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Broken 5th metatarsal & torn ankle ligaments

Posted , 3 users are following.

isabel45013
isabel45013

Hey everyone, 

I live in rural NSW live approximately 8hrs from Sydney and am new here and was just interested in getting some opinions... I broke my 5th metatarsal (spiral fracture) on the 4th of July last year at a dancing class and at the same time I tore a couple of ligaments in my ankle. Almost 12 months down the track it is still faintly showing up in X-rays and I am still getting some sharp pain through both areas. My physio, who I have been seeing on a regular basis since I did it, has been brilliant!! But I think that she is starting to feel at a loss. I have an appointment with a local podiatrist this week and an appointment with my orthopaedic surgeon in August. I was told that once I hit the 12month mark it won't get any better. However it is at that point is how it will be for the rest of my life. Now that I am fast approaching that mark I am starting to worry due to still getting pain and that it is still showing up in X-rays. Is there anyone that can shed some light on this? 

Many thanks,

Isabel 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • isabel45013
    isabel45013

    Posted

    This is the full extent of the nightmare I have been living the past almost 12 months!! Even my physio is saying this should be done by now... I have had no surgery, no pins. I did this is July and couldn't see my ortho till October so I did that (having seen a fracture clinic twice, coming out from both appointments in tears because the experience both times was just awful. The first time, which was a week after breaking my foot and doing the damage to my ankle, I wasn't listened too, he said I could have plaster or boot and I said I wanted plaster and the doctor would say the is better because........ And give me a reason, this went backwards and forwards for several minutes. He then ended up getting a second doctor in for a second opinion and I was in tears and didn't care by this point and just wanted to get out. He said if I had worn more appropriate shoes I could walk out of that appointment. I had my back slab taken off and was fitted for a boot. I ended up in a moon boot, as I wasn't weight baring yet carrying the boot around was severely uncomfortable. I spent the weekend in tears. Needless to say, we were up at the local emergency asking for a cast back. I got an appointment with physio for the next day and I got a fibreglass cast put on (It took a bit of convincing the physio but I had already been talked out of it once, I wasn't letting it happen again). I had the fibreglass cast on for about 4-5weeks and I then went back into the boot. I slowly started walking on it with the assistance of my crutches for about 2 weeks and then got rid of the crutches and had just the boot. After going back into the boot I had my 2nd fracture clinic appointment. I went and got some X-rays and went back down and waited for my name to be called. I went in and saw the doctor, he wasn't happy with the amount of pain I had in my ankle and sent me to get that x-rayed and said that I would need to come back again and that I will need physio. When I came back from the 2nd X-ray I saw a different dr who said everything was fine and there is no reason I shouldn't be walking on it... He said I won't need physio and that I didn't need to go back to them. I went and talked to my physio and she definitely wanted me to keep coming (just as well since nearly 12months later and I am still going). She then tried to send me to the fracture clinic again and I refused to go and said I would rather go and see my orthopaedic surgeon. We got me in there and October I went to see her. I had driven 2 hours on long country roads, after work, to get there and I get in and she tells me that I will be fine. I burst into tears as I had gone into that appointment expecting to be told I would need surgery. It's been close to 9months since that appointment and I am, as I said in my first post, still getting pain in both areas and my ankle is still quite swollen. 

    I maintained these injuries 8hrs away from home and I firmly believe that if I had stayed there I would have had surgery completed up there. But all my dealings have been back here at home. I am seriously tempted to find a good ortho back in Sydney and get their opinion. 

  • bailyBoo02511
    bailyBoo02511 isabel45013

    Posted

    I am sorry Isabel going through all this .Maybe you need to go to Sydney and get it looked at .Better to get another opinion  again .Hope it gets better for you .

    Baily

    • isabel45013
      isabel45013 bailyBoo02511

      Posted

      Thanks Baily...it's not been easy that's for sure!! I have had a friend recommend a place and will be giving them a call tomorrow to see if I can get in when I am up there next in a couple of weeks. It worries me because it is still showing up faintly and I am still getting so much pain through both areas and was told that once I hit 12 months it won't get any better that's as good as it will be... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried!! 
  • bailyBoo02511
    bailyBoo02511 isabel45013

    Posted

    i understand isabel  I understand how scary it all is believe me .I fell last week so this is my start on this long lonely road I been i the house ever since and a lot more to go .I also hope I CAN HEAL I send u a hug and a smile .
  • pattycam
    pattycam isabel45013

    Posted

    Hi Isabel,

    I'm sorry to hear that you are still in so much pain. I had a spiral fracture at the head of my 5th metatarsal in Novemner 2015. I had surgery within the first week with a plate and a dozen screws. I have tentatively resumed normal activity including some work on pointe (barrre only!), but even with the surgery I am not pain or worry free. I have been to see several podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons. Some say that I might need to have another surgery to remove the plate and screws; others say that I will not. I'm still very curious what would have happened if I had not had surgery in the first place. Surgery has not been the perfect answer for me. It'll probably be another year or two before I figure that out. Get several doctors' opinions. Each one is different from my experience.

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