Definately gonna affect my heel-and-toe technique

[Z-man]

.

Happened on Jan 31st. It's a fracture of the 5th metatarsal bone -- aka a "Jones fractre." I'm three weeks into staying completely off the foot. Next Monday I visit the doc to see if I can start walking on it with the air cast on - who knows how long that leg (pun intended) of the recovery process will last...

I friend of mine takes me to work, and I am able to work from home 1-2 days a week. Got a wheelchair at work, and crutches to hobble around everywhere else.

Started swimming last week to help get the circulation up. But it isn't easy getting into the pool. Other than that, I can't do anything with the foot -- no tennis, no hking, no dancing with the Mrs. for three months.

It is truly amazing how much you take forgranted the little things in life, like a foot...

How did this happen? I'd love to say Mrs. Z-man and I were sky diving, and to save her from certain death, I sacraficed my leg to prevent her from smacking into a wall.... but in reality, I was walking in my garage and stepped on a piece of wood causing my foot to twist -- the torque was enough to cause the crack.

Amazing how it works -- when you feel that life to whizzing by uncontrolably too fast, stuff like this happens and gets you to slow down.

-Z-man

[Dueller]

I broke 5 metatarsals and ankle in a surfing accident in the 70's. Kinda ended up rotating my right foot outward. Actually helped my goofy foot h/t action.

Good luck on your recovery.

[Rikao4]

get well soon..
makes one realize how blessed one is...

pinched a brachial nerve once..
left arm ..was totally numb and useless..
for a lefty..my life was hell..
folks had to cut my food..
getting dressed was crazy..
6 months of hell..

Rika

[Pazuzu]

Just to make you feel even better Z-man...


It's going to Affect your driving.

[Superman]

Regardless of our ideological agreements or lack thereof, I have always appreciated your thoughtfulness. And now, I envy your situation. Enjoy the slowing-down bit. I should take a lesson and do some slowing-down myself, without the broken bone.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Just to make you feel even better Z-man...


It's going to Affect your driving.

I have no idea what you're talking about, Pazuzu....

I guess my broken foot has effected (?) my spelling ability as well....
-Z-man.

[Tobra]

I usually fixate those surgically, put on a bone growht stimulator or both. If you smoke, stop right now. I seem to recall you are diabetic, another complicating factor. Location and orientation of fracture predisposes it to not healing, tendon attached to little piece pulls it apart. Stay off it, no weight at all, if you itch under the cast, tap it with a wooden kitchen spoon or somthing.

[ths911]

I can relate - check out the 3 angles of my left leg broken in a friendly game of softball. 4 months later, I'm still managing the pain and trying not to limp.

[onlycafe]

all's well that mends well.
happy knitting z.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I usually fixate those surgically, put on a bone growht stimulator or both. If you smoke, stop right now. I seem to recall you are diabetic, another complicating factor. Location and orientation of fracture predisposes it to not healing, tendon attached to little piece pulls it apart. Stay off it, no weight at all, if you itch under the cast, tap it with a wooden kitchen spoon or somthing.

Yep - diabetic - hence the desire to get the circulation up via swimming. Fortunately, I never smoked in all my life. From what I understand, that area of the foot is considered a 'watershed' of sorts -- while there are two arteries supplying blood there, that particular location doesn't get a good amount of circulation, hence the lengthy healing time - plus the tendon pulling on it.

The doc said that if I were an aspiring athlete, the surgical fix would have happened - but I think I missed that calling.... if it doesn't heal on it's own, or if it breaks again, then I go under the knife and do the procedure you described. (As a diabetic, I'd rather not open up my foot an introduce more potential complications...)

Fortunately, I have a removable cast so itching is not a big issue - and when I have the cast off I am extra diligent to not put any weight on it. I was also ok'd to sleep without the cast on.

Question - how tight should the cast be on my leg? I have three velco straps and an airpump (like the Reebock sneakers) to really get that thing snug. Since I am not putting any weight on it for now, I suspect it doesn't need to be too tight. (Too tight = unnecessary circulation issues). Once I start walking on it, I suspect I will need to tighten up the cast in order to utilize the support built into it effectively. Any guidelines anyone know of for this?

-Z-man.

[tcar]

I had exactly the same break about a year ago; riding bike and hit ice. Foot hit pavement hard.

Doc said the only way for it to mend is sugery, but it doesn't bother most people after a while and they just leave it. That's what I've done.

He said if I want to ski or run, I need to get it fixed.

[gatotom]

sorry Z-man for the fracture, did your Doc say anything about that bone spur on your first metatarsal, that is quite large.

[Oh Haha]

Stupid=broken foot?!!!!!

Z--I know the feeling, brother. On both parts. The cause and the resulting fracture.

I broke 4 toes and had a slight fracture almost where yours is. It's been a year and few months and some days I have 0 pain. Other days I do. Nothing unbearable andI have no problem running(not that I do but I can), driving the 911(heel and toeing), or playing drums.

Do what the doctor says and be careful with it while healing. Best wishes for a good recovery.

[Tobra]

Z-You will feel better with a bit of compression on it, think mildly compressive ACE wrap, perhaps a support stocking, but a tight sock will be uncomfortable to don at this point. Elevation, compression, good nutrition and good BG control all pretty important.

Exogen bone growth stimulator, that is the ticket. You have two strikes, Diabetes and Jones Fx; your insurance would probably spring for it now, it will make your foot heal faster.

Tom, ths911, I hope you got that long transfixition screw removed prior to walking on that ankle. If not, plan on the screw breaking.

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Exogen bone growth stimulator, that is the ticket.

Just did some quick research on that - sounds like a good idea.

The Physical Therapy place I have used in the past often used ultrasound in the healing process -- I will give them a call to see if they have such a machine, and I will check with my insurance and bone doctor to see if they will recommend such a thing. Surprised that the bone DR didn't mention that before...

Thanks for the info.
-Zoltan.

[Tobra]

The ultrasound BG stim works, and is approved for use in high risk fracture right away. The electromagnetic field ones don't do dick.

How is this thread one star? You a Republican Zoltan?

[Jim Bremner]

I broke My right foot @ 26 ish I'm a traveling sales rep. I gave the Dr. the max width that the cast could be so that I could drive my stick shift car.

He yelled at me and told me "Nobody will tell me cast-tech how to make a cast!"
He then tossed my cast measurements into the trash.

Cast teck set up the cast. I went out to the car. It didn't fit between the firewall and brake pedal so I cut it off! I went back into the office with out the cast, asked for the Dr. I had him pretty pissed off! but he took the paper out of the trash to give to the cast tech!

When I was 40 I broke my back at T-10 plus broke my heel off of the right foot along with a part of the right side of the ankle.

I told the Dr. the story of the first break. He followed directions!

I drove 3 weeks after the accident! with a chest brace and a cast from the toes to the knee.

I would pull up in the handicap space and hop from the door of my C6 Corvette to the hatch to get my crutch's. It took 5 1/2 months to get off of crutch's.

[ths911]

Tobra,

Thanks for the concern, my ortho said the same thing and yes I got the long screw taken out after 12 weeks. I have it here at the house somewhere (sick souvenir). I had been on crutches for 6 weeks and walking with a cane for the other 6. I'm mainly dealing with the pain from the ligaments that got torn at the same time. I made quite a mess of my ankle but it is getting better as time passes.

[Tobra]

You need to do physical therapy Tom. Active and passive range of motion, like spelling out the alphabet with your big toe, doing clockwise and counter clockwise circles, support hose will help with the swelling, which you no doubt still have

Mr Bremner, I would have fired your ass as a patient right then

[red-beard]

I can relate. I broke this bone as well in 2005. And as much as I would have loved a good story, I stepped on a cat toy. I was celebrating the Astros getting into the World Series...