Jones Fracture :: Broken 5th Metatarsal - Bone Shift?
May 21, 2016
I have broken my 5th metatarsal bone in 2 spots close together, it was not displaced but if it shifts its a whole chunk of bone. In emergency i had xrays and was told its a bad break that does not usually heal properly and that i need surgery. I went 4 days later to fracture clinic and they said th3y want to call it a "jones fracture" but that because its broke completely in 2 places its tricky. The previous x ray showed luckily it was not displaced and i kept the air cast and told to go back for x ray in 4 weeks. One dr said to basically not to move and non weight bearing and another said i can use my heal. The goal is to not let the bone shift and hopefully avoid surgery. They left me very confused. Its been almost 2 weeks and i get pain off and on. When i elevate my foot the pain stops and as soon as i would begin to lower it i get very sharp burning like pressure on top of my foot around the break. It gets swollen after i crutch around for even just going across the street to corner store but it relaxes when i lay down and elevate. Since this pa8n has been happening its now swelling more on top at the break but its hard and very tender..sometimes hot and red but it calms down. I do not do much but i have 2 kids, one which has a lot of medical issues and actually was ambulanced to children's hospital the day after i broke it. I'm completely on my own and my son has a ton of upcoming appointments which is travelling an hour away on a cpl busses and through a busy train station..just a lot of walking and all i have are crutches. I guess my questions are..am I doing too much and making it more likely for the bone to shift..has anyone experienced a non displaced break and then have it shift and need surgery? Is there a way to tell myself if i've shifted the bone? Has anyone experienced the same kind of pain?? I read this is one of the hardest and longest fractures to heal but all the info is sooo different from everyone i'm confused.
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I broke my left foot 5th metatarsal playing soccer. Doctor said i have a jones fracture, so i wore i cast for 6 weeks and then the boot of another 3. I was on crutches the whole time not putting any weight on my foot. After 9 weeks my bone still has not healed. So i had to wait 3 weeks in order to put a request for a bone stimulator. On week 14 of being on crutches i receive the bone stimulator. I have been using the bone stimulator for 32 days 10 hours a day. Wednesday this week is when i am getting my xrays to see if my bone has healed. My question is what should i expect on terms of recovery? My soccer season starts on August 1st, what are my chance on being in full form by then. Just putting out there i'm going to work my self to the bone to do all i can for a good healthy recovery.
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I dislocated my fifth toe (pinky) completely - it was shooting at a 90° angle - and I went to the ER. He numbed it, gave me Norco for pain and put it back in place. I had an xray while there and they thought there was no brake and just a dislocated toe. So they sent me home and said buddy tape and rest when I can, no specific instructions given.. Three days later the hosp called and said I did indeed have a fracture in my fifth metatarsal bone. They did not explain further, basically said if I want to come get a post op boot/shoe I could and that was the extent of it. I have continued to go on and work daily, I am a hairdresser and I stand for hours at a time. I still cannot put weight on it and it still has shooting pain from time to time. Recently it had started to itch inside the bone, not from the shoe or buddy tape but a deeper itch, wondering if that meant it was healing? It's been exactly a week ago when I did this. Should I follow up with an orthopedic Dr on my own since the ER didn't think it was necessary to refer me to anyone or quit being a baby and just let it heal on its own?
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I posted a few wks ago I fell down a step at work and rolled my ankle, pain was excruciating at the time I went to a&e and x ray was clear, went back after five weeks and xray clear again, I had an Mrs Saturday after 6.5 weeks and it shows a fracture of the fifth and second metatarsal, waiting for mri report to go to a&e, should have it later, worried that I have done further damage, will they cast it now or is it too late
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It has been just over 5 weeks since I flailed off of my ottoman, fighting a cockroach, and landed on the side of my foot. I do not have health insurance and was first trying not to spend the money, if not needed, on a specialist. I was given a boot and have been in it consistently for 4 weeks. Now, I am getting a little bit worried after a couple of X-rays and, also, the fact that it is not showing healing. It is displaced, with an offset of 4mm on the top view and 8mm on the side view and there is some splintering within (according to radiology notes from the hospital).
I just recently went to a highly recommended Orthopedic doctor and after looking at the two X-rays I had previously, and taking a new one in office, says that he does not recommend surgery. He did explain that I may be looking at 3 more months of healing but that it would heal on it's own. I can understand the fact that it has been 5 weeks and that opting for surgery now would be a huge step backwards in the muscle and tissue healing that has inevitably taken place.
