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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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  • Aprilc1981
    Aprilc1981 laura145

    Posted

    You can buy an exogen on ebay for 150-200 with not too many treatments on them. I actually just sold the one I bought on ebay back on ebay. I suffered a Jones fracture at the end of Jan. I tried conservative treatment for 5 weeks and when the x-ray looked worse I opted for surgery. That was 3/10. I just took my first steps today in the boot without crutches I will have been out from work 5 months by the time I go back.
  • Torrak
    Torrak laura145

    Posted

    I am 14 days past my 5th metatarsal surgery which required 6 screws and a plate. I can't feel my pinkie toe to the touch but it feels like electric shocks bursting through it.

    In addition my skin is so sensitive on 3 toes that if I touch the skin, it feels excruciatingly painful.

    Anyone else deal with this nerve pain after surgery and can I expect it to go away eventually?

    • sandi27417
      sandi27417 Torrak

      Posted

      Are you kidding? That sounds awful. Was it just for one bone? I had one screw for a non displaced fracture so had no pain and smooth recovery. I am so sorry!!
    • terry2017
      terry2017 Torrak

      Posted

      A very good friend of mine had a plate and screws put in for a broken 5th metatarsal and described nerve pain following her surgery for several months.  After 6 months she got a 2nd opinion from another orthopedic surgeon that specialized in ankle and foot and he recommended another surgery with revision to placement of plate and screws.  She had the second surgery, and had some improvement in nerve pain, but now 2 years later she says her left foot has never felt normal.  I am so sorry you experienced that.  I hope you improve with time without future pain.  My broken 5th metatarsal was nondisplaced and healed without surgery.  I'm sure you will hear from others that have had the surgery with plates and screws.  Good luck.

    • pam84350
      pam84350 Torrak

      Posted

      Hi.....I am 3 weeks since my 5th metatarsal surgery. I had a screw fixation and bone graft to repair a jones fracture. I was 25 weeks with my fracture prior to surgery. I had/have much of the same sensations you describe in my foot from the fall itself. Numbness in the 4th and 5th toes, extreme sensitivity and soreness at the base of the toes on top of the foot, soreness and sometimes burning around the fracture site and a very sore ankle. And this is all before surgery. The intensity of some of these sensations did improve to some extent prior to my surgery but the toes and soreness at fracture site certainly regressed post surgery. I did a lot of damage to my ligaments, tendons and nerves. So I think the sensitivity, numbness and what you describe as electric shocks(which sounds like nerves regenerating) are all fairly normal given the injury. And it can take a long time to heal. Does it ever feel normal again.....I have no idea but I am inclined to think I may need to adjust to a new normal. Time will tell.
    • sandi27417
      sandi27417 pam84350

      Posted

      why did you go 25 weeks before surgery? I don't understand. So sorry for you all. My foot is totally normal but, my fracture was non displaced stress fracture. I was 67 at the time. Wow. guess I was fortunate to find my foot and ankle ortho doc who told me surgery was the quickest healing but that I could wait. I did wait NWB for 4 weeks but, when I looked at films, there was absolutely no healing so wanted to go ahead with surgery then bone stimulator. I admire you all because being totally NWB literally sucks!!!!

    • pam84350
      pam84350 sandi27417

      Posted

      Well Sandi, I guess it was a combination of factors. I live in Ontario, Canada and the standard practice at the Kingston hospital would initially be to see if the fracture would heal on its own. I was completely in agreement with that as I had cancer 3 years ago and was wanting to avoid another surgery. I also have an autoimmune disorder and wasn't aware that the medication I was taking interferes with healing. Finally at one of my ortho appointments a resident was asking about my medical history and hence the medication discussion. It was at that point I opted for surgery and I have temporarily gone off of all medications to promote the best healing possible. Although I'm currently having a flare with my psoriatic arthritis and feeling quite seized up, this too shall pass. In retrospect, wishing I had chosen the surgery route much sooner.....

