no waiting. Of course it all comes at a price ... everyone pays medical insurance, based on your income. I feel the result is worth the cost.

Japanese doctors and hospitals tend to err on the side of caution. meaning you stay in the hospital longer than in the US or Australia. they are thus also suggest slower back to activity programs. At times it annoys me.

I did a stress fracture on my 5th metatarsal while snowboarding, it's now 8 weeks since the operation to insert 2 screws and wrap with wire. I feel I could probably be more active but am bowing to pressure from my wife. She is Japanese and more cautious than the doctor. Hope I can start driving from next week.