How long does a fractured foot bone take to heal?

[artforartssake]

Three weeks ago, while walking down the stairs in my building I lost my footing and missed the last stair. My foot landed on a wooden doorstopper lying on the floor and I went sliding and twisted my right foot. The pain was excruciating but I thought it was just a bad bruise that would heal itself in a few days.

When that didn’t happen, I went for an x-ray five days after the accident and the diagnosis was “a minimally displaced fracture through the base of the 5th metatarsal”.

My doc said that it takes 6 weeks to heal and that in the meantime I should rest and take it easy. He said there was nothing else that could be done and also told me to take Voltaren 25mg twice a day for the pain.

But the day after seeing the doc and getting the x-rays, the pain was so bad that I went to hospital emergency. I was seen by a physio, who fitted me with a special boot, which I now wear around the house.

However, I don’t seem to be making any progress and the pain is still intense. I can’t walk without the boot and I’ve been mostly housebound since the accident. The pain is particularly bad in the mornings after waking. I can’t put on a normal shoe and the foot is still blue and bruised at the impact site.

The Voltaren didn’t help and caused me to have nausea. I tried Panadol and Nurofen but they don’t help much either. Now I just take 4 Panamax tabs a day but they also don’t seem to make much diff.

I’m supposed to be going on an overseas trip in three weeks time and I’m really worried. Fortunately, the trip is mainly to visit family so it won’t involve a lot of sightseeing or other activity.

What should I do? How long will this take to heal? Based on the lack of any progress so far I feel that the doc's assessment of a six-week healing time is way too optimistic.

I guess I should also mention that this same (right) foot was injured about 15 years ago. A “Morton’s neuroma” was diagnosed (that’s some kind of bunching of the nerves) and it was operated on. It took at least a year or two to fully recover from that.

Thanks in anticipation for any suggestions/advice..

[artforartssake]

Hi Meep, I'm going on my own, but I know that my wife will be disappointed if I don't go as  she's looking forward to her Art-free time!

I guess it's understandable as I'm not much fun to be around right now

[nohousework]

I fractured my left foot in January 2012 and my right foot in July 2012. I had a CAM walker on both feet and had surgery in October on both of them.

I went to Japan in the "boots" and got around fine. I used elbow crutches as they give great support.

This was the fourth time I have had fractures in my feet, but mine never heal and I have to always have surgery including grafts. I also have Osteoporosis, so that is the cause of my fractures.

Normally a metatarsal fracture will heal within 6 weeks if proper treatment is adhered to.

Wear your CAM Walker all the time, only take it off when going to bed. Never walk without it.

Don't postpone your holiday, it is easy to get around with your "boot' and wear it properly.

[shopping.trolley]

Things to do with bones usually have a six week healing time given to it.  But that's only for the actual bone to heal.  The nerves, tendons, soft tissue etc can take much longer. 

I broke my wrist at the beginning of January, and it's only now that I can go about my day and realise that I've gotten to night time and there's been no pain.  I still don't have 100% movement back yet and it's been 4 months!

Depending on the severity, some bone fractures can take up to 12 months to fully recover from.

[aspie*mum]

On Boxing Day (December 26th) last year, I sprained my ankle (too much booze and very high heels).  Four months later it is STILL swollen and I still get pain.  The doctor told me it would be at least 6 months to heal the soft tissue damage.  It was VERY sore when I did it and after 2 weeks I went to the doctor who suspected a small fracture, but as the treatment (taping and support bandage) would have been no different to what I was doing, I didn't bother getting an x-ray.

I didn't go to the gym for almost 2 months (good excuse really!).  Today after the ANZAC day march it's swollen and sore and I have the gym tomorrow morning 😞

I think if you have soft tissue damage, you'd be looking at more like 6  months for the pain to go away completely.  As I said, I'm 4 months down the track and I still get pain and have swelling.

I mostly wear runners ALL the time now.  But I still wear high heels when I go out and after that I always feel the pain.

So sorry to say, I think you will continue to get pain for quite an amount of time.  I'd go and see a physio and see if they can give you some deep tissue ultrasound.  It could help with healing the soft tissue damage.  (my mum does this for me).

🙂

[aspie*mum]

My advice:

1.  Go to a physio - ultrasound should help.  Find one who deals with injuries or a sports physio.

2.  A physio might have a better fitting support for you - you shouldn't get as much trouble as you have been getting

3.  Go back to a doctor - but see if you can get one who specialises in sports medicine, as they will have more suggestions than a general GP.

4.  Try taping - but you'd need a phsio to show you the best ways.  

[artforartssake]

Thanks

took your advice, seeing a physio today (Fri) at 2.45pm!

[i-once-was-bump]

I fractured 3 metatarsals and I had to wear a moon boot for about 2 or 3 months but could not wear any of my shoes after finishing with the moon boot.

I found that the MBT, rocker sole, toner type shoes were perfect for wearing without pain.

If you google them there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that those recovering from fractured metatarsals find they are the only shoe that stop the pain and prevent future stress fractures of the metatarsals.

I have bought cheap ones such as spalding and the big w brand Mitre and both have been just as comfortable as a $200 pair.

Good luck with it and I hope you are much improved with in the next 3 weeks.

[freakiness]

Hi Meep, in answer to your questions: Yes, by the time I leave on my trip, it will be almost exactly 6 weeks since the accident.

Trip plan is 3 days in Singapore, where I was hoping to do a bit of sightseeing & shopping, then onto Sth Africa for 3 weeks, to visit fam. Very little is planned so I will pretty much be able to relax a lot of the time

But still, do I want to go away and be immobile and miserable most of the time?

When I had a damaged foot bone I was told to strap it up tightly to walk on but unstrap while sleeping (for circulation).

[lyndal1838]

Try Panamax Co for the pain.  It is stronger than Panamax as it has Codeine in it...it is available over the counter.

[artforartssake]

Thanks for the advice again.

The physio who I saw yesterday gave me a series of exercises to do but the main thrust of his message was to try and get gentle movement going in that foot, twirling around (gently of course), moving the foot up and down and another exercise he gave me which involves lying on my side, flexing the foot below the knee then flexing the foot

he told me to dispense with the boot inside but to wear it outside all the time

he agreed with the assessment of my doc of min 6 weeks for bone to heal and many more months for the other bits and pieces to heal

meanwhile at nights, the pain is just hellish. Despite 2 panamax before bed and cold showers and ice foot baths I always wake up around 3 or 4am in excruciating pain

And re the 6 -week healing time: Is that supposed to be a continuum effect (i.e. it gradually starts getting better) or does one just wake up one morn 6 weeks after the accident and hey presto, it's healed? Because if it's a continuum effect, so far, 3 weeks after the accident, I've no improvement

Bump: can you give me a bit more info about that footwear you mentioned? My wife is taking me to Kmart later today (Sat) so maybe I could pick something up there