Jones fracture - what to expect?

Has he mentioned a bone stim? If so, you might want to consider. I had a great result with my 2nd metatarsal fracture.

My blog post on it -

http://wellimtryingtorun.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-little-bone-stim.html

(yes, shameless self-promotion, but a lot of people have found this entry helpful).

A true Jones Fracture and not just an avulsion fracture of the 5th metatarsal base qualifies in many insurance plans for a bone stimulator. It is useful as the true Jones fracture is a notoriously difficult to heal fracture. Check it out for sure if surgery isn't indicated. Best of luck.

Suffered through this twice last year. Not an easy injury to heal. First time it occurred was mid-May and was officially diagnosed towards the end of May. I was in a boot and non-weight bearing through Aug 1, at which point I was able to go back to weight bearing and start some light walking. I progressed to running later in the month and was back training a decent amount by Sept. In mid-Oct, it recurred, which tends to happen with these, although I admit I probably rushed things coming back.

The second time I was in a boot but was never totally non-weight bearing (different, much better doc with a totally different approach). I started running again on Jan 1 and have had no problems since, working up to 70 mpw by May.

In hindsight, I wish I had pushed to get a screw inserted the first time I was diagnosed. The doc I saw after the recurrence was more sports oriented and told me that if he had seen me the first time that's the route he would have gone. My recurrence was not as bad (smaller break) and I knew my racing season was over since it was almost winter, so I went with the conservative approach again and it worked that time. I did get a bone-stim device the second time and feel it may have helped as I healed better and the pain went away faster.

My advice would be to see if you can get a bone-stim machine (some insurance will pay some won't - had to fight with mine but got it). Also, be patient. To be honest with you, based on experience and the research I did back when I had this, 8 weeks is probably not enough for this injury to heal, especially with its high rate of recurrence. As much as I know it sucks, I would be thinking 12 weeks if I were you. Then hopefully you will have a comeback similar to my second one not the first.

Good luck!

By the way, one of the reasons this injury is notoriously hard to heal is poor blood flow. Once you get to a point where there is no pain to do so, massage of the area to increase blood flow can help. Just go very light at first, and again, make sure there is no pain. You don't want to move the 5th metatarsal around until it's had a few weeks for some healing to take place. Boost up your calcium intake, and add vitamin D, magnesium, and vitamin C as well. Finally, don't take ibuprofen because it has been shown to slow the healing of fractures (hopefully your doc has already told you that).

bump. Anyone have any idea how long I'm going to be in a boot? If I'll ever be able to walk on my heel? If I'll be able to drive a few miles?

I had a Jones fracture. 6 weeks of doing nothing. 6 weeks of pool running and elliptical. I didn't get a screw inserted and at the time I thought I did want the screw to make sure it formed a union. Now I'm really glad I let it heal naturally, it's stronger than ever and I have no problems at all.

When I started running after 3 months I started with 1km and took it up by 10-15% each day, running 5 times/week. It was a slow running build-up so I kept up my x-training for another 5-6 weeks to stay fit.

Good luck.

I had a Jones fracture of my 5th metatarsal about 7 years ago. I had the surgery and a screw inserted. I was in a cast for 6 weeks and a boot for 2 weeks after that, but after the boot I began light jogging within 2 weeks, and no PT required. I was in my 40's at the time. I'm a sprinter I so put a lot of high impact on my foot. It healed fine. My bones were out of place so the surgery was the best thing possible for me. I did a lot of floor work like leg lifts, donkey kicks, etc. in order to try to increase blood flow by elevating/lowering the limb. I've heard some bad stories about this thing taking months and months to heal, but I had no problem. The only issue is that the area of the foot containing the screw is sensitive to rubbing by shoes, and since the screw is just under the skin if my feet get cold that one area can ache. Perhaps because the metal screw gets colder. Good luck!

injured wrote:

bump. Anyone have any idea how long I'm going to be in a boot? If I'll ever be able to walk on my heel? If I'll be able to drive a few miles?

I was in the boot 10 weeks the first time and 6 the second. I drove throughout both and it was my right foot. I just took the boot off for driving. Using the accelerator caused no pain as long as I used mainly the inside of my foot and I used my left foot for braking. In terms of walking on it, best to play it safe there and not do so until your doc clears you.

Best of luck in your recovery

a bone stimulator is needed for this injury quite often. Insurance will push back on a bone stimulator. if you need one let me know, I work for the #1 bone stimulator company and can get you one at wholesale, $1500. a lot of money, I know, but you will not find a new one cheaper, impossible.

just respond with email if you want one and insurance wont pay or is making you wait.

bump - I got a bone growth stimulator for relatively cheap and have been using it 2-3 times a day.

I can walk now, without a boot or anything, but its not quite right. I've started cross training on the elliptical and exercise bike. IS that bad? I don't think I'd be able to keep my sanity, let alone have motivation to attend classes w/out training. I'm bumping this to see if anyone has any experiences cross training with this.

What to expect?

"Pain"

Hi!

Thank you for sharing your notorious' jones fracture experiences.

I have a 'partial' jones, meaning my medial side is somewhat intact. Would gGreatly appreciate if u could help by answering a couple more questions please?

1.how is your previous fracture/rue fracture ite holding up? (And your current mileage, if u dont mind sharing)

2. How did u refracture it? Was it during tril runs ? Hard sprints?? By accident??? ( u can probably tell I'm quite concerned or my own sake :/)

Thank you for all your help and postings 2years back :)

Desperate, injured runner

Peter Limb

8 meeks cast non weight baring, followed by 8 weeks boot non weight baring, more weeks boot partial weight baring, get it checked next week. NOT FUN

When you started back running for you ever have soreness? I get intermittent soreness during some runs and soreness at night and it is 4 months post break.

When you started back to running for you have any soreness? I am 4 months post jones fracture and I have slight intermittent soreness during some runs and soreness at night, otherwise I'm fine.

I had this. I was out 16 weeks. I crosstrained despite the doctor's wishes, and pretty intensely, not recommended, I might have been lucky. Doctor will probably want you non weight bearing and in a boot most of the time. Odds are it will heal with conservative treatment, but you may need surgery. Just remember though more than one third of people who have this are elderly, inactive, overweight, etc. so their bones don't heal like they should sometimes.

I have a Jones fracture that I ended up having surgery on 6 weeks ago. My doctor chose surgery because I live a pretty active lifestyle (run, martial arts, strength training). I feel very lucky that I was able to have surgery and that my recovery is on track. However, it sucks. There's no way around that, but time does somehow still go by quickly.

I was completely non-weight baring for four weeks and in a removable air boot. At four weeks I was allowed to start putting weight (with the boot on) and using two crutches. At five weeks I was allowed to go down to one crutch (with the boot on). At five and a half weeks I am allowed to walk without crutches (with the boot on). I am suppose to keep the boot on for another 4 weeks. My last last x-ray at 6 weeks shows good healing. My doctor just wants to make sure that I do not re-injure it.

As far as activity goes I pretty much had to stop all cardio. I do sit down at the gym and use the battle ropes which is better than nothing. I have been able to use almost all the sitting machines with the exception of some of the leg ones. My doctor does allow me to use the hamstring curl machine and the quad machine. At six weeks I got the OK to do light swimming and use an exercise bike. These are not things that I would normally do, but I'll take it for now.

There are some really positive things that have come out of this. I've seen how kind and helpful strangers can be. I've also been able to come up with some creative exercises to do at home that are non-weight baring. It's also given me a new perspective on how hard disabled people have it (even the little things like why is the handicap bathroom usually furthest from the door?!)

Informative...thanks. How did you fracture your foot? Is your surgeon expecting a full recovery?