Jones Fracture

It is interesting to read how much the approach to a Jones Fracture seems to differ with you in the US as opposed to over here in Europe. I suffered a Jones Fracture three weeks ago and got 1 week of regular cast (splint) and three weeks of walking casket. Never ever was surgery mentioned. So i have one week left and hope it will prove to be enough. And as soon as i got the walking cascet i started working again. I must admit though that that was not painless.
I will keep you posted on what the fracture looks like when they will x-ray it netxt monday.
Cheers !
JL, the Netherlands

 

Foot Doc! please help

I injured my foot on september 4th. Sept. 8th I was put into a cast and the injury was confirmed by x rays to be a Jones Fracture. 6 weeks later I was taken out of my cast and placed into a boot(w/ crutches) with the word that my foot was healing just wasn't completely healed. I am an avid soccer player, how long is a reasonable estimate of when I will be able to play soccer again? And will this ruin my chances of playing college soccer? Am I screwed for life?!?

 

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS-ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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As bone is one of the few tissues in the body that heals with the same type of tissue that it is made from rather than some form of scar tissue, well-positioned, well-healed fractures are generally as functional and at least as strong as they were prior to the injury. That, however, does not necessarily go for the surrounding soft tissue structures and intra-articular cartilage which may also have been injured in the incident and which might result in residual disability of varying degrees. Any estimate of if and when you will be able to return to playing soccer again could best be made by your attending doctor, based on his/her first-hand knowledge and assessment of your progress. Why don't you ask him/her?

 

I have one more question for you foot Doc.
Is surgery or non- surgery more commonly recommended for the common soccer player after a Jones fracture has been diagnosed? And which procedure has the highest rate of re-injury?

 

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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The decision as to whether to treat surgically or non-surgically is based on the specifics of the fracture and the preference of the doctor and not the specific sport. Surgical treatment of Jones fractures is generally acknowledged to have a somewhat higher success rate, but irrespective of the method, assuming optimum and complete healing, risk of re-injury should be the same.

 

broke my foot(jones fracture) june 6th, had surgery finally 7 weeks ago. i am now in an air cast, still non-weightbearing. i was just curious if after surgery it's normal for the site of the surgery to be kind of numb? i've been very gentle with my foot, however just running my hand/finger lightly over the incision(almost 100% healed), i can't really feel it. is this normal and will it possibly always be slightly numbed?

also, i"m not sure if this can possibly be answered without case specifics but since the surgery i have never put full weight on my foot. i HAVE however lost balance and put some slight weight on it so that i don't fall. will this hinder my healing at all? and with non-weightbearing is it ok to just relax and have your foot on the ground with the weight of your leg on your foot? these are questions that i always forget to ask while at my doctors office.

 

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DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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It is not at all uncommon to experience varying degrees of modified sensation in the area where surgery of any kind is performed. Some of it may be transient and some might be permanent. That feeling which has not returned to normal withing 6-12 months probably won't. It would seem apparent to me that simply resting one's foot on the ground does not constitute weight-bearing, but I am not going to equivocate as to how much weight-bearing is alright and how much might be detrimental. Questions which are not asked of a doctor during an office visit can certainly be answered with a telephone call. Don't think that your doctor's responsibility for you and responsiveness to your needs ends when you walk out of his/her office.

 

Hi there. I just found this forum while looking for information about my foot. So thought I would reply and see what you guys think.

I broke my 5th metatarsal jones fracture over 10 weeks ago. I was in a non weight bearing cast for 6 weeks, in which I did pretty well in not putting weight on it. I went to get cast off after 6weeks, they xrayed. He said it is healing well but still broken but the bones will continue to grow and he was confident I could leave without a cast. No advice, never got told to see a physio.

So I used crutches for 2weeks. With shoes on there was not too much pain, without shoes I was in agony. Then 1 week with 1 stick. Then this last week I have been without the crutches at all. But I got a a bad knee, as for some reason I think I was locking knee and lifting toes from floor to relieve pain (while no shoes) maybe too much too soon.


So the situation now is. I am trying to walk normal by making sure my knees are bent. Not much pain at all as I think I have adapted things to stop the pain. My partner tells me ever now and again that I am limping. When I went shopping today after 40mins my left foot felt like I had been stood on it all day.
I find a lot of pain when I raise to the ball of my feet. Which makes stairs an issue. I dunno if im the only one who usually walks up and down stairs on their toes lol. So I put my left foot sideways on.
If I put pressue where I think the break was it is very tender to touch. I can feel it.

So I guess what I want to know is, are my issues now with out parts of my feet which may have been neglected for past 8/9weeks as they was unused. Or are they still realting to the break. Would a physio help? Maybe I should need to gain strength.
Its been a slow month. I just feel like my progression in the past 2weeks has stopped. I am unsure if this is because I need to do some excersises with a physio. I got no advice on what I should have done when come out the cast. The UK hospital system is a joke. I rang to book in with fracture doctor. 4weeks waiting list grr


Oh and one wuick thing
How long after a break can you fly?

