broken fifth metatarsal

by Mary
(Milledgeville, Georgia )

I broke my foot on July 28th. It was displaced in 2 places an eighth of an inch. The doctor put me in a cast for 2 weeks. I then went into a walking boot for 4 weeks. Went back and had it x-rayed again. The little girl that took the x-ray said how did you break your foot. I knew then it had hardly healed. I was very disheartened and upset because it looked no different than the way it looked on July 28th. When my doctor came in he knew I was upset. He told me to continue to wear the walking boot for 2 more weeks. Then I was fitted for this lace up supportive boot that I can wear inside a shoe. My concern is that I have not walked on my foot since July 28th with no physical theraphy. I just have a gut feeling it is not healing properly. It was done at work so workman's comp. made me an appt. with the doctor they had on the list. When I went to the emergency room the dr. there told me pins and surgery. The P.A. at the doctor's office said I needed pins, plates, and surgery. I have not had any physical theraphy at all.

Hi Mary,
Fifth metatarsal fractures depending on where the "break" is can be very hard to heal.
Physical therapy is of no value right now. If the gap between the bones is not too large, you can ask your doctor about a bone stimulator which is a device that creates an electrical current across the fracture site to heal the fracture, it can be very rewarding. If however the gap is too great then unfortunately you are looking at surgery. It is just a shame you have wasted so much time with this injury.
Marc Mitnick DPM