    • sandi27417
      sandi27417 pam84350

      Posted

      Oh man! Let us know how surgery goes! You have been dealt some troublesome cards. if it helps any, my surgery was a piece of care and with 34 hour block, no pain. 4 weeks off then 4 in walking boot then 4 to go
    • james03256
      james03256 Torrak

      Posted

      Hi "Torrak"- when I fx my metatarsal, I had hypersensitivity and couldn't even touch the skin. This is clearly nerve pain and maybe an overreaction of you're nervous system. There is medication that may help and in my case it went away, although we have different situations as I did not have surgery but definately had an over reaction of my nerves. Have you spoken to you're surgeon about this?

    • ashleigh05866
      ashleigh05866 Torrak

      Posted

      Hi Torrak. How are you doing now? I had surgery this week on my right 5th metatarsal. Originally it was supposed to be fixed with a pin, but it was worse than they thought when they got in there. So I now have 5 screws and a plate. I don't know if my pinky toe is numb or not because it's all wrapped up!

      Thankfully the pain that came on yesterday once the block wore off is subsiding. I can't wait to just get better and get on with my life! I hope I don't have nerve pain but I will try to just be happy with a fixed bone. Clearly there was no way this fracture was going to heal on its own.

  • abdullah29766
    abdullah29766 laura145

    Posted

    I broke my fifth metatarsal 6 weeks ago and was in a cast on Thursday i removed the cast I don't feel pain in the fracture area but i feel much pain in my foot and ankle and when I press near the fracture area I feel very little pain i wanted to tell you my story because i read all horror stories online

    • pam80836
      pam80836 abdullah29766

      Posted

      Hi.  Has yours healed then.  I am still in significant pain. Does not help that I fell on crutches and in doing so I put whole of my foot down therefore I'm not sure if I may have caused more damage

    • abdullah29766
      abdullah29766 pam80836

      Posted

      I am now wearing normal shoes but i am using one crutch the problem that I can't tell i fell pain or not cause I feel much pain in my ankle

  • roger_in_u75174
    roger_in_u75174 laura145

    Posted

    About 16 weeks ago I suffered a displaced Jones Fracture during a car accident. No surgery and still immobilized in boot.  Still has not healed and I just started on a bone stimulator.  Been NWB since injury with crutches and knee scooter at home.  Severe pain at point of fracture and along right side and top of foot.  At times pain with numbness is almost unbearable in my little toe and next two toes and top of foot.   Have been doing PT to avoid atrophy and I just had MRIs performed on foot and ankle because of possible nerve damage.  For me, I have also sought psych counseling  because the mental stress and lack of sleep from pain and not working has been as bad as the physical pain .  All sleep meds and psych meds conflict with my pain meds.  Very frustrating and I can't wait to put this injury behind me. 

    • tash49034
      tash49034 roger_in_u75174

      Posted

      Good luck Roger! I know what you mean about the mental trauma. It really took a toll and me and I thought I was never going to get better, and felt so extremely frustrated to be off work and not being able to do the things I love. I had non displaced spiral shaft fracture on 5th metatarsal, and my foot took a good 3.5 months to truly feel comfortable. Only in the last few weeks have I managed to comfortably wear shoes other than my sneakers. I still have a visible fracture line and never got any callus formation (Dr says v strange) but I have no symptoms anymore. Have faith! Buy some comfrey cream and apply x3 daily, I found this made a huge difference for me in terms of pain - hard and soft tissues! 

      Hope your MRI results are positive, and that you heal quickly!

    • roger_in_u75174
      roger_in_u75174 tash49034

      Posted

      Thanks for your feedback!  Being unable work and  being dependent on other people for everything has been really tough on me.  Plus only getting about 2-3 hours sleep at night because I cannot take sleep meds until I'm off my pain meds has made it even more difficult. Hopefully between bone stimulator and counseling I'll be able to get through everything.  Just wish I had a more clear and definitive prognosis.  Thanks again.

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