5th Metatarsal Mid Shaft Fracture Not Healing


Oct 7, 2013

It has been just over 5 weeks since I flailed off of my ottoman, fighting a cockroach, and landed on the side of my foot. I do not have health insurance and was first trying not to spend the money, if not needed, on a specialist. I was given a boot and have been in it consistently for 4 weeks. Now, I am getting a little bit worried after a couple of X-rays and, also, the fact that it is not showing healing. It is displaced, with an offset of 4mm on the top view and 8mm on the side view and there is some splintering within (according to radiology notes from the hospital).

I just recently went to a highly recommended Orthopedic doctor and after looking at the two X-rays I had previously, and taking a new one in office, says that he does not recommend surgery. He did explain that I may be looking at 3 more months of healing but that it would heal on it's own. I can understand the fact that it has been 5 weeks and that opting for surgery now would be a huge step backwards in the muscle and tissue healing that has inevitably taken place.

My concern is: I am a runner. This bone, to me, looks terrifying and to think it will stay that way forever and only fill in where it is positioned now seems it will only give me problems in the future. I don't know if I should bypass his recommendation and opt for surgery to have the bone set in the correct alignment and know that I will not have future problems or just let it to what it's going to do. I do know that nothing is 100% and even surgery can mean a long healing process. I guess I am hoping for more opinions on the matter, so please help, if you can.

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5th Metatarsal Mid Shaft Fracture Healing Experience

I broke my 5th metatarsal on 16 December, it is now 23 February.  Someone came down on it very heavily in high heels and broke it, spiral fracture, slightly displaced.  I didn't realise it was broken at first, just thought it was swollen and bruised...and boy was it bruised!  Never seen anything like it! Anyway, did the usual, rest, elevation, compression and ice and kept hobbling about, using the opposite side of my foot to hobble round the house...after all it was Christmas and I didn't have time to rest! Luckily could stay pretty much in the house so didn't do massive amount of walking...and couldn't get a shoe on anyway! Did mention it to a locum doctor on 23 Dec, but had gone about something else, and he dismissed it without looking at it, just telling me to RICE it..which I already was.

After a day or so, bruising still horrendous, I decided to see my usual doctor who referred me immediately to get it x-rayed.  This was on 28 Dec..and  the fracture showed up to my shock.  X ray technician mentioned going straight to A and E but then said all they would do is make me an appointment at the fracture clinic, which I may as well get from my doctor, when the information about my fracture had got to my doctor (and no, I couldn't have the letter to hand in, it had to go by snail /Royal Mail)  I had started by now to use crutches...no weight bearing on bad foot at all.

A week later, as soon as I could (bank holidays delayed information getting to doctor and hence consultation) I saw my doctor who phoned the hospital after reading the letter to make me an urgent appointment with the consultant for the following Monday (this was Friday)

I went and saw him and to my shock he was very, to me , pessimistic and not a little rushed.  Told me it was a nasty fracture, difficult to heal, and I might very likely end up having two operations, one to put pins and plates in and one to take them out.  Oh..and the plate would stick out of my (slim) foot and there was a high risk of infection etc as we were operating on bone.  However, he told me I could still go to work, drive (this was my clutch foot) as long as it wasn't for long (work is 10 minutes drive away) and elevated and rested foot at every opportunity....and it might be an idea if I used crutches and didn't put weight on it BUT he didn't put it in an air boot or cast. (which concerned me a little)

This I did, but no real improvement, in fact it got worse, swelling up, pins and needles in toes and very sore and swollen behind toes, on ball of foot.  Went back again to hospital, saw a different doctor, who told me I should be off work, not driving, moving as little as possible and keeping foot above heart level. For at least a MONTH!

So...I have done that.  Googled the injury to death, scaring myself and becoming depressed over what I have read.  Rested completely, didn't put any weight on it , crawled and used a pair of crutches at all times, slept with it elevated, sat with it elevated, compression bandage at times, rubbed comfrey oil on it twice a day , used epsom salt baths (used to lose the circulation and it also helped a little with swelling), tried to keep my leg muscled with scissor action exercise etc  Wore hiking/timberland boots (still doing this)  It was still sore and swollen however behind the toes, so much so I wondered if there was other damage, but have now realised this was a result of not using my foot on the floor at all.

NOW....9 weeks from when I first injured it, I have been told this week I can put a little weight on it and start to walk, even though the bone hasn't joined up AT ALL, no callus etc on the x-ray the consultant reckons there is fibre etc holding it and I am now ready to walk on it.  (I was prepared for there to be no sign of healing ..research on internet again!) It isn't sore to touch although aches a little (almost a burn) now I am walking on it..but I have read this can be a sign of healing.

