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Jones Fracture

Discussion in 'Ask your questions here' started by Unregistered, Aug 26, 2008.

  1. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest


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    I fell at one of my son's little league practices April 12th, 2008. Got the cast on April 14th (I hoped it was just sprained). Ortho said Fracture of 5th metatarsal or Jones Fracture. Got the cast off June 9th, went into a walking boot (still non weightbearing) for 6 weeks. Then walking boot until yesterday. Xray shows it is healing but slowly, very very slowly. My husband thinks the doctor is giving me the run around and a bone shouldn't take 5-6 months to heal and he wants me to get a 2nd opinion. But there are no other ortho's around here. Yesterday doc said if there is no complete healing by my next appt. in October, he wants me to have surgery to have a pin put in to stabalize it. I do have some pain in it, more if I'm on it alot. I've been off work for 5 months already and need to get back to work soon but doc won't release me. I'm just really disgusted and not sure what to do anymore.

    Thanks for listening.
     
  2. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    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.
    ***********************************************************
    As your statement seems to indicate that you were led to believe that a fracture of the 5th metatarsal and a Jones fracture are synonymous, you should first know that that is not so, as a Jones fracture is a specifically define fracture. But let's assume that you did indeed have a Jones fracture, the boundaries of which are medically defined. (see location in thumbnail below). These are fractures that, because of the blood supply to that particular area of the bone, are not uncommonly difficult to heal. Jones fractures have a specific grading or classification relating to their severity and the precise extent of the fracture, and the decision as to what treatment is most appropriate must take into consideration that classification. All other factors being equal, statistics seem to indicate that the surgical approach where a screw is employed to fixate the fracture results in a higher incidence of good bony union than the more conservative casting approach. But that was a judgment call to be made by the attending, and is, anyhow, now water under the bridge. Normal bony healing certainly does not take 5-6 months, but that does not preclude the possibility that bony union might not eventually take place, perhaps with bone stimulation techniques. At some point a doctor must make that judgment call and intervene appropriately. It sounds to me that that is where your doctor is now, and it is now a matter for YOUR judgment as to whether you trust his. A second opinion is most always an appropriate thought, and if there are no other appropriately skilled specialists in your area, it might be worth your while to travel to where there are.

    As usual, forums are not appropriate venues for offering case-specific advice, as such normally requires a hands-on examination and knowledge of the intimate details of the case. You would be foolish to allow your judgment and decision process be skewed by someone not privy to those details.
     

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    Last edited: Aug 26, 2008
  3. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    I had a fracture in my foot 5 weeks ago. The ortho showed me the x-ray and it looked close to where the arrow is on the picture. the injury was from falling about 2 feet straight down and landing on the ball of my foot on a 2x4. Pain was too intense to even let the weight of my foot rest on the ground. The ortho gave me a boot to wear on that leg. After a couple days I could stand on it with the boot. Two or three weeks later, I could stand on it without the boot, but walking without the boot was painfull. Now 5 weeks later there is still a sharp pain where the break was and a pain behind the secon smallest toe.

    I have an appointment in a couple days. Is a fair amount of pain after 5 weeks normal? I don't know what to expect. Is is OK wto walk on if there is still some pain? Or is the pain just from getting everything working right again? Is there anything I should ask the Doc?
     
  4. Vix

    Vix New Member

    Hi there,

    To the most recent poster who isn't sure of the type of fracture you have or the healing time. Obviously don't take this advice as gospel, but I am 3 months into an avulsion fracture of the fifth metatarsal (not a jones fracture), and I would advise you to ask your Doctor exactly what type of fracture it is that you have. At this stage you seem unsure and the treatments are different depending on the type of fracture. If it is a Jones fracture, it is unfortunately quite notorious for non-union and taking a very long time to heal without surgical intervention. That is why it's important to know exactly what type of fracture you're dealing with. All the best!!
     
