Question 1

i have none-displaced small fracture in 5th metatarsal base of my foot.
it was swelling immediately after the incident; i was put into a splint
after 18 hours i was put into a cast.
i have been in the cast for 10 days now, i do minimal home walking. mos

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends on the specific location of the fracture.  An avulsion type fracture at the tip of the metatarsal is little more than a sprain of the foot and does not really require any immobilization at all.  A more proximal fracture of the 5 th metatarsal is known as a jones fracture and requires strict non weight bearing in a cast to heal.

Question 2

good day. my daughter is 2,5. a shelf fell on her foot at school. xrays on wednesday showed a possible fracture at the base of the fourth metatarsal. no cast was given. should we be concerned of the extreme swelling and bruising still present?

Accepted Answer

Yes: An ortho specialist will be needed to assess and follow up. That is clearly needed as to ruling in or out a possible fracture and having the right treatment in place. Sometimes repeat imaging is needed as well to assess for displacement. Her pediatrician should be able to coordinate in case an ortho referral was not made yet.

Question 3

what causes swelling of fractured 5th metatarsal ?

Accepted Answer

Metatarsal fracture: The swelling is usually due to bleeding from the fracture site and an inflammatory response to the injury.

Question 4

i broken my right foot 7 weeks ago during an accident. doctor said it was fracture of 5th metatarsal bone. why is the pain and swelling still hasn't gone down?

Accepted Answer

5th met: Fractures usually heal in 6-8 weeks. If it was a jones fracture then it usually requires surgery. Talk to doctor who treated it. I assume it was immobilized and stay off it. Get another x-ray to see if its healing.

Question 5

i am a 43yo male and fractured the fifth metatarsal of my left foot 4 weeks ago. swelling is still massive and xrays yesterday show no signs of healing. should i still have massive swelling after 4 weeks, and why has it not started to heal

Accepted Answer

I : I assume you're in a cast, and since bone takes 6-8 weeks to heal and it's only been 4 weeks, i wouldn't expect it to have healed by now.  I'm also confused as to how you're even aware of all the swelling you're having if you're in a cast.

If you're not in a cast, perhaps you should be.  There are different kinds of fractures involving the 5th metatarsal, the most common of which is an avulsion fracture, where a piece of bone is pulled off from the bottom of the bone during an inversion type injury, where your foot turned inward.  Fractures of this sort require a cast, otherwise, with every step you take walking on the thing, the tendon that inserts into the base of the 5th metatarsal keeps pulling the bone fragments away from each other, preventing healing.  This could explain all the swelling you're having as well as why it shows no sign of healing.

Hope this helps.  Feel better.

Question 6

10 week old stress fracture in 3rd metatarsal is slow to heal- still with pain and swelling. using moon boot and crutches.

Accepted Answer

This is a statement-: -but i assume you wonder why so long. This is the nature of stress fractures in the foot. Even with a " moon boot" you are still weight bearing, so the less pressure you put on your foot the better. In very recalcitrant ones you may need a bone stimulator.

Question 7

when i walk the head of metatarsal hurts really bad like a sharp pain. there's no bruising or swelling. could it be fractured?

Accepted Answer

It could be: If you are an active person or you had a misstep while walking recently, it is possible to have a stress fracture. But, it could also be an inflammation related to sprain or arthritis or some kind of soft tissue injury.  Examine your shoe first. Apply Ice, use an insert, anti inflammatory and if not improvement, see a doctor.

Question 8

hello. my 10 year old son fractured his metatarsal bone on 3rd may. he is anxious to play sport again. he has no swelling or pain. used moonboot?

Accepted Answer

Follow up : Best to follow up with his physician. A repeat X-ray is in order before activities are resumed.

Question 9

swelling and pain from metatarsal stress fracture- how long should it last with non-weight bearing in boot and crutches?

Accepted Answer

It won't work: with stress fracture and most likely you have osteoporosis   You need to be non weight bearing to heal appropriate.  If you weight bear you are taking a risk of callus bone formation which bone growth around fracture that is weak and might cause refracture  in future

Question 10

if there is still pain and some swelling with a metatarsal stress fracture- after 18 weeks boot, crutches- does it mean still injured? what to do?

Accepted Answer

No stress to stress.: Look at it this way. Every time you apply weight to a stress fracture, you are re-injuring it. These types of fractures are often underestimated as to their potential healing problems. Probably, it might be best, for all considered, to have a new set of eyes looking at your problem. Four and a half months is entirely too long.

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Doctor answers about:

5th metatarsal base fracture swelling pain at 7 weeks

A member asked:

I have none-displaced small fracture in 5th metatarsal base of my foot. it was swelling immediately after the incident; i was put into a splint after 18 hours i was put into a cast. i have been in the cast for 10 days now, i do minimal home walking. mos

A member asked:

Good day. my daughter is 2,5. a shelf fell on her foot at school. xrays on wednesday showed a possible fracture at the base of the fourth metatarsal. no cast was given. should we be concerned of the extreme swelling and bruising still present?

A member asked:

What causes swelling of fractured 5th metatarsal ?

A member asked:

I broken my right foot 7 weeks ago during an accident. doctor said it was fracture of 5th metatarsal bone. why is the pain and swelling still hasn't gone down?

A member asked:

I am a 43yo male and fractured the fifth metatarsal of my left foot 4 weeks ago. swelling is still massive and xrays yesterday show no signs of healing. should i still have massive swelling after 4 weeks, and why has it not started to heal

A member asked:

10 week old stress fracture in 3rd metatarsal is slow to heal- still with pain and swelling. using moon boot and crutches.

A member asked:

When i walk the head of metatarsal hurts really bad like a sharp pain. there's no bruising or swelling. could it be fractured?

A member asked:

Hello. my 10 year old son fractured his metatarsal bone on 3rd may. he is anxious to play sport again. he has no swelling or pain. used moonboot?

A member asked:

Swelling and pain from metatarsal stress fracture- how long should it last with non-weight bearing in boot and crutches?

A member asked:

If there is still pain and some swelling with a metatarsal stress fracture- after 18 weeks boot, crutches- does it mean still injured? what to do?

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