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Broken Fifth metatarsal

(3 discussions)

Around Halloween, I had an inncodent which lead to my fifth metatarsal breaking. My mother didn’t believe it was broke because I was still walking around on it fine, and would only have problems with it from time to time when I did something stupid. I have recently had it X-rayed, which showed my fifth metatarsal is broken, the specialist I see I really don’t like and find him to be a dick in the nicest words possible. He is telling me I have to have a non-weight bearing cast on for the next 6 weeks. However, he is telling I can put weight on the cast aslong as I try to put half of it on crutches, so im not really crutching, just supporting myself. He said this because I am 400 pounds. Now, yes, im heavy, but im actually pretty active, and need my foot. For two months I was doing fine. Except for three stupid inncodents.
I am wondering, Do you think it would be ok to remove the cast, and still use the crutches, and walk keeping the weight along my first metatarsal and heal? (Worked for two months.)Also, for a bit more information, when my fifth metatarsal was broke, my 3rd and 4th were fractured, and they healed fine.


3 comments

    Avatar

    9 10

    I have also recently fractured the fifth metatarsal in my left foot. I went against all warnings and continued to put constant pressure on my foot. I have walked since day one and after a month of rest, tried to play basketball. It has been three months now and the pain has begun to increase. The fractured area is stiff from time to time, but seldom painful. My concern comes from a knot that has developed on the inside part of my foot in the arch. It is very sensitive to the touch and becomes very irritated by the pressures of walking. I understand that I have probably overcompensated myself into another injury, but what exactly has happened and do you have any advice on how to treat this.

    Vivian Abrams DPM

    9 10

    Without seeing this, I can’t be sure. It would depend on several factors If you are not seeing eye to eye with your doctor, you can request a copy of your records and get another opinion.

      Avatar

      9 10

      I have recently broken my fifth metatarsal in the Jones fracture area. I saw a doctor and he said that as long as I used the walking boot, I would be able to put weight on it without doing any harm. After a week, I went back for a second x-ray and the broken peice of the bone had actually moved about 2-3 mm away from the rest of the bone. I was wondering if bearing weight on it and walking around had any affect on this. My doctor said that I could get surgery and have a screw placed in the bone to hold it in place, but that since the bone is still touching, he wouldn’t recommend it at this time. Should I be worried that i’m doing more damage than good by bearing weight on it?

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