  5. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    help!

    hey all i need some advice.ive just had a fracture on my ring finger,which is an incomplete fracture and not very serious.as i am an avid guitarist,i am terribly saddened and i would like to ask how long do u guys think it will take till i can play my guitar again.please help me i am deeply saddened by my fracture and my only friend to me is my guitar.what should i do?please help......
     
  6. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    ... ......................
     
    Last edited: Nov 5, 2008
  7. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    [so how long does it takes to heal after surgery
     
  8. Vix

    Vix New Member

    To Unregistered,

    Healing time after surgery will differ for each individual.

    I had surgery 7 weeks ago and am now back on antibiotics with an infection in the blood post surgery.

    Best of luck with your surgery.
     
  9. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    Take note folks. THIS is the way to present an anecdotal response. It clearly specifies that it is based on an individual's personal experience, and recognizes the fact that each person's experience will likely differ. I am constantly struck by the definitive and unequivocal nature of so many lay posters' statements which seem to indicate that what he/she had experienced in his/her probable once-in-a-lifetime experience can be translated into advice and predictions for others. One would expect an experienced doctor to be able to offer definitive advice based on years of experience, but not a lay person with obviously limited experience. I applaud this poster for doing it the right way.
     
  10. greenes4382

    greenes4382 Guest

    Alright, I had a Jones fracture in my 5th Meta...the orthopedic Surgeon determined it was better to go in and insert a screw. App. 10 weeks ago, I had my surgery. About a month ago, I went back in to see the Dr. and he informed me that the fracture was healed. I would concur that the fracture was extremely obvious, but when we reviewed my xrays, it was no more. So last wk they went back in and removed the screw.
    My only question is how long will it take now to walk again? When will I be able to put pressure on my foot or where a tennis shoe?
     
  11. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    REALLY . . . Wouldn't the appropriate person for you to have asked these questions to be the same doctor who performed your surgery, has assess your physical capabilities, knows your status and is taking responsibility for your care? I simply cannot understand why anyone might be willing to ask of and take such specific advice from anyone else.

    Now had you instead said . . "My doctor told me thus and such and I was wondering whether this is generally consistent with recommendations for this sort of injury and surgery," I might understand that . . . But you DIDN'T.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2009
  12. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Can wearing Crocs (or pressure from the strap button) cause symptoms that mimic those of a 5th metatarsal fracture (or even cause one over several weeks)? Try as I may, I cannot recall incurring any specific injury or direct trauma to that area of my left foot, but it started out sore (after getting out of winter boots and lace-up shoes and back into sandals and mostly Crocs--which never hurt last summer or fall) and now hurts quite a lot directly over the bony protuberance that corresponds to the rear end of the 5th metatarsal. (By contrast, the right foot is fine). Now, going barefoot or wearing *any* of my shoes (before I bought some new ones, see below) aggravates this pain, which sometimes radiates as a burning sensation atop my foot. It is at its worst when first getting up from sleeping or resting my feet; and with walking, abates somewhat but does not go away.

    This may or may not be relevant, but I pronate like crazy, have advanced OA in both knees, and have a massive bunion (going on 37 yrs now) on my left foot. I am 58 and obese but not massively so. (Yeah, I know--just about EVERYTHING can be aggravated by obesity). I am neither an athlete nor a dancer, though I do perform (singing & playing guitar) standing up weekly for 30-60 min. at a time and drive long distances with no comfortable way to hold my idle left foot. (I may have really aggravated it this weekend on a plane trip--walking long distances through airports, unsuccessfully trying to get comfortable on flights whether shod or barefoot--I wore the Crocs because of the ease of getting out of and back into them at the TSA areas). I went to a specialty orthopedic shoe store today and was fitted with some dramatically more comfortable and supportive shoes--but the soreness is still there, albeit somewhat abated. Of course, the minute I go barefoot it hurts like hell again.