My concern is: I am a runner. This bone, to me, looks terrifying and to think it will stay that way forever and only fill in where it is positioned now seems it will only give me problems in the future. I don't know if I should bypass his recommendation and opt for surgery to have the bone set in the correct alignment and know that I will not have future problems or just let it to what it's going to do. I do know that nothing is 100% and even surgery can mean a long healing process. I guess I am hoping for more opinions on the matter, so please help, if you can.
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I broke my 5th metatarsal on 16 December, it is now 23 February. Someone came down on it very heavily in high heels and broke it, spiral fracture, slightly displaced. I didn't realise it was broken at first, just thought it was swollen and bruised...and boy was it bruised! Never seen anything like it! Anyway, did the usual, rest, elevation, compression and ice and kept hobbling about, using the opposite side of my foot to hobble round the house...after all it was Christmas and I didn't have time to rest! Luckily could stay pretty much in the house so didn't do massive amount of walking...and couldn't get a shoe on anyway! Did mention it to a locum doctor on 23 Dec, but had gone about something else, and he dismissed it without looking at it, just telling me to RICE it..which I already was.
After a day or so, bruising still horrendous, I decided to see my usual doctor who referred me immediately to get it x-rayed. This was on 28 Dec..and the fracture showed up to my shock. X ray technician mentioned going straight to A and E but then said all they would do is make me an appointment at the fracture clinic, which I may as well get from my doctor, when the information about my fracture had got to my doctor (and no, I couldn't have the letter to hand in, it had to go by snail /Royal Mail) I had started by now to use crutches...no weight bearing on bad foot at all.
A week later, as soon as I could (bank holidays delayed information getting to doctor and hence consultation) I saw my doctor who phoned the hospital after reading the letter to make me an urgent appointment with the consultant for the following Monday (this was Friday)
I went and saw him and to my shock he was very, to me , pessimistic and not a little rushed. Told me it was a nasty fracture, difficult to heal, and I might very likely end up having two operations, one to put pins and plates in and one to take them out. Oh..and the plate would stick out of my (slim) foot and there was a high risk of infection etc as we were operating on bone. However, he told me I could still go to work, drive (this was my clutch foot) as long as it wasn't for long (work is 10 minutes drive away) and elevated and rested foot at every opportunity....and it might be an idea if I used crutches and didn't put weight on it BUT he didn't put it in an air boot or cast. (which concerned me a little)
This I did, but no real improvement, in fact it got worse, swelling up, pins and needles in toes and very sore and swollen behind toes, on ball of foot. Went back again to hospital, saw a different doctor, who told me I should be off work, not driving, moving as little as possible and keeping foot above heart level. For at least a MONTH!
So...I have done that. Googled the injury to death, scaring myself and becoming depressed over what I have read. Rested completely, didn't put any weight on it , crawled and used a pair of crutches at all times, slept with it elevated, sat with it elevated, compression bandage at times, rubbed comfrey oil on it twice a day , used epsom salt baths (used to lose the circulation and it also helped a little with swelling), tried to keep my leg muscled with scissor action exercise etc Wore hiking/timberland boots (still doing this) It was still sore and swollen however behind the toes, so much so I wondered if there was other damage, but have now realised this was a result of not using my foot on the floor at all.
NOW....9 weeks from when I first injured it, I have been told this week I can put a little weight on it and start to walk, even though the bone hasn't joined up AT ALL, no callus etc on the x-ray the consultant reckons there is fibre etc holding it and I am now ready to walk on it. (I was prepared for there to be no sign of healing ..research on internet again!) It isn't sore to touch although aches a little (almost a burn) now I am walking on it..but I have read this can be a sign of healing.
I am walking about with either one or no crutches,taking it very slowly, but I cannot believe I am actually walking on it, I can stand on both feet in the shower etc.....I NEVER thought this would be the case after only 8 - 9 weeks after all I had read on the internet...and those weeks felt interminable! I have broken bones in my foot before but have never been as disabled with it as with the 5th metatarsal break, and never felt so depressed over an injury after googling it all. So, I didn't have an air boot, nor a cast, which seems to have worked for me, although it was very hard work getting about on crutches or crawling (calloused knees now!) and mentally , although I kept reminding myself it wasn't a life threatening condition, it still got me down at times as there didn't seem to be any improvement.