I am walking about with either one or no crutches,taking it very slowly,  but I cannot believe I am actually walking on it, I can stand on both feet in the shower etc.....I NEVER thought this would be the case after only 8 - 9 weeks after all I had read on the internet...and those weeks felt interminable!   I have broken bones in my foot before but have never been as disabled with it as with the 5th metatarsal break, and never felt so depressed over an injury after googling it all.  So, I didn't have an air boot, nor a cast, which seems to have worked for me, although it was very hard work getting about on crutches or crawling  (calloused knees now!) and mentally , although I kept reminding myself it wasn't a life threatening condition, it still got me down at times as there didn't seem to be any improvement. 

In my experience, yes it has taken a long time to get better...and I am still not there by any means...haven't walked out of the house yet...but I feel I AM on the road to recovery, which is the main thing.  I won't be running (which I do) for quite a while I think, not doing a lot of long distance walking but at least I am getting better.  After reading such a lot of depressing and pessimistic posts on this injury I felt I had to post a more optimistic one..and I hope at least some of you out there have just as good a recovery if you have fractured your 5th metatarsal.

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5th Metatarsal Mid-shaft Spiral Fracture And Weight Bearing?

After surviving the longest MN winter ever, and being extra-careful out on the ice, I tripped on my stairs INSIDE last Thursday. My initial concern was my throbbing left shin, but the right foot ultimately won out, sending me to my GP on Friday morning. X-rays were performed and the fracture was discovered. I was placed into a moon boot, warned that surgery "might" be necessary due to the location of the fracture, and sent home sans crutches, knee walker, or anything else, to await my consult with the orthopod on Monday.

During the vast expanse of free time I had, I rediscovered this site and many others, and also emailed my cousin who is a physician, and managed to get myself totally confused as to the best course of action concerning the healing process.

Long story short, orthopod said fairly clean (though spiral) fracture, very minimal displacement, and recommended no surgery, NWB for two weeks, and a follow-up x-ray on the 17th to see if any bone 'tackiness' is evident (judging from what I have read, this seems highly unlikely).

My concern now is that practically ever since the fall, I have had little to no pain in my foot while bearing weight on the moon boot. My MD cousin said, as did some posters here, that weight bearing stimulates healing and bone growth. So... not to second-guess my ortho, but I am wondering whether I am doing myself and my foot a disservice by NOT putting weight on it. It seems to be getting stiffer and sorer (when I gingerly test my weight on it on occasion) ever since I have started using the crutches and the knee walker. Am I doing the right thing? Is the ortho being too cautious and conservative, or am I being too impatient and skeptical?

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Aircast From A Hardcast :: Broken 5th Metatarsal Not Healing

Broke my foot 5th metatarsal. At 4 weeks not healing yet,i'm now in an aircast from a hardcast. This is week 6. Foot at night just burns and burns. I don't get much sleep and now i have a deep aching.along with the burning. I was told no weight on it but i can walk on the heel only if necessary. Why now at 6 weeks is it hurting and burning?.

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Fracture Of The Fifth And Second Metatarsal

I posted a few wks ago I fell down a step at work and rolled my ankle, pain was excruciating at the time I went to a&e and x ray was clear, went back after five weeks and xray clear again, I had an Mrs Saturday after 6.5 weeks and it shows a fracture of the fifth and second metatarsal, waiting for mri report to go to a&e, should have it later, worried that I have done further damage, will they cast it now or is it too late

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Jones Fracture :: Broken 5th Metatarsal - Recovery?

I broke my left foot 5th metatarsal playing soccer. Doctor said i have a jones fracture, so i wore i cast for 6 weeks and then the boot of another 3. I was on crutches the whole time not putting any weight on my foot. After 9 weeks my bone still has not healed. So i had to wait 3 weeks in order to put a request for a bone stimulator. On week 14 of being on crutches i receive the bone stimulator. I have been using the bone stimulator for 32 days 10 hours a day. Wednesday this week is when i am getting my xrays to see if my bone has healed. My question is what should i expect on terms of recovery? My soccer season starts on August 1st, what are my chance on being in full form by then. Just putting out there i'm going to work my self to the bone to do all i can for a good healthy recovery. 

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I am a 25 year old female and I fractured both of my heel bones about 8 weeks ago after jumping from a height of 6 or 7 feet. An MRI showed the fractures as well as bone bruising in both feet. My doctor gave me crutches and that he'd follow up with me in a couple weeks.

I stayed off my feet COMPLETELY for the first 3-4 weeks post the date of injury, but then I started walking around my house (couch to bathroom, couch to kitchen, etc.) on my toes/balls of feet without crutches. This would cause minor pain in my heels but I didn't think much of it cause it's not like I was putting weight on them.

