Australia
A 45-year-old female asked:
I have had a stress fracture in my left foot (3rd metatarsal) for 10 weeks. treatment includes moon boot, crutches and physio. x-rays show slight healing but physio says more healing should have occurred by now. what should i do?
4 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. William Schroederanswered
Anti-Aging Medicine 34 years experience
Vitamin D may help: You should start vitamin d supplementation and/or have your levels measured since this hormone and vitamin k are critical for bone healing . 25 hydroxyvitamin d levels should be over forty and for people living north of albuquerque typically 4000 iu/day are required. If your baseline levels are below this take 1000 IU for every 10 points below this level for 2 months and remeasure levels.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Merrill Reuteranswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 37 years experience
Bone graft: consider bone graft to the area of non-union with craft harvested and then prepared from your own iliac crest bone marrow
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Mark Westonanswered
Orthopedic Spine Surgery 33 years experience
More time and rest: Switch to cast and non wieght bearing be patient how was strss fracture diagnosed bone scan? Hard to see metatarsal stress fractures on xray until reactive healing bone appears they heal slowly and become pain free with activies even slower.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Scott Keithanswered
Podiatry 46 years experience
More Stimulation.: On what basis was the conclusion made that more healing should have occurred. The main criteria is the amount of pain you are having after 10 weeks. The problem with stress fractures is that many times patients just don't take them serious until too late. If you are still having pain, a bone stimulator may boost your healing potential. This is an easily applied device that may help significantly.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 1, 2015
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