In my experience, yes it has taken a long time to get better...and I am still not there by any means...haven't walked out of the house yet...but I feel I AM on the road to recovery, which is the main thing. I won't be running (which I do) for quite a while I think, not doing a lot of long distance walking but at least I am getting better. After reading such a lot of depressing and pessimistic posts on this injury I felt I had to post a more optimistic one..and I hope at least some of you out there have just as good a recovery if you have fractured your 5th metatarsal.
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After surviving the longest MN winter ever, and being extra-careful out on the ice, I tripped on my stairs INSIDE last Thursday. My initial concern was my throbbing left shin, but the right foot ultimately won out, sending me to my GP on Friday morning. X-rays were performed and the fracture was discovered. I was placed into a moon boot, warned that surgery "might" be necessary due to the location of the fracture, and sent home sans crutches, knee walker, or anything else, to await my consult with the orthopod on Monday.
During the vast expanse of free time I had, I rediscovered this site and many others, and also emailed my cousin who is a physician, and managed to get myself totally confused as to the best course of action concerning the healing process.
Long story short, orthopod said fairly clean (though spiral) fracture, very minimal displacement, and recommended no surgery, NWB for two weeks, and a follow-up x-ray on the 17th to see if any bone 'tackiness' is evident (judging from what I have read, this seems highly unlikely).
My concern now is that practically ever since the fall, I have had little to no pain in my foot while bearing weight on the moon boot. My MD cousin said, as did some posters here, that weight bearing stimulates healing and bone growth. So... not to second-guess my ortho, but I am wondering whether I am doing myself and my foot a disservice by NOT putting weight on it. It seems to be getting stiffer and sorer (when I gingerly test my weight on it on occasion) ever since I have started using the crutches and the knee walker. Am I doing the right thing? Is the ortho being too cautious and conservative, or am I being too impatient and skeptical?
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Day SIx after falling out of shed and braking 5th metatarsal
day 1 a&e visit for what I thought was a badly sprained ankle but oh no x Ray and1 hour later in shoe cast with crutches.day 4 visit hospital doctor v quick look at x Ray and placed in removable cast ski boot. struggled with this, really uncomfortable plus I kept fiddling with straps etc phone plaster room and next day fitted with solid lower cast. Much better than boot.
I love walking outdoors and cycling etc so finding life on crutches a bit hard. Also reading to many internet recovery experiences which is making me a bit low. Coming to terms with it no going to be cast off in six weeks then bouncing around again.
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I thought I would write something about this (highly out of character), as when I did it (in an effort to find some comfort and provide my rugby club with information as to when I would be fit again) I searched the internet for all the articles I could, and it was in this minefield that I encountered, from miracle healers to those reoccurring 2 year problems, and as such my mind was boggled. Doctors also provide some guidelines on what is normal to be off crutches but after that recovery rates varied due to ages and previous physical nature of the participants, so whilst this is by no means a complete list, it may offer some help to those who are physically active and still relatively young (sorry).
So to give you my information, I am 25 y/o, male, play rugby to a reasonable standard, cycle 100km plus a week, as well as gyming or some kind of training most days (so needless to say I normally tick the extremely active box).
Previously I had not had any injuries to my feet, and it was just a freak occurrence due to the weight of several men going through it whilst being tackled, the break was fortunate enough to be closed fractures, but still it bloody hurt.
I did this on the 24th January 2016, and was in a soft shell boot for four weeks, at week two I got back in the gym but was very limited on what I could do - machines only (free weights were impossible as I could not lift these without putting pressure through my foot). At the beginning of week 5 I got rid of the boot yet continued using crutches for another 2 weeks. At the start of week 7 I could finally walk again (albeit with a heavy limp), however I did manage to get back on my bike (solid sole - clip in shoes), at the start of week 8 I was squatting with light weight, walking with a slight limp, though many gym exercises were still difficult, at the start of week 9, most gym exercises were becoming easier and getting more weight on them, in week 10 I decided I was close to being able to jog - not the case and got quite a bit of pain going through it, however I am confident my foots resistance will build up over the week.
Anyway I thought I’d write this now, as once I am fit again I will forget all about the injury, and so probably would not write this and be of any help to anyone. So it will get better, just it does take time, finally over the last few days I looked up more information on general bone healing; this states around 3-4months and I believe this to be more accurate for these recoveries than anything I read on forums.