At my follow up appointment (6 weeks post injury) the x-rays showed the healing fractures and my doctor said I could start walking. This confused me because initially he said it would take 6-8 weeks. I told him I was still having pain (not constant, more like sharp pricks that come and go after a few seconds) so he told me to wait 2 more weeks and to THEN start walking.

Well, those 2 weeks are now over and I still have the pain that comes and goes in my heels, and NOW the bones in my toes and sides of my feet are hurting a bit from walking around on them for several weeks. I'm going back to the doctor on Wednesday so I'm sure I'll get some peace of mind then (although I don't particularly like my doc, he's the kind that rushes through your appointment) but I just wanted to post here to see if anyone else experienced this first hand.

MY MAIN QUESTION IS: IS THERE ANYWAY that by walking around on my toes/balls of feet I have delayed the healing process in my heels? I've tried looking around ALL over the internet and can't find an answer for this. I don't see how it could because I'm not putting any weight on my heels..

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Jones Fracture :: Broken 5th Metatarsal - Bone Shift?

I have broken my 5th metatarsal bone in 2 spots close together, it was not displaced but if it shifts its a whole chunk of bone. In emergency i had xrays and was told its a bad break that does not usually heal properly and that i need surgery. I went 4 days later to fracture clinic and they said th3y want to call it a "jones fracture" but that because its broke completely in 2 places its tricky. The previous x ray showed luckily it was not displaced and i kept the air cast and told to go back for x ray in 4 weeks. One dr said to basically not to move and non weight bearing and another said i can use my heal. The goal is to not let the bone shift and hopefully avoid surgery. They left me very confused. Its been almost 2 weeks and i get pain off and on. When i elevate my foot the pain stops and as soon as i would begin to lower it i get very sharp burning like pressure on top of my foot around the break. It gets swollen after i crutch around for even just going across the street to corner store but it relaxes when i lay down and elevate. Since this pa8n has been happening its now swelling more on top at the break but its hard and very tender..sometimes hot and red but it calms down. I do not do much but i have 2 kids, one which has a lot of medical issues and actually was ambulanced to children's hospital the day after i broke it. I'm completely on my own and my son has a ton of upcoming appointments which is travelling an hour away on a cpl busses and through a busy train station..just a lot of walking and all i have are crutches. I guess my questions are..am I doing too much and making it more likely for the bone to shift..has anyone experienced a non displaced break and then have it shift and need surgery? Is there a way to tell myself if i've shifted the bone? Has anyone experienced the same kind of pain?? I read this is one of the hardest and longest fractures to heal but all the info is sooo different from everyone i'm confused.

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Mid Shaft Humerus Fracture - Itching And Fluid Build Up Under Brace

I'm a 19 year old girl in good health and no previous broken bones or medical conditions. 8 days ago

I fractured my humerus, mid shaft. Its an oblique fracture. I had an appointment with a orthopedic surgeon and

The bone is perfectly aligned now and the feeling in my fingers and wrist is back. I still cannot move my lower arm.

I was fitted with a brace about 13 hours into the break, and I can no longer feel the bones clicking. The past couple days I

Have had an intense itching under the brace and tonight it got so bad I stuck a cotton swab under the mesh slip to itch it. When I looked at the swab it was a little bloody and had puss and what looked like peeling skin on it. When I looked on the back of my arm under the mesh slip I saw a red rash. It looks and feels very raw. Is this normal?

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In the last few weeks, I have discovered a lump at the base of my spine, and looking at information on the internet, I'm pretty sure it's a cyst. The annoying thing is that I have told the nurses 3 times about this lump and they either say they don't think it's anything to worry about or they simply don't know what it is. I need closure on this issue and have booked another appointment with the doctor to get to the bottom of it. (I saw him 3 weeks ago with the nurse and he said the wound was looking ok, and that I should give it another few weeks to see if there has been any improvement). There is also a pretty strong odour which is embarrassing. I've got to do something to try and cure the problem. It's driving me crazy and I can't see an end to the problem right now. I'm going to request either being referred back to the surgeon or to a wound clinic. Have any of you been to wound clinics that you would recommend? What are the processes involved? Are they effective?

This problem has kept me from doing some of the things I love, such as playing football, for almost half a year now and will inevitably be longer. There's only so many jokes you can make about it before the depression and annoyance kicks in. It's really getting me down at the minute. Luckily I'm taking a gap year this year and will be going to uni next year, which will hopefully give me time to recover from this nightmare. (Hopefully being the major word!!)

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What is the conventional thinking on this? Should bones be fixed touching to heal?

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Broken 5th Metatarsal - Recovery?

Day SIx after falling out of shed and braking 5th metatarsal

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