Metatarsal fractures - any experiences?

[tobiano1984]

In an accident a couple of weeks ago I broke metatarsals 2-5 in my left foot - it was a compound fracture (bones came through skin - gross, sorry!) and all 4 were pretty well and truly broken - had pretty much every orthopaedic doc in the hospital coming to admire my X-rays! Luckily I haven't had to had an operation as initially was thought necessary, but am in a non-weight bearing lower leg cast for at least 6 weeks which is driving me mad.

Apparently this is a common injury for riders and bikers from twisting out of stirrups/pedals. Has anyone else done something similar? And what was your treatment/recovery like? I haven't really got a very direct answer from doctors about time in cast, next step etc. I'm assuming I'll go from a cast to a boot to start putting weight on it. I'm 29 and fit and healthy so hopefully will heal as quickly as possible.

 

[Laafet]

I did this some time ago, no real recovery plan given, wasn't the done thing 15 years ago. I had a soft cast for two weeks, then a horrible hard one for 4 weeks after that. I got so fed up I did ride with it on the week before it was due to come off. By that time I was walking a little on the foot. I went from cast back to normal shoes, I don't think they did boots then either. I was a teenager so I guess healing was easy, I think I didn't do a lot of sport aside from riding for another month or so afterwards. I did metatarsals 2-5 in my left foot, I have noticed that since I do get a horrible dull aching pain if the weather is cold and damp and if it is really cold then it does hurt still in that area. I tend to get off on the mounting block as my knees are not all the good but also because it really hurts my foot to jump off. I did have a bit of an incident 8 years ago when working in Australia and they X-rayed that foot again and that was really interesting, the fracture had healed but with bumps in the area, hence why it hurts when I catch it. Apparently it is a common footballers injury. ((hugs)) on you getting better!