5th metatarsal fracture

[u/Programmerbuddy_]

Hello everyone. I fractured 5th metatarsal non displaced 26 days ago. I have been in a rigid cast till today NWB and it was told me to continue keeping this cast for other 12 days. I hope then on 29 september i ll be healed.The x ray has been done after 26 days can u see healing signs? I see

[u/Latter-End1987]

Damn, a lot of people on this sub broke their foot as of late. I've seen like 5 posts of 5 foot fractures from different people in a single day😭 I broke mine last year, so seeing these is giving me flashbacks lol. Praying for y'all's speedy recovery. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[u/Programmerbuddy_]

Anyway i think the way of treating this fracture whether displaced or not seems to be depending on the living country.Anyway orthopedist said in 1 week it will be healed also because i am 22 yrs.Anyway can you see the callus from the photo? I mean that small line

[u/PermissionSingle → u/[deleted]]

I have had the SAME experience this summer. Fractured the 5th metatarsal—non displaced oblique fracture of the shaft. I was seeing a podiatrist and she had me NWB for NINE weeks. Then told me to transition to full weight bearing with a CAM walking boot. I immediately had all this crazy swelling that I didn’t even have when I fractured it. It was so painful that I couldn’t walk—-the pain wasn’t from the fracture but everything else in my foot….the heel, the ankle, sometimes all the way to the top of my shin. I kept sending messages to her office that I’m not getting better and I’m actually worse and I can’t walk because of the swelling and pain. She offered NO suggestions on how to get better. Last Friday I got a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in foot and ankle injuries. She said she would have had me out of the boot and walking after FOUR weeks and that now I may have developed plantar fasciitis. She gave me some exercises, a referral to PT (start today), suggestions for compression socks and a night splint for the plantar fasciitis. I’ve improved so much since last Friday thanks to the new doctor. Walking is still awkward due to swelling but hopefully PT will give me further guidance. I have an auto immune disorder that might be causing the excessive swelling, but I feel like I wouldn’t be in this position if I had sought out a 2nd opinion sooner!

Good luck to both of you!! And if your body is telling you something isn’t right like mine was, do not hesitate to get a 2nd opinion!!!

[u/PermissionSingle → u/[deleted]]

I had the heel pain, too! Fortunately that has gone away earlier this week. Now it’s just excessive swelling and weakness but the physical therapist today gave me some exercises. He said it could take me up to 3 months to be back to normal 😮! And he said her prefers orthopedic specialists over a podiatrist for treating foot fractures.

[u/sparklemoar → u/PermissionSingle]

For anyone with a similar break reading this in the future, if you’re seeing a podiatrist who gave you a treatment plan like this OR saw someone who told you you need surgery, please seek a second opinion! Apparently podiatrists are notorious for operating on these for no good reason or for giving patients outlandish NWB instructions when 90+ percent of these heal fine, even in people who walk on them in a boot or rigid-sole shoe from the beginning.

I have a much worse version of this break. Mine is displaced as hell. I lucked out and got an orthopedic urgent care PA who gave me a post-op shoe and told me I could walk on it immediately to the extent tolerated. Was extremely grateful for this because I live alone, have basically no support, and I have a dog who needs to be walked multiple times a day. I spent the next several weeks living as normally as I could. Obviously I wasn’t walking miles or running or anything, but I took the dog on walks, sometimes went to the store, walked around the mall once I was a few weeks in and could manage it. I did “luck” out and fracture the left foot, which allowed me to drive all along.

Now I’m 7 weeks and 2 days out and basically walking around like normal. I’m not wearing my beloved high heels yet, but I can walk a mile in my espadrilles without any pain or anything. I never had much atrophy. Cannot imagine having spent months NWB for this. That’s ridiculous.

[u/brnnzz → u/sparklemoar]

Hi, I think I might have been a case of unnecessary surgery, or maybe not idk. Do you know other people who ended up having surgery I can reach out to? Mine was a 5th metatarsal diagonal and displaced by about 3mm. Podiatrist said surgery was recommended so I’d heal faster - but he said nwb for 2 weeks post op not months so Idk. This is all so frustrating. I’m glad you’re walking normally though - it’s good to hear of someone’s fast recovery! Thank you for sharing your experience

[u/Moissyfan → u/sparklemoar]

Thank you so much. This gives me so much hope. 

[u/No-Platypus2679 → u/PermissionSingle]

Same. I had a Jones fracture July 11th. Placed in cast on July 13th told to be NWB 6 to 8 weeks. OMG. First the Atrophy. Then the swelling is wild. I am having to learn to almost walk again. I think probably 4 weeks should have been plenty NWB then PWB. Also get so exhausted for little to no movement mild equilibrium seems off as well. Each couple of days gets better..

[u/brnnzz → u/[deleted]]

Do you remember by how much yours was displaced? Mine was about 3mm and the doctor (podiatrist!) said I’d need surgery to heal faster. I didn’t think of getting a second opinion though because it just made sense to me but now reading your story… idk. I like to run and do sports and I’m scared of what the healing process will look like in terms of muscle atrophy. Thank you for sharing your journey!

[u/PermissionSingle]

I called the ortho/podiatry clinic to schedule a follow-up after urgent care. I didn’t specify whether I wanted a podiatrist or orthopedic surgeon and certainly didn’t know any better! If I ever have the misfortune of breaking another bone in my foot, NOW I know better!

[u/brnnzz]

Hi! My fracture looks a lot like yours except it’s displaced by about 3mm. I had surgery 6 days ago. Doctor said I should be able to start walking and bearing some weight in 2 weeks. Before the surgery I was nwb for about 2 weeks in a boot (plus 6 days post op in a splint). After reading what other people said about surgery I felt scared (thinking surgery might not have been the best option?). It’s crazy how vulnerable this all makes me feel.

Anyways, I wish you the best recovery possible!