Fractured metatarsal 2,3 and 4, surgery with plates and wire and only slowly healing after 10 weeks

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hello,

I need some experiences, I had a nasty fracture mid September, had surgery, was in a full cast for 5 weeks and then in the boot the last 5 weeks and continuing to do so. Started part weightbearing last week as I was in no pain when non weightbearing but now in quite a bit of pain but unsure whether this relates to the only slowly healing fractures or the fact that I haven't used the foot for so long.

The hospital doesn't give away much but I was hoping to have made much more progress in 10 weeks!

Thank you

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4 Replies

  • Posted

    hello :

    i broke my 4 & 5 metatarsals last April .I did not have surgery . i was in cast for 2 weeks & 10 weeks in the boot ( non- weightbearing )

    i started walking with the boot in july with a lot pain .... my foot swollen a lot so i wear a compression sock ) it helps a lot . Make sure you move your ankle & toes . i went to PT twice a week .

    August xray showed a little bit of healing .

    I got the ultrasound bone healing exogen

    machine " miracle " i totally recommended this machine . i started wearing an ankle brace to walk ( i still have pain )

    October xray showed 60 % of healing ( less painful )

    November 29th 100 % healed

    after 8 long months .... finally my pain went away .

    I wish you the best ... its a very slow process

    but you are going to be ok .

    i thought i will never walk normal again or i will be in pain for the rest of my life .

    • Posted

      Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, I am under no illusion that I still have some way to go but it is reassuring that people were in a similar situation and have fully recovered. I will look into the ultrasound machine and keep you posted on progress .

      Thank you

  • Posted

    I'd like to start by saying that I also broke my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsals on June 7 of this year. My breaks were also displaced by 6mm. I had surgery on the 20th of June. 3 plates and 12 screws. One thing I wish I was told all along is how slow of a healing this process really is. I am fully weight bearing now and am doing much better but this is truly a process. There are good days and them there are bad days. And sometimes when you feel you've turned the corner, things regress. You have to try to stay emotionally positive. My surgeon says it will actually be a full year before i will be back to "normal" or close. I believe that. In Jan we are reassessing to see if we need to remove the hardware because it is pushing into the plantar fascia of the foot and causing further mobility issues. I trust the surgeon so whatever he feels is necessary is fine with me. I wish you luck! Stay positive!

    • Posted

      Thank you so much for your reply. I am beginning to think that I have to have a stirn conversation at the fracture clinic. I keep getting my hopes up and they get smashed to bits every time I go there. I have a 5 year old and it's also tough for her as all her normal activities are on hold until I can drive again and it's really not fair on her either getting her hopes up and then seeing her disappointed face. That tbh, is the hardest part for me not being able to be looking after her the way I normally would!

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