    I would see my orthopod, but after the last few visits for stupid little things like broken toes, knee pain shots, and assorted sprains and bruises from a fall a couple of years ago, I hate to seem like a hypochondriac. But now I hear from the fitter at the orthopedic shoe store that such an injury can be a Jones fracture; after looking up the term I read it should be treated by restraining the foot and non-weightbearing--two things that are exactly the opposite of what I've been doing (and with my responsibilities, out of the question). Am I making much ado about nothing, or am I carelessly courting further injury or permanent pain? The pain is not unbearable but seriously impacts my ability to walk or stand. Should I get an x-ray or just keep watching and waiting?
     
  13. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    well, I'm not sure what to do. Just thought I would add to the list of problems people have.
    3 days ago I was kitesurfing, long story short, I fell about 20 feet onto hard pack beach sand. The impact hurt, but I walked it off and kept kiting. Well, the past 2 days I have been limping around. The first 2 or 3 minutes that I start walking after being off my feet, my foot does not hurt, but than the pain around the end of my 5th metatarsal, closest to my ankel, starts hurting and becomes very painfull. I have no choice but to limp and hop. It seems the worst when my foot is flat and I start to take weight off it. If I walk on my tip toes it does not hurt nearly as much. Is this a bruise, strain, fracture? I am not sure if I should see a doctor or wait it out. A friend suggested that I might have misaligned the bones in my foot, but I have no clue what's wrong. Any free advice?
    Thanks in advance,
    wants to get back on his feet
     
  14. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    Not that they are unusual to read here, but questions such as this are really impossible to meaningfully answer. Even more-so than disease processes, trauma requires a hands-on evaluation to determine the nature and extent of the problem. See a podiatrist or orthopedist. The information and advice won't come free, but it might well be the best money you'll spend.
     
  15. fishertw

    fishertw Guest

    I hurt my foot dancing on Feb 13. Was diagnosed with a Jones Fracture and casted on Feb 19th. Six week later with only minor healing evident was asked to use boot and crutches for another month. Eventually on June 26th Ortho guy did surgery and put in an intermedulary (sp) screw and bone graft. Another six weeks off of the foot and xrays still do not show substantial healing.
    I've been advised to be off of it till Sept 8. My question is: If this does not heal by that time, what's next?? None of the medical journals I find in a google search seem to go beyond surgery of the type I've already had. Are there any other options??
    Thanks
     
  16. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    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.
    ***********************************************************
    It is sometimes necessary to undergo re-operation and sometime bone growth simulators can be useful. But Jones fractures can take months to heal and it may be premature to make any definitive evaluations now.
     
  17. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    Exogen bone stimulator probably helps most. Jones fracture healed after 8 weeks in cast, now weight-bearing. This despite continuing to smoke heavily (took vitamins such to try to counteract vessel constricting effects of nicotine) .
     
  18. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    My husband was playing with our daughter, chasing her around the house, when he crashed his toe into a door frame. The pain has been excrutiating and he went to a doctor today. Dr. told him to stay off his foot and gave him a prescription for painkillers and said he could get a walking cast if he wants one, but it's not necessary. From what I'm reading here and elsewhere online, it sounds like he's setting himself up for a long and ineffective recovery without adequate treatment. Any thoughts? Experiences to share? Has anyone here heard of a Jones fracture healing with essentially no treatment? I am very skeptical.
     
  19. FootDoc

    FootDoc New Member

    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.
    ***********************************************************
    Where do you get to "Jones fracture" from what you've said about his hitting a toe? Even if he fractured the toe, and you've said nothing about his even having an x-ray to determine whether he did or not, it wouldn't generally require a cast. If he selected a competent doctor who told him what you said, why are you making anything more of it than what was told to him? If either of you think that it's more serious than you've been told, then he should see another doctor for a second opinion.
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2009
  20. Unregistered

    Unregistered Guest

    The doctor did an x-ray and that is the diagnosis from him. He is not our regular doctor; she was not in today and my husband saw the only doctor that would see him today, who I am leery of since he has misdiagnosed injuries of my friends in the past. I am trying to build a case to talk my husband into getting a second opinion, because I don't fully trust this doctor, but he would rather hobble around in pain and disregard the notion that not treating it properly now may lead to difficulty later.
     
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