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Submitted by: Anonymous

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ahh. jones fractures are tricky. You'll find alot of information about them on this site though! I'm a 16 year old soccer playing female who has had one HECK of a summer dealing with this annoying injury. The doctors told me The only way for it to heal and be normal again again (not only play soccer, but walk pain free) was to stay off of it for a number of months while it was casted. take off the cast, see if it healed. if it did, great, time to start rehab. If it didn't...more cast time. I've talked to poeple who were on cruches for a very long time. Partially because the blood flow to that area of the foot makes healing difficult. ahg. luckily theres another option, in which i took, which was surgery. About 2 days after I obtained my injury, I had a surgery which put a screw in my foot. It was casted and I stayed off of it for 6 weeks. And FINALLY got my cast off last week. Now I'm in the walking boot and busy in physical thearpy putting about 25% of my wieght on each day, and working on a number of other leg/ankle strengthening excersises. hopefully I'll be walking soon! But to me this injury is just plain annoying. My doctor and pt are VERY conservative, and while re learning to walk, and run when the time does come, If I feel ANY PAIN... I have to stop all weight baring for about 3 entire days. Talk about taking 5 steps forward and feeling like you fall 10 steps back. But Over all, I can feel myself getting better everyday. I'm doing great! and this sight helped me out aton when I didnt know that much about what was happening to me. In conclusion, I believe you should see a doctor, and get your options. Every injury is different for every person. But I dont think theres a way for it to heal or be right ever again unless you stay off of it. Best of luck.

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Submitted by: Bart - SII

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you might talk to your physician about possibly being fit with a walking boot. A full length "moon boot" should allow for adequate healing, while getting you off of the crutches and able to do a little bit more of your daily activities. Whether this is a good idea really depends on where the fracture is, how much pain you are having, and your physician's philosophy for treating fractures...but it is worth a try. Bart

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Submitted by: Anonymous

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I also am suffering from a fracture at the base of the 5th Metatarsal of the right foot. In fact the fracture was overlooked and I tried to walk in agony for 2 1/2 weeks before insisting on repeat x-rays, as the doctor said there was no break shown on the initial x-rays. From all of the reading I have done, all fractures of the 5th metatarsal are not Jones fractures, it depends on exactly the region that the break is. If it is a Jones fracture though, like the other poster had, it is notoriously hard to heal as they indicate due to low blood suppy in this region of the foot. I am on crutches now and in a cast but have not yet been seen by an orthopaedic surgeon to diagnose exactly the fracture I have. All the doctors I have seen are not foot specialists, and you really need to see someone who understands the feet. While I appreciate your hardship, I really recommend you take this break seriously and get off your foot, as not letting it heal properly could affect your walking gait for the rest of your life. I understand what you're going through and I'm struggling myself without much help, but my main focus is on healing so I can get back running. I am also having to work but luckily my bosses understand I need to sit and keep my leg up. I recommend you take calcium (in spray form as it absorbs better) and symphytum (to help heal the bone) if you can find this. Really eat as well as you can and lay off the alcohol. All the best. It helps to know there are others out there who know how tough this is. I'll never take walking for granted again!!

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Submitted by: Lori

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My son just had surgery for an acute fracture of his 5th metatarsal. I was wondering if anyone else out there who has had surgery could tell me how long he is going to be in pain from the surgery. He is about 72 hours post-op right now, but still needing the pain pills every 4-6 hours. He is upset because he is missing school and is out of football now for the entire season. We have had him on the couch with the foot totally elevated for 3 days now. He has a lot of pain when he puts the foot down. Does anyone know how long this will last?

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Submitted by: Bart - SII

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The first week is usually the worst following surgery - the body is going through an active inflammation period, so swelling and pain are at their highest. Within that period, the third day is often the worst because the anesthesia is out of the system. He should start to improve over the next few days. Continuing with the pain medication on a regular schedule will help with the pain, and he should be able to start decreasing their frequency in a couple more days. The increased pain when he puts his foot down is likely due to swelling and the foot being in a gravity dependent position. It does get better though with time. Bart

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Submitted by: Anonymous

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It was great to read current posts on a 5th metatarsal break. I broke my right foot in April of 2008 in four places. The 5th metatarsal has still not healed after 4 months of non-weight bearing using a RollerAid (HIGHLY recommend as an alternative to crutches and most insurances will cover the rental fee)and one month in a walking boot. Surgery will be next week. The Dr. will be taking a piece of my heel bone to fuse the break and hold it together with a screw. I asked to have the surgery at the beginning, based on the non-heal rate, but my Dr. wanted to take a conservative approach. So, now I am looking at 2 months of non-weight bearing and 6-8 weeks in a walking boot. Sigh! 2008...the year that wasn't!

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Submitted by: New Yorker

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I managed to fall down the stairs of my own home while running for the doorbell and have a 5th meta break, a Jones. I have been in the anklehigh bootie for about 4 days and am already going bonkers as cannot really get out and about, and I figure the more I rest it the better I will be, so am ordering in from the grocery store instead of going out, cancelling appointents, working from home. How are you all coping with the feeling of being penned up? Reading these posts I cannot imagine going through this for as long as some people are.

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Submitted by: Anonymous

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I fell and fractured the fifth metarsal in the left foot, I had surgery last week Thursday. According to the Doctor the surgery went well, metal plates with screws and wire to align the bone. I was advised to stay off my feet for 10 days and to return to the doctor to follow up. The first couple of days or so the pain was awful however if you mediciate as instructed it gets better. So hopefully the doctor will put me in a boot for the next six weeks and I will be really be on the road to recovery. So, I will definitetly follow the doctors order because my future depends on it!!!!

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Submitted by: Fran

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I fractured my fifth metartarsal on Sept 7 on a cement slab that covers my septic tank in my back yard. I have been in a cast boot since then and today 2 months later the doctor said I can start putting a little weight at a time. If it starts hurting to ease up on the weight. But he didnt say anything about theraphy. This fracture seems to be common.

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