5th Metatarsal Fracture Recovery

Hi - I feel your pain!! I done exactly the same the 13th may so I'm on week 6. First 4 weeks in a cast NWB. Now in a fixed walking boot until my next appointment - another 4 weeks. However I can partial weight bare on my heel and should be able fully weight bare next week.

I was also worried regarding the possibility of an operation however the consultant was quite positive in that displaced shaft fractures do heal without surgery. No sign of any healing at week 4 X-ray tho!! The thought of going all these weeks to have to go through surgery anyway is a real worry for me. But fingers crossed when I go back in a fortnight some healing will have started and I can get rid of the boot.

Good luck with your recovery - it's hard going NWB but it's a really important part of your foot healing properly so get comfy!!!

Hi,  maybe we should all live in bungalows as five weeks ago I slipped down the stairs and broke my 5th met. too. Since then I have been wearing an inflatable boot, the type that keeps your weight off it. It's comfortable but clumsy when walking and I have done the usual chores apart from driving,shopping and dog walks. The foam sole is getting thin and I think I will practise wearing a walking boot soon as I think the support would be better. Hardly any pain since the first couple of days so I guess I have been lucky, I only hope that means it's mending. 

Happy rapid healing everyone!

Thank you for your comments. I'm just hoping that I don't have to have an op. Pain not as bad today, so feeling a bit better about it.

NWB is awkward, but at least I can work from home, so that should keep me occupied and make things go over quicker.

You too, hopefully the rest of the recovery will go well.

I know those concerns well. I fractured my 5th met at the head 9 weeks ago. My wonderful Dr prescribed NWB for 8 wks and recommended a knee scooter. That was a life saver! I found one with a basket online at WalMart for resonable. The other thing that is so important is, rest and elevation!!  Foot elevated over your heart. I lived on my recliner sofa (with foot on a stack of pillows sometimes depending on swelling). The swelling is natural for a fracture and may last up to a year. Mine is mostly gone since I have been mostly released from NWB, YAY!  I am weight bearing 1/2 day now, starting Wed. I don't use my scooter at all. After 8 wks on one foot however, I started NUCCA Chiropractor appts. to straighten me back out. I was 1 1/2 in diff. in my leg length., collar bone was out and knee (from kneeling} needed adj. It's a ripple effect. 

So be patient, I was told to eat lots of protein and veggies. I take a Good Calcium/Mag supplement.  I take a plant source one,  A good B Complex and extra B-12 is good for the nerves. And a Good Vit D or get out in the sun with no sunscreen for 20 min da.  And I take a really good Fish Oil or codliver oil. This is my mindset normally anyway.  But when I was looking at the potential of not walking all Summer or not healing properly I became more diligent.  

Another thing, sleep is when our body repairs.  So naps are our friend as well as a good night sleep.  And I found using pillows under and between my ankle and knee was helpful.  Whatever position supports the foot. I hope this helps.  I was so frustrated at first, I just poured over these forums and gleaned where I could.  I found there were different trails of thinking, but for me being religous about NWB and these other things has brought me through. And a whole lot of trusting, persistent prayer!

July 15th I will be airboot free with quite the education on foot fractures and the need to help these unfortunate people.

Blessings.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. You will find out who your friends are. hahaha

Hi Graham, we all start with a day 1. I recommend that you read through this forum as you recover. It has helped me know that what I experience is normal, what to expect by those who have come before me and great recovery ideas. If you see a bunch of people on here recommending the same thing - like elevating your foot for most of the day, it is most likely good advice. I broke my met 5 about ten weeks ago. I did have surgery two weeks afterward and it went well. Recovery is exactly the same as those who didnt have it. My xray on the 7th week after surgery showed bone growth. Yay! The pain subsided after a few days after surgery as long as my foot was elevated. I used a scooter and highly recommend that to anyone who is NWB for any length of time. I am now bearing weight in an airboot for 4 more weeks with lots of rest and elevation still mandated but feeling very good. My foot can really ache at the end of the day and swell, but rest is my cure. I make a point of eating protein and taking calcium and vitamin D. Hang in there Graham. Recovery happens.

Thanks for the advice.

Does anyone else have experience of knee scooters?  Are they worth buying? Are you able to use the outdoors?

Crutches are really awkwad, as you can't carry anything while using them.

I used a knee scooter. I bought it off Amazon. It worked in the community very well.

I have just been to see the consultant.  I was given a boot and told I colud start heal walking and putting weight on it as long as it wasn't too painful.

He said although displaced, it would heal OK, but no need to fully immobolise. I have to go back in 7 weeks for xray and check progess.

Very relieved, as it means I can start doing stuff.

Great news! It's so much better in a walking boot especially if you can begin to bare weight on your heal then build up.

I've began properly baring weight through my heal a fortnight ago and then full foot weight baring a week ago after seeing a physio at work. He gave me great advice on how to heal bare correctly (without limping), exercises to gain movement back in my ankle and how to get up and down stairs safely with crutches as I'd been crawling up and down on my hands and knees!. He told me to not be afraid to fully weight bare as the stress it creates causes the body to send extra help to the fracture site helping healing (wolfs law). I've felt hardly any pain and minimal swelling so far.

I'm back at the hospital tomorrow so fingers crossed the fracture has began to heal and I can progress further - going on holiday abroad next week and would like to at least be able to loose the crutches!!

Good luck tomorrow

What type of fracture do you have? It seems treatment is different depending on where and what type of feature it is .......

It was a Jones Fracture.