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During a taekwondo fight, I broke my right 5th Metacarpal with severe displacement and had 2 pins put in on May 29. They were taken out 3 weeks later, and I was told to move my fingers as much as possible. Extreme pain, bruising and swelling for 1.5 weeks after pins came out.
I tripped and fell on July 1st, breaking my left 5th Metatarsal, at the base, and have had an aircast for 4 weeks. First 2 weeks were non-weight bearing, 3rd week I was partial weight bearing, and this week I am walking without crutches, aircast to be on for 2 more weeks.
I unfortunately also rebroke my right 5th metacarpal in my fall, and was splinted and told no surgery this time, but they would do a more conservative approach to healing. Splint came off last week, and I was again told to move my fingers and had a lot. I cannot move my pinky except for up and down a little bit. It will not bend at all at the knuckle. Physio starts in a week, and I'm super nervous. It is quite painful right now.
Anyone else with a similar experience? Especially with the 5th Metacarpal? I'm mostly wondering what they will do at Physio, what to expect for pain and how long until my hand is more useable.
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Hello, I would like to get some information about what to expect, and find out if my experience is in-line with others experience.
I’m close to 40 years old male, was fairly active before my foot injury. I had a displaced 1st metatarsal bone fracture. After the injury I was able to walk for 4-6 hours before the swelling and pain was too big, so I assumed that I broke a bone. At the urgent care it was confirmed that I broke the 1st metatarsal bone. 5 days later I had the surgery to reduce the displacement, the fracture which was at the base of the bone. I had 2 weeks in post-surgery splint, and 4 more weeks on plaster (one more week to go before the plaster removal) – both non weight bearing. I was told that after the removal of the plaster I will have 2 more weeks in air cast boot. Ever since the injury and surgery I experience a lot of swelling. The minute I’m on my feet it starts to swell, I can go maybe an hour, than the swelling cuts circulation of my feet in the plaster, so I have to sit down and elevate my feet.
Now the question: what can I expect how much time it will take to subside the swelling? Will it eventually go away, or I might have to live with swollen fit for the rest of my life?
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Last Aug, I fell in a small hole, and snapped a rather large piece off the fifth metatarsal. I went to an ankle/foot surgeon who was leaving for a corporate job rather than private practice. He never showed us the x-ray. Put me in a boot, wrapped the elastic wrap, over my sock, and put my foot in a shoe thing. Before I left, I did ask for copies of the x-rays which I got. I was really surprised at the gap. A good 1/8".
Well, that shoe didn't work, so my husband ordered an air cast. That sort of helped. I would say I didn't sleep for 6 weeks. At the 6 week mark, still in pain, I went to a different ankle/foot surgeon, who, we think because we were going to pay cash, that MAYBE he didn't want to touch my foot for fear of non payment? Or he was an idiot. The x-rays looked exactly the same, big old piece still broken off. We asked about it. He said there was nothing to be done and basically suck it up and start wearing a shoe. We, husband and I, were like, "okay he's the doctor." However, I could not get into a shoe without quite a bit of pain and walking wasn't happening.
At the 12 week mark, I was on the phone to my sister, crying.. and I'm pretty tough. She reminded me I had a podiatrist I liked. I went to see him and had reduction surgery and a 2" PIN put in that bone!! My surgery was Dec 8, 2015 (so 11 weeks ago?)
The bone itself is healing fine. I can feel the pin though. I still have pain, not as bad though. But my foot is still very swollen I would say my foot is a constant annoyance though. I cannot fit into a pair of shoes. I've tried wide shoes, they cramp my toes.. and I've gotten 2 ingrown toenails in the last 2 weeks trying. Those are very painful! I put a pair of slippers on and could feel it cramming my toes, and next day.. my toe was red and swollen again from being cramped.
I don't know what to do. My foots feels pretty good when it is wrapped and in the air cast. The broken one is also about 1/2"- 1" wider than the other right now, than my good foot. I still have no ankle.. very swollen.
Any suggestions?? Is this pretty normal? I really don't want any more ingrown toenails from shoes though.
I can wear flip flops but boy does my foot feel irritated after about an hour. I go back to see my doctor, whom I really like, next week.
When he presses on the broken part, it doesn't hurt. I can move it certain ways. But if he pushes up from the bottom.. that's bad. I can't stand on my tippy toes either. I feel like a mess.
Deb
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i broke my 5th metatarsal on the 29th April, i