 

I fell three weeks ago and could put weight on my left foot only on the inside of the foot. I went to the doctor yesterday and xray revealed a Jones fracture. I was placed in a cam walker and given crutches non weight bearing ( Dr did say he was known for being very conservtive in his treatments thus the crutches). I rk downtown an take the train so crutches with my bad leg up bent t the knee is very difficult. Is it ok to place the heel on the floor and step lightly still putting the majority of the weight on the crutches? Or is it better to put the whole foot down still with only light pressure?

 

Yes, Jones fractures take a long time to heal. My daughter had Jones Fractures on both feet, they put her in non weight bearing cast and she was confined to a wheel chair for 7 months. She was not able to have any weight on her feet at all, none what so ever. After 7 months she was put in walking boots for 3 months and was given a bone stem to help her with the healing process. It's suppose to help the bones heal faster. Since she has used the bone stem, one of her feet has healed and the other is still slowly healing.
It has been almost a year since she broke her feet and she is still not 100%. If she
doesn't heal then she will have to have surgery at some point.

All I can say is it does take a long long time to heal. If you are not sure, I would get a second oppion even if you have to travel to see another doctor.

 

Take notes, guy and gals, 'cause THIS is a fine example how a non-doctor's response in a medical forum SHOULD be made. The comments represented an individual situation which is NOT atypical, although the poster did not attempt to convince others that it necessarily represents other than that individuals experience or that he/she has experience in the matter which exceeds that one individual case. And finally . . excellent advice about what to do if one is not sure, rather than soliciting specific case-related problems in a forum to those who cannot possibly know the nuances of a case.

Thank you for your appropriate and helpful post.

 

Hi Doc,

A little history about myself: I first had a 5th metatarsal fracture in my left foot very close to the Jones fracture location while playing soccer, around two years ago. I waited several months for it to heal, and, when it didn't, had a screw put in. I haven't had a single problem with it since (left the screw in).

Almost a year to the date of the first break, I had an almost identical fracture in my right foot. This time I didn't wait for it to heal and opted for immediate surgery (as it was during my offseason, and I wanted to be healthy for preseason in roughly 2.5-3 months). I made a very rapid recovery and made it back in time to play. However, since then (early August, it is now April) I have had intermittent pain right where the surgery scar is. I've been back to see my doctor. We had X-Rays taken and they showed that it was fully healed. He was under the impression that my pain was coming from being rushed back into playing and recommended taking a month or so off.

I took his advice and the pain has drastically reduced, in both its severity and frequency. However, it still occurs, and I am back playing soccer again. The pain hasn't changed since the time off I took and when I started playing again (showing that playing/not playing didn't seem to have an effect). The strange thing about it is that I don't have any pain when I'm walking. It usually occurs after I've been sitting down, laying down, etc. (off my feet for awhile) and get up. Immediately when I get up, my right foot hurts for a minute or so and the pain subsides.

My doctor said he didn't want to remove the screw, and neither do I, considering the fact that I've broken both feet in the same spot and don't want it to happen a third time, should I remove the screw. His final suggestion is just to take ibuprofen before and after I play.

I would like to know your thoughts on the matter and if you have any other solutions, or am I stuck with occasional pain in my foot as long as I continue playing soccer?

 

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS-ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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First of all, it is simply not possible that I could meaningfully comment, especially regarding a situation where there has been a traumatic event, each of which is an event unique unto itselves. So, what I have to say is general and may not apply to your situation.

Bone which has healed normally and in good position should be at least as strong as it was before fracture. The use of a screw was to assure fixation and compression of the fracture site so as to create a situation in which normal healing could best take place. Once the bone has healed, assuming that it healed completely and normally, the screw serves no function, so, if I understand what you are saying, removal of the screw should not predispose you to another fracture at that site unless there is some other pathologic weakness of the bone. That being said, for a variety of reasons, screws can be problematic on their own, and their removal should be considered if they are the cause of problems as determined by your attending doctor. As far as what is causing your pain at this time, I have no clue and would not be expected to have one without a hands-on examination. But, in general, pain in and about a joint which is evident on first use of a part and which then improves with further use is often an indication of arthritis, but you might also have some scar adhesions which tend to tighten on rest and stretch on use.

 

At age 75 I was diagnosed with Jones FX-fit for a boot and will have a screw inserted next week. This started with tendinitis 4 mo ago(racquetball injury) and now I look forward to a long healing process. IF I refused surgery there would be a good chance of my never healing. I hope to live to my 80's and maybe get back to playing racquetball again! It is so kind of you to respond to people on this board with no medical background. I am a retired RN and there is no option in my mind as to going through with this surgery.

 

People come to forums all the time to discuss medical conditions or injuries. That doesn't mean they don't also talk to their doctors, but not all doctors are up on everything, or know ways to work around the "no weight on it" issues, etc.

So, I just had my Jones Fracture on Sunday, and yes, I saw the Xrays, and there is no doubt about it. It's a pretty significant break.

