A Broken 5th metatarsul - Foot Problems Message Board

lnhguy · 08-12-2007, 09:53 PM

broke my foot 5 weeks ago and when I step on my foot i can still feel it. I have a little pain when I step and waz just wondering if this is normal it just doesn't seem to be healing.

relteach · 08-13-2007, 05:15 AM

I broke my 5th metatarsal in March and am still in the healing/recovery phase. Are you in a cast or a boot? Fifth metatarsal fractures vary in treatment and severity based on where on the bone the break is. With some 5th met. fractures weight bearing is permitted, even desired, while in a boot or aircast. Even so, putting weight on that foot could cause pain for quite awhile as the bone heals. In other cases, no weight bearing is allowed at all until complete union of the bone has occured. That is my situation.
Have you asked your doc about the pain? I was casted, totally non-weight bearing for 15 weeks and have been in an aircast with gradual weight bearing for the past 10 weeks. I am now gradually using a supportive athletic shoe as my foot tolerates. Right now, I can only where that shoe for about half the day, before the side of my foot starts to ache--but definitely not the pain that existed when I broke it. I just put my boot back on and the pain is gone. I will have to do that for as long as there is pain--I was told that could be 6-8 more weeks. I am OK with that, as long as the bone heals well. My doc has told me, and internet research has confirmed for me, that once you have broken the 5th met. you are at increased risk at refracture. I have no desire to repeat this experience. The best thing you can do is ask as many questions as you can to your doc to make sure you understand where on the bone the break is, what amount of weight you should be bearing on that foot, and how you can increase circulation to your foot to promote healing.

Good luck!

sorefootsophie · 08-13-2007, 08:27 AM

Relteach, Interesting comment about the increased risk of refracture. My 5th met fracture last summer had me in a cast for 17 weeks. I, also, do not wish to re;ive that experience. I had been told the bone would heal stronger. Can you elaborate a little more on what you read about the risk of refracture? Thanks, Sophie

Inhguy, Usually the 5th met would take longer than 5 weeks to heal. A fracture in ANY location takes 6-8 weeks to heal and the 5th met, unfortunately, is extremely and notoriously slow. Go easy and good luck!

relteach · 08-13-2007, 08:49 AM

My 5th met fracture appears to be the result of twisting a stress fracture that I was unaware that I had. I have a jones fracture, which is the one foot fracture to avoid because it has a extremely high rate of non-union or delayed union. Most jones fractures happen to elite athletes esp. soccer or basketball players and they have their fractures treated with screws inserted make sure that union IS acheived and the athlete can return to physical activity and training ASAP. Conservative treatment for non-athletes is the casting, NWB for whatever time is necessary to achieve union --typically 4-6 months. My injury was a simple twisting of my foot as it slid out of a sandal. There was no real trauma to the foot and no evidence of bone or any other disease that would contribute to the fracture. I had had some mild pain in the winter while working out. Because of all of my history and the event that caused the frank fracture (I also had two hairline fractures along side the main break) my doc believes that I likely had a stress fracture that became frank at the time of my foot twisting severely. It is true that bones heal more strongly than before the break, but with a history of stress fracture apparent, my doc is truly concerned that I could break it again and he has seen many a jones fracture repeat themselves (he is the foot and ankle surgeon for an NBA team). After being in a cast for 15 weeks, on my
10th week of wearing an aircast, I NEVER want to repeat this experience again!!!!

oliver65 · 08-15-2007, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by relteach

My 5th met fracture appears to be the result of twisting a stress fracture that I was unaware that I had. I have a jones fracture, which is the one foot fracture to avoid because it has a extremely high rate of non-union or delayed union. Most jones fractures happen to elite athletes esp. soccer or basketball players and they have their fractures treated with screws inserted make sure that union IS acheived and the athlete can return to physical activity and training ASAP. Conservative treatment for non-athletes is the casting, NWB for whatever time is necessary to achieve union --typically 4-6 months. My injury was a simple twisting of my foot as it slid out of a sandal. There was no real trauma to the foot and no evidence of bone or any other disease that would contribute to the fracture. I had had some mild pain in the winter while working out. Because of all of my history and the event that caused the frank fracture (I also had two hairline fractures along side the main break) my doc believes that I likely had a stress fracture that became frank at the time of my foot twisting severely. It is true that bones heal more strongly than before the break, but with a history of stress fracture apparent, my doc is truly concerned that I could break it again and he has seen many a jones fracture repeat themselves (he is the foot and ankle surgeon for an NBA team). After being in a cast for 15 weeks, on my
10th week of wearing an aircast, I NEVER want to repeat this experience again!!!!