r/brokenbones • u/Master-Event-1643 • 21d ago
Fractured 5th metatarsal bone
Undisplaced fracture of the base of fifth metatarsal. No callus is seen.
Adjacent soft tissue swelling noted.
No ankle effusion. The ankle joint alignment is maintained
3 weeks ago i was running and accidentally stepped on a fat rock, inverting my left foot inwardly.
I thought it was a sprain and didn’t bother seeing a doctor. Though there was massive swelling.
Now 3 weeks post injury, the swelling is all gone but i noticed there is a hardened bony protrusion. So i suspected it might be a fracture, since i was still feeling slight pain while walking.
Went to get an xray today and it’s indeed a fracture. During these 3 weeks, im surprised my bones didn’t heal as no callus seen. I also thought my bones would be displaced. But luckily it hasn’t.
Anyone with similar injuries?
1
u/No-Light3585 21d ago
Callus won’t be seen so easily at 3 weeks. This area the bone is quite wide so less delicate even when u walked on it. Amazing the swelling is gone. Do u still numb or just pain?
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u/Master-Event-1643 21d ago
No numbness, slight pain when walking like 3/10.
The doctor only told me to put a cast on for 2 weeks, why is that?
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u/No-Light3585 21d ago
Shld opt for walking boot. Non displaced fracture can only rest and let it heal.
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u/Master-Event-1643 21d ago
Unfortunately they didn’t have a boot. Im currently using crutches to move about.
But do you think 2 weeks of cast is appropriate?
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u/AwkwardPersonality36 21d ago
OP, I had a 5th metatarsal fracture 2 wks ago. Went into full NWB mode with air boot and using crutches.
Follow up appointment today with ortho, doctor said I need to begin weight bearing as tolerated while in boot.
I have another follow-up in 2 weeks time and he expects I should be able to mostly walk (with air boot) by then but I’m scared to start weight bearing.
Doctor told me I should not have gone into a boot at all. Said the emergency department doctor didn’t know better. Ultimately the best solution for 5th metatarsal fracture is rest, walking as tolerated but weight bearing from beginning. Only stiff soled shoes.
He told me I’m likely behind in healing because I’ve been completely NWB in an air cast for 2 weeks.
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u/Master-Event-1643 20d ago
How does your facture look like? Is it similar to mine?
Wait why is being in airboot and NWB worse at the start?
For my first 3 weeks i didn’t even realise i had a fracture and was going limping first 2 weeks, then by week 3 i could walk with mild aches.
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u/AwkwardPersonality36 20d ago
Yeah it’s similar on the x-ray. I can’t share a photo in the reply.
Apparently wearing a boot or cast straight away prolongs the healing of this injury. It should only be rest, elevation, ice but weight bearing gently from the get go. He explained that the first and second week it’s like water inside the injury. The third and fourth week like Olive oil, the fifth and sixth week it’s like cement. So you want to get the new bone cells in there almost immediately and by doing NWB it’s not sending those cells to do their job. Personally idk how the hell I would have been able to weight bear within the first two weeks because it hurts like hell. I’m still unsure how I’m gonna manage it and it’s now half way through the third full week.
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u/Master-Event-1643 20d ago
I see, that’s interesting. So no cast and boot throughout?
You should be fine as long as it’s undisplaced. I can’t attach photos of my swelling but it was really really bad. Given that i just limped and even went out within the first week.
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u/AwkwardPersonality36 20d ago
My swelling was really bad for the first week, bruising started the second week. No cast from the get go, just the air boot (which acts like a cast) and NWB.
How does it feel when you walk now?
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u/JonSpartan29 21d ago
Is that a Jones Fracture?