Ouch – My Broken / Displaced Metatarsals !!

1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsals broken / fractured.

I broke / fractured 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Metatarsals!

On May 23rd, 2009,  I was playing on a swing set with my nephews.  At the highest point, I jumped off the front.  (Trying to show them how a real man does it). I landed poorly and fractured the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th metatarsals in my right foot.  (see above photo)

Eleven days later (June 3rd), I had surgery to hold the broken bones in place…  A plate with screws on the 1^st metatarsal, and pins through the centers of the 2^nd and 3^rd.   The 4th left to heal on its own.  I am in a hard cast now, and pretty much confined to my recliner.

I was told that I should be “partial” weight bearing after 6 to 8 weeks, but most of what I read indicates that it could take many months.  We shall see.

I’ve read many blogs from those who have broken the fifth (5^th) metatarsal, and healing times seem to vary greatly.   Two of my fractures were displaced, so my impression is that the healing process could be long and drawn out.  This blog is my attempt to chronologize my progress and to share with others suffering similar injuries.

If you have broken your first, second, third, fourth, fifth or ALL of your metatarsals, then I would love you hear of your progress and final outcome.   Share your experience!!

Please read the ABOUT page prior to commenting.   Cheers!

X-ray shows displacement of 2nd and 3rd Metatarsals.

During surgery - Plate and screws aligning 1st metatarsal bone.

Side view... during surgery. The 2 pins align the displaced 2nd and 3rd metatarsals

June 9: Six days after surgery…

6 days post-op... Stitches look good.

Pins aligning the 2nd and 3rd metatarsals.

Definitely non-weight bearing!

Still swollen and bruised. Today the hard cast goes on.

June 23: 3 weeks post-op… Got my cast off and stitches out today.  X-rays taken show no union yet on the 2nd and 3rd metatarsals.  I am somewhat concerned, but Doctor says it often takes longer with some folks.  A new cast was put on and I go back again in 3 weeks.   If it appears then that the bones are healing, I will get the pins taken out and will go into a walking boot.   I still have pain 3 weeks post-op, but it seems to be subsiding with each passing day.   More later…

 

July 15: 6 weeks post-op… Got my pins removed today and switched to an air cast.  Yeeeh!!!  Fractures showed union sufficient enough for pin (K wire) removal.  2 – 3 more weeks NWB and then therapy begins.  More later…

 

August 3: 8 Weeks post-op… First day of Physical Therapy today.  I am doing well in the walking cast… more than 50% weight bearing.  Still no weight at all barefoot, but I feel that I am healing well.  Foot still swollen.  Range of motion improving, except in my toes.  Can bend up perhaps 75%, cannot bend down AT ALL.  Scars healing well, foot is nice, clean, and soft once again.   I put on a hard-soled hiking boot today and DROVE MY CAR for the first time in 9 weeks.  Yipee!!!   More later…

 

November 4: More than 5 months since surgery and I am still in pain and limping.   Going in for surgery this Monday for hardware removal.  Hopefully, that will begin my road to recovery.    See my posting below for a more detailed update.  Dave

 

November 19: Ok.  Hardware finally out on Nov. 9th!   I know now that some of the pain I was experiencing was due to the plate and screws.  Neither I nor the doctor can say exactly why it was causing pain, but there’s no doubt that it was.  Still hurts a bit… still limping… still feels tender and fragile.   I’m glad the hardware is out though… I figure that now I begin my road to recovery.    I’ll report back in a few weeks.

 

April 20, 2010: Been a long time since I updated.   Almost a year since I broke my foot and while I am getting around ok, I am still limping and there is a fair amount of pain in the joints.   The bones have completely heeled, but I’m afraid that due to the nature on my injury, I’m developing arthritis quick than I had expected.   I see the surgeon one last time tomorrow.   After that, I’ll probably hook up with a good POD that I can see from time to time.  I think a second set of eyes… a second opinion… might not be a bad thing anyway.   I wish I could report to all of you that things are back to normal, but I live with pain everyday.  It is especially worse in the mornings and after I’ve been sitting for a while.   One year from now, I cannot tell if it will be somewhat better, or somewhat worse.     More later…

 

October 25, 2011

Hi all,
Dave here (footsahurtin).   So glad that my little blog here has grown so long and has seemingly  helped so many people.
The reason I started it in the first place was because I too began Googling as much as I could to get info and other folk’s experiences, and there was not a lot out there on a “personal” basis.   All of your posts seem to have hit home with so many people and have provided much needed help and comfort.   It’s always good to know that at any given time, one is not alone in their particular suffering, and that others are going through the very same thing at the very same time.As an update, I do OK these days with shoe inserts, but walking barefoot, and during the first hour or so in the morning after getting out of bed, I still feel a fair amount of pain.  Throughout the day it gets better.  A bit of arthritis I think. I’ve learned to live with it.Thanks again for all of your comments and contributions.  I will keep this blog going for as long as folks keep posting… and then some!!!

Speedy recovery to all,
David

NOTE: This blog has grown tremendously since my first post. I am trying to find a good way to break up the posts into pages. Meanwhile, you will find at the bottom of the page a selection for “OLDER” and “NEWER” posts.
The blog begins with the oldest posts.

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