Hi all, broke the base of my 5th metatarsal 2 weeks ago a) should I be walking on it and b) how long to heal?

They never tell you any details at the hospital do they, I have a fibreglass cast on and I have been walking (or should I say hobbling around) but I don't know if I should be. Has anyone else suffered the same injury? (apart from Wayne Rooney and David Beckham lol:)

Answers:
The base of the 5th metatarsal fracture (known as Jones' Fracture) is a slow healing injury because that area is mostly avascular (meaning blood supply is low). Some doctors will put you in a walking cast and some will have you non weight bearing depending on the severity of the injury and your personal needs. Hopefully you are being treated by an orthopedic physician (if not, find one for a second opinion) - I would ask your doctor if you would heal faster if you were non weight bearing.

My opinion (as a physical therapist) is that you should be non weight bearing for 4 to 6 weeks with frequent follow up visits with your doctor to monitor progress. When the bone is healing, you may begin partial to full weight bearing. You may be given a boot to immobilize the foot after your cast comes off and you may spend 2 to 4 weeks full weight bearing with the boot.

Give this injury time and don't push yourself too fast too soon or you may limit healing or worse, re-injure it! Good luck.

If you broke it, then you shouldn't be walking on it for another couple of weeks. I had the same and was not to walk on it for about 4 weeks.
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