This is quite a bit later, so not sure if you are still looking at replies, but.. I am now in the same boat.
Nov 2016 I fractured my 5th metatarsal, up by the toes. 6-7 weeks non-weight bearing, then 4 weeks in the boot. Just had an MRI and I have a fibrous non union. Podiatrist told me that it will never heal now. I can live with it as-is or have surgery.
I have been using the Exogen bone stimulator, and have been in the boot 100% of the time. I have listened to all the rules and followed the common protocol and still ended up with a non union.
This weekend I will try to walk in a normal shoe for a little bit and see how it goes. I am an avid exerciser and love to walk, crossfit stuff, etc - I dont want to live the rest of my life worrying about this, so I may opt for the surgery. Not a great solution.. but there isnt really a great option for me.
Oh no Kim. So if you have surgery they will have to separate and rough up bone from what I understand. I have stated in the past that my orthopedic foot specialist recommends surgery for these fractures then 4 weeks NWB and 4 in bootI tried for 4 weeks before surgery to see what would happen and mine would have taken another 8 NWB. My surgery was painless and only took 45 min. Make sure the Podiatrits puts screws in lengthwise not crosswise. I tend to like Ortho docs over Pods but only because I live in a family of MDs . Good luck
Hi, Sandi-I have a 5th Metatarsal that is presently in Non-Union. And the fracture IS Displaced. It rotated a bit, because I did not know I had a broken bone.
I also had an infection that had to be treated about 5 weeks ago.
Infection is gone. Doctor suggests Surgery. I, of course, was in the hope of it mending. 4 weeks since the debridement of the infection, and no union, yet.
That's enough.
I told the Doctor, "I trust you; let's go." Having my Surgery on the 12th of May. I'm fit, 132 lbs, Male, good heart, very active, and want to be "Well--" I'm biting the bullet, one day surgery, 4-6 week Recover.
Oh, well. It's only work and money!
But health comes first, and you've got to trust you Podiatrist Surgeon or Ortho--
If they're surgeons they know what they are doing. Trust them. They do these 5th Metatarsals as a Matter of Course.
Thank God there are Physicians out there that can lliterally "get you back on your feet-"
Alll the Best,
Anthony
I am at week 11 spiral fracture 5th metatarsal. perfect alignment etcetc. was weight bearing pretty much since the start too (had to or i risked having to repeat a year of really stressful uni) no callus or bone healing apparently. foot is not really too sore to walk on, except maybe some plantar fasciitis. Dr today said probably fibrous non union and has given me referral for orthopaedic surgeon. what did you end up doing with your foot?
Where are you? For spiral in US surgery would have been recommended for that fracture. Please dongonto an ortho doc
Hi Danielle,
How is your foot going? Im also in australia with fx 5th metatarsal shaft. Im at 11 weeks post fracture. Clinical healing (im walking around fine) but fracture (non displaced) still present on xray. There's about 0.5mm gap between the pieces.
My Dr thinks it is a fibrous union that jas developed. I have researched it a lot and found a few medical / radiography textbooks which say these usually eventually are replaced with bone. Am going to see specialist for consult soon and will see what they say.
Australia. It's almost like a hairline fracture so was glad to avoid surgery if i could. Ive read in medical text books fibrous unions usually do ossify (replaced with bone), but will see what orthopaed says!
hey how are you feeling right now? I'm facing the same situation like your right now!
Hey Naomi, how are you feeling now I am in a similar situation please update your progress. 5th metatarsal fractures are really very frustrating. The whole world is celebrating new year and I am weeping over my fracture. I have a Mid shaft fracture in my 5th metatarsal. It's not displaced but there is a significant air gap in the fracture area. I was on cast for 3 weeks and boot for 4 weeks. Doctor said it's heeling well but. I Don't see any difference in my x-ray.
Wow I see lots of people having problems with this type of break and totally understand how you feel. I myself am 8 months with boot still on with non union and never been offered any surgery! My leg looks like my thin arms and thenpain is terrible. I should have insisted I see a doctor from beginning rather than allow the nurses to treat me. I'm hoping follow up next month will be decision time so I can get bank to normality. Feels like I've missed so much of my life already!! Any advice would be welcomed!
Hi Tash, I have a spiral fracture at about 12 weeks and nonunion. The doctor said it is a fibrous connection. Did you end up going for surgery or just leave it alone?
Did you end up getting a surgery on your foot, and how did it go?
Naomi, What did you end up doing and is your foot feeling better now? Hope yes.
Hi Danielle
Please can I ask how you are now. I had a 5th metatarsal fracture 6 months ago. I was told to wear boot and weight bare as soon as I comfortably could. It is a non displaced fracture . Xrays are showing not healing. Like you I'm very active. I am a fitness instructor. I am only symptomatic at the point of the break. The rest of my foot seems ok. They have done a ct scan and am back at the hospital next week for result. Has your foot now healed. Can you run again or did you need surgery?
Many thanks
Fran
Hi , i have reading your comments in this forum , since you have gone through it so i had 5th metatarsal fracture as i droped a 20kg weight plate on my foot in the gym and had surgery. It has been 2 weeks to my surgery. I am depressed as my dr said to take bed rest.how long does it take so that i can get back to my regular activities apart from gym and how are you now since it has been an year? Plz reply
I had surgery for mine and I was 4 weeks non weight bearing then 4 in a walking boot then ready to get back on my horse and I am late 60’s.
It is difficult to be off that foot but I did aquire a knee scooter.
Not so sure about being in bed however would keep that leg up when you can.
It is hard but you will make it
Hi Naomi and others, I am wondering what you ended up doing. I am about 5 months out from a spiral fracture of the 5th metatarsal. One doctor has said it is a fibrous union and I don't need surgery, the second has said it is a nonunion and I should get surgery. I am at my wits end trying to understand what will have a better long term outcome.
HiJvirgo, I am wondering what you ended up doing. I am about 5 months out from a spiral fracture of the 5th metatarsal. One doctor has said it is a fibrous union and I don't need surgery, the second has said it is a nonunion and I should get surgery. I am at my wits end trying to understand what will have a better long term outcome.
Tash, what did you end up doing for your fracture?
I am about 5 months out from a spiral fracture of the 5th metatarsal. One doctor has said it is a fibrous union and I don't need surgery, the second has said it is a nonunion and I should get surgery. I am at my wits end trying to understand what will have a better long term outcome. I am curious as to if you got surgery and was it a better result in the end?
I personally have had a really bad experience with all this. I'm now 9 months and still in air cast boot!!! (I can hear all the gasps!!) So my break only healed in Feb and I now begin the long physio treatment. My leg too looks like my arms and muscle has virtually gone. If it wasn't for the 50g of Amitriptyline and 600g of Gabapentin I would have probably ended up driving my auto car into a wall! I also have been treated by nurses throughout the 9 months (which I'm told is standard practice now) and an MRI scan 7 months later showed a load of tendon damage which is why I am still in excruciating pain. I've tried the heel to toe exercise on crutches without boot and can only manage 2 steps before I am in pain and can't make it back to settee! I leave the boot off as much as possible and only put on to walk around in. I still push through as much as possible doing the basic exercise but it's too much. Now I'm not sleeping again at night due to aching foot and cannot get comfortable. I should have made more of a fuss to push for a quicker recovery time but was told no surgery would help me and the break could take up to 18 months to heal! My life too has been on hold with no timescale of when I will walk again unaided as being in the boot all this time is unheard of! So please do push for x-rays and an MRI scan if you are still in pain and hopefully you will be on the road to recovery. I'm just spaced out most of the time so have allowed this treatment to happen to me and didn't really push again for any surgery to speed up this recovery time. From the start, I was not told what I should be doing and not doing which has led to this length of time for the bone to heal. I hope my nightmare will prompt others also to ask questions and not be silenced with medication to cope with the truma of it all. Good luck and let me know how you get on. Also would like to hear from anyone else who have worn the air cast walker boot for 9 months!!!!