Metatarsal Stress Fracture - how long to recovery?

This is a very difficult question to answer. I have been through 2 met stress fractures and have had different docs tell me anything from 8 weeks in a boot plus 4 weeks only walking to no boot and run as soon as you are pain free. I know people who have had relapses after both too much rest and too little.

For what little it is worth, I think too much time in a boot leaves the bone weak. One doc told me that a stress fracture needs some stimulation to heal and was against immobilization if you could walk pain free. I also think that most people can return to running very gradually in 4-6 weeks, but should not do anything faster than a tempo run until they are 4-6 months out from the stress fracture. Hard speed work is almost always the culprit for met stress fractures. The bone really needs a long time to be ready for that kind of load.

That was a terrific answer - exactly what I was looking for. First hand experience. Thanks dude, you've always been one of the best posters here.

Does anyone else have experience with this?

Last bump for the morning crowd.

6-8 weeks on average, but it could be over twice as long for certain fractures (big toe, jones fracture, etc.) or multiple fractures

When I broke my foot I was in extreme pain for a couple of days and really couldn't put any weight on it. I used crutches for a few days until my arms were really tired from the crutches. Then I used one crutch as a cane for a another week or so. I tried buying some hard soled boots but they were really uncomfortable, so I just wore sneakers after that. After about two weeks I didn't have any pain.

Once, I jogged about 200 meters and didn't feel any pain.

At three weeks my doctor said that I was not in much danger of re-breaking it but still advised to not run for another three weeks, and then run five miles or less at a time.

After five weeks, I started running very gradually. I think the first day I ran 200 meters, then 400 meters the next day, then 800 meters, then at about six weeks I was up to three miles. I was only running about 10 mpw for a while.

6-8 weeks

I played it safe and took 8 weeks off. Didn't waste my time going to a doctor or wearing a boot or any of that nonsense. After starting back, I ran 4-5 weeks and started racing. My toe would be sore after the race but it got less each week. After a couple months there was no pain at all. Ended up having a great summer of racing.

I broke my 1st Metatarsal in both L&R foot (4months apart). 1wk boot... 8 weeks total. Not pain, but the ghost of pain past kept haunting a little longer. I wear padded trainers now for junk miles and tempo runs.