1. Community
  2. Injury and accidents
  3. Foot and Toe Problems

5th Metatarsal Fracture Recovery

Posted , 152 users are following.

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

626 Replies

Prev Next
  • Andrea217
    Andrea217 laura145

    Posted

    Hey Guys so I have so I have a few questions because my Ortho never answers anything. So quick to slap a cast on without evening telling me anything. Ok so on May 29th I fractured 3 of the metatarsal bones in my foot. I'm guessing the middle ones and I went to emergency and they put me in a splint from my knee down. That was Friday, fast forward to I believe it was Tuesday the 2nd I go to the Ortho get X-rays and he says yeah you fractured 3 metatarsals and you'll need a cast for 6 weeks Non weight bearing.

    That's literally all he really did. He didn't show me any xrays or say anything else just asked what color smh So now it's been 4 weeks I've been seeing him every 2 weeks. Last visit he took the cast off xrays and says I need another cast non weight bearing he says it's healing but isn't healed. Didn't show me xrays or say much else. So now I go back Tuesday the 30th and he'll take this one off and X-ray again and I'm wondering is it possible to be able to get the air cast, the boot something other than this hard cast? That soon? I mean he said 6 weeks it's been 4 and I feel no pain or anything just the irritation from the cast and my ankle from being stuck in this position.

    It's been a headache being immobile for this long and I have so much to do. Just Wondering is it possible for that to happen. Have any of you guys broken a few bones and healed before the 6 weeks. I'm 27 by the way I know age sometimes plays a role in how fast it heals. I haven't been walking on it either.

    • elizabeth56745
      elizabeth56745 Andrea217

      Posted

      Hi Andrea, immobilization and NWB is sooo frustrating! At this point, I think it is fair to ask your ortho about an airboot if you are still required to keep your foot immobilized. I love my airboot. It keeps my foot steady and confortable. I think a lot of doctors ( including mine who I like alot) are on automatic with casting/booting and NWB. They know that is the core for fractures but forget that we have a 1000 questions. That's why I like this forum. I'm 7 weeks post surgery and in an airboot.
    • Andrea217
      Andrea217 elizabeth56745

      Posted

      It's sooooo frustrating especially because he answers nothing lol I'm like why can I tell him to make him give me the airboot. Like if he can give me that but still nwb I Don't Know last appointment I told him I wanted that he said it's healing but not healed And I need another cast And still nwb I'm like so what if I walk on it because I'm moving next month and im trying to find work he was like then you could injure it again and then I'll have to do surgery. I was almost in tears. I have to go Tuesday im gonna plead for the airboot because now my ankle hurts it keeps cracking every time I get up.
  • siobhan15506
    siobhan15506 laura145

    Posted

    Hi all

    I'm just wondering has anyone any tips on how to tackle the very dry toes you get from being in a cast. I am 5 weeks in the cast with 5 more to go with very dry toes.

    Thanks

    Siobhán

    • elizabeth56745
      elizabeth56745 siobhan15506

      Posted

      Hi Siobhan, I had very dry toes and feet too. For me, before I was allowed to submerge my foot, I would wash my feet with a washcloth. I would rub off the dry skin. It took awhile because I could only use a wet cloth but I was amazed by how much I was able to wash off the old dry skin. Then I used lotion afterward. I think when we can bathe and shower every day, we are able to rejuvenate our new skin daily and easier. But when we can't do that, we get a build up. This is my deduction after washing my feet helped the dry skin. Elizabeth
    • Andrea217
      Andrea217 siobhan15506

      Posted

      I have been having that same issue. My big toe on my casted foot has a thick piece of dry skin like I could probably shave at it and feel nothing lol I know TMI but I had a foot file I used and I sanded it and made sure to put lotion on after. If you're able to put lotion on and then cover it with maybe a sock or something overnight it usually softens that skin up a whole lot. There's these little kits they have for your feet to keep them soft and you basically lotion them and sleep with the little slipper things over night and wake up with silky feet.

      I pray for a speedy 5 weeks. I have 2 more weeks left and then the walking boot. I'm counting down the days until I can walk without assistance and can actually weight bear

    • siobhan15506
      siobhan15506 Andrea217

      Posted

      Oh I'll give the sock a go, that's a good idea.

      Ya i know what you mean, now i know what walter jnr felt like in breaking bad lol ...

    • Andrea217
      Andrea217 siobhan15506

      Posted

      Yessss lol I'd never wish being immobilized on anybody. A cast is horrible!
    • siobhan15506
      siobhan15506 Andrea217

      Posted

      Oh it's horrendous, i was hoping to be in a boot by now but i have very bad ligament damage done too so its a cast and nwb for 5 more weeks... Urgh!!!
  • Guest
    Guest laura145

    Posted

    Hi guys, this thread is a godsend when you have a doctor as unruly to talk as mine. Broke my 5th met (undisplaced) on June 23rd after someone fell on my right foot. Doctor didn't specify what type of fracture, but looks like it was towards the base of the bone. I'm in a cast for 6 weeks and doctor said from the first fracture clinic appointment (Jun 25th) to do WBW. I've only been doing NWB so far as in all the forums everyone advised no WBW for the first few weeks. After a week of complete rest at home, I went back to school on July 2nd- was this too early? My cast seems to be getting a bit tight around my foot but not sure if it's because of the hot weather or something else. At school have had to do quite a bit of walking to get to and from classes but as soon as i get home I elevate it and rest. Going back to fracture clinic on Jul 30th to get an x-ray to see if it's healed. I'm 18, don't smoke and only drink occasionally (won't be whilst the foot is healing). I've never been that active but am a normal weight. Soo got a few questions after that little essay (my apologies for it being so long). 

    1. should i start doing weight bearing walking from now on or should i wait another week then begin?

    2. if i keep up eating healthy(ish), resting and elevating my foot as soon as i get home, is it more likely my foot will have healed by the 30th? I know no one can give me a direct answer- just is there anything else I can do to improve the chances of getting the cast off by the 30th?

    Thanks in advance for all answers, appreciate it so much!!

    • pat71022
      pat71022 Guest

      Posted

      I am sorry Manni, I am not familiar with WBW.  Earlier in this thread I gave a bit of info on my experience and what I have learned, I really appreciated the knee scooter.  It was a life saver, or at your age crutches, but I really was careful to not walk on it before x-ray proved it was able to sustain the weight. ( I am not large smile.  WE only get 2 feet and I have heard too many reports since my accident from people who were not patient and have to deal with pain and shots etc, because it didn't heal right.  Bummer your doc doesn't have better bedside manner. sad
    • Guest
      Guest pat71022

      Posted

      Ooo sorry just was using acronyms all over the place to cut down the words, i think it stands for Weight Bearing Walking, ahh thanks I think i'll follow your suit and just be patient until I know it's able to support it! Thanks!
  • siobhan15506
    siobhan15506 laura145

    Posted

    Hi, just wondering if anyone has had similar experience as my own....I'm in a nwb cast for 5 weeks and have 5 weeks to go. I have been keeping my foot (broken metatarsals & ligament damage) elevated and being keeping off it.

    On friday i thought id get out of the house and went to the supermarket with my mother, i was on my crutches for 30 to 40 mins tops, my foot and toes swelled up completely and i have pain ever since.

    I really hope i didn't damage.

    • pat71022
      pat71022 siobhan15506

      Posted

      You didn't step on your foot though, right?  If not, I would get it up over my heart and maybe get some Arnica tablets. (homeopathic for swelling and bruising)  That is what I did.  The foot just swells around a fracture and could keep doing it up to a year.  Mine seems to hurt in the bone when my foot swells a lot too.
    • siobhan15506
      siobhan15506 pat71022

      Posted

      Oh ya i had it up all the time, ya i raised it the minute i got home amd kept it up for the rest of the wkend. The swelling is gone down but the pain is is there.

      I have heard that Vit B tablets are very good for bones, i got them anyway smile .

      Thanks Pat

    • elizabeth56745
      elizabeth56745 siobhan15506

      Posted

      smile Hi Siobahn, I had that kind of scare too but then remembered that I've been pretty darned good at following my doctors orders so swelling must be normal when I first try and use my foot. My doc said we will swell fir a long time too. I totally agree on vitamin D. I add calcium too. Glad you are better! Elizabeth
    • elizabeth56745
      elizabeth56745 pat71022

      Posted

      Agree with Pat that B is good for nerves and stress which isn't bad during this time. smile D for bones and immune system.
    • susan69134
      susan69134 elizabeth56745

      Posted

      B helps bones absorb calcium, so if taking a calcium supplement look for one that includes vitamin B.
    • emma81473
      emma81473 siobhan15506

      Posted

      Prob just cos you have been elevating and then didn't .  It happened to me too...I had a real job to stop mine swelling but be patient and follow doctor's orders, try to elevate and rest and will hopefully get back to normal.  I literally elevated almost constantly (night time too) for 6 weeks solid!
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.