I was given the hard & soft velco boot, and told to stay off it by the ER doc, with an estiimate of 6-8 weeks recovery, and advice to see my regular doc and possibly a ortho. That would be tough to do, since I can't drive (a stick shift) and just moved to this town and know virtually no one to take me.

Today I did a bit of internet research and found that 1/4 of these never heal, and that surgery has some significant risks and recovery time as well.

So, I am a bit bummed out here. Any advice on tricks for someone who lives alone to NEVER put weight on that foot for weeks? How do you feed the pets? Laundry? Dishes?

I will figure out a way to get to an ortho specialist, but what about the day-to-day stuff about no weight on the foot? You can't even carry a glass of water to the bedroom on crutches! Yikes.

 

I was diagnosed with a jones fracture on 3/13/10 at an Urgent Care, went & had a fiberglass cast that goes from below the knee down on 3/17/10; finally today it came off (5/10/10) only to be told that was just so he could x-ray it again. He did so, then put the same type of cast on. He said depending on the x-ray depends on if I can walk on it. I have been in a wheelchair since 3/17/10 but due to not having 24 hour aide, I have walked on the heel often & cracked the cast twice in the 7 1/2 weeks. I was told that MAYBE in 2 weeks from today I would get the boot.
My question is- am I doing harm by walking on the heel? Not that I have much choice since my house is NOT wheelchair accessible & I can't use crutches very well...How do people handle this? I am lucky @ work (I am a teacher) because I have plenty of students to do things for me but it's been a NIGHTMARE so any suggestions will be helpful to me!
Thank you.

 

DISCLAIMER:
THE FOLLOWING IS OFFERED GRATIS AS GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY, AND, AS SUCH, MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONER AND/OR HIS/HER PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY NOT BASED ON ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINATION OF THE QUESTIONER OR HIS/HER MEDICAL HISTORY, AND IT CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS DEFINITIVE MEDICAL OPINION OR ADVICE. ONLY THROUGH HANDS- ON PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE ACTUAL PATIENT CAN ACCURATE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS BE ESTABLISHED AND SPECIFIC ADVICE BE GIVEN. NO DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS CREATED OR ESTABLISHED OR MAY BE INFERRED. THE QUESTIONER AND/OR READER IS INSTRUCTED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN DOCTOR BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, AND TO ACT ONLY UPON HIS/HER OWN DOCTOR’S ORDERS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. BY THE READING OF MY POSTING WHICH FOLLOWS, THE READER STIPULATES AND CONFIRMS THAT HE/SHE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THIS DISCLAIMER AND HOLDS HARMLESS THIS WRITER. IF THIS IS NOT FULLY AGREEABLE TO YOU, THE READER, AND/OR YOU HAVE NOT ATTAINED THE AGE OF 18 YEARS, YOU HEREBY ARE ADMONISHED TO READ NO FURTHER.
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Properly applied fiberglass casts are generally quite sturdy, so the fact that you have cracked several would seem to indicate that you likely were placing more than just a little weight on it. I cannot specifically tell you how much damage you are doing by walking on the heel, but it certainly is not likely to help, and with a fracture which is noted for problem healing, why chance it? Most people who desire a good result don't bear weight if they are told not to. I personally sustained a serious skiing fracture to my lower leg many years before I became a podiatrist, so I had no special training at that time. It required 3 surgeries, and I was in a full length, thigh to foot non-weight-bearing cast for the better part of a year during an era when virtually nothing was handicapped accessible. I lived in an apartment requiring getting up a full flight of stairs, never used a wheelchair, and I managed to do it. I trust you can too. If you need training in the safe use of crutches, I would advise obtaining instructions from a physical therapist.

FOOT DOC

 

Oh I agree I probably put too much weight on it...I was just praying you'd say that I WASN'T damaging it more...My life is basically at a standstill until I can get in a walking cast. Like I said, at school it's fine but at home, it's a nightmare....My podiatrist didn't want me to use crutches but maybe when I go back in 2 more weeks he'll let me and somehow I can learn to use them better. Any other advise on how to speed this up I would certainly appreciate it. After 8 weeks, the X-Ray showed a possible 'bridge' is what he said; he said in 6 more weeks if the x-ray didn't show better healing we'd discuss a bone stimulant. Anyway, like I said any advice is greatly appreciated and I really am trying to not even walk on the heel...Thanks!

 

It is clear that a large number of doctors are utterly insensitive to what losing 6 mos to a year for a normal adult, who must work for a living, means. This is not including the psychological harm done through dealing with a huge level of frustration and discomfort. It is clear that a lot of this professional hesitation is due to Doctor's fixation with insurance coverage, even though in my case I told each one visited that money was not an object if it meant faster healing. I also think, as a mechanical engineer, that there must be a better way of hanging the effected foot in kind of a hanging sling which would allow the knee and thigh to bear the patient's weight, while also allowing for normal walking, sans crutches. This would have tremendous physical and mental benefits in that the affected limb would not atrophy, while the patient could, in most cases, work. This idea that doctors have that going slowly will do no or less harm in most cases does certainly not apply when it comes to Jones Fractures of the 5th Metatarsal.