5th Metatarsal Fracture Recovery

Thanks, I was getting worried because I had'nt read anywhere that people still had swelling. I want to recover as quickly as possible.

 

Hello all,

I fractured my 5th metatarsal (Jones Fracture) about 2 weeks ago while playing basketball. The fracture is non-displaced. I've been in a hard cast for this 2 weeks and have been on crutches. I've been elevating my foot every night and trying to stay off of it as much as I can. I've also been taking calcium citrate w/ vitamin D and other multivitamins to help recovery.

I've mostly read articles that say these fractures take months to show any healing or lessening of pain. However, I hardly feel any pain at all anymore. I've been wiggling my feet/toes around a lot in my hard cast and haven't felt pain. I occasionally feel soreness with movement, but not anything like it was at first. Could it be possible that my bone is healing fast or does the pain fade after a little while? I don't want to rush but the pain is pretty much gone besides soreness. My doctor said 6-8 weeks at first but I find it strange that I'm not feeling pain anymore.

I am 20 years old on summer break from college. I'm an athlete and I'm also unable to work so this has been a very long and frustrating 2 weeks. I've still been able to work out my upper body but not much else. Any advice or suggestions are appreciated!

Mine is only JUST starting to heal , 6 months after the break.  I too have been very frustrated and upset as I am a fit person who likes to run and go to the gym, but couldn't do so.  I rested mine for ;6 weeks, total non weight bearing, foot above heart height etc.  However, unfortunatley for me it didn't work and no healing showed.  I was actually at my pre op in April (they were going to pin and plate) when the consultatnt decided to x ray again..and unbeleiveabley blurring showed in the break, which means it is starting, fingers crossed to heal.  Have had another x ray since, still healing, and one due in 10 weeks to check again.  So don't get too down hearted, although you could be lucky and it heals quickly.  Whatever happens, as long as it heals, by itself or with help, that is the main ting. I still get frurstrated as I can't run, and don't think I will be able to until the October at least....it will have taken nearly a year, but the main thing is that it heals in the end.

TO WALK OR NOT WHEN YOU HAVE PAIN?

I am in the US where treatment methods seem somewhat different. I broke my 5th Metatarsal 5 weeks ago in an undisplaced Jones fracture. I recieved an Una Cast, which is a soft cast, looks like just bandages, but provide more stability. I stayed in it for 4 weeks, all None Weight Bearing. I had no pain whatsoever. At the end of the  4th week, my doctor change my soft cast to simple bandages and a hard sole shoe and told me to start putting weight on, 50% for two days with a walker and full weight on afterwards. After 4 days I started to feel pain while walking. I did not expect pain. I knew that putting weight on brings faster healing, but I did not know if the pain is an indication that I might cause damage.

I saw my doctor today and he told me that I cannot cause damage at this stage by walking. He reiterated that putting weight on promotes healing. He advised to go back to 50% weight on and monitor it with pain. Do less if there is pain, do more if not.

He also started treatment with Electric Muscle Stimulation, which might promotes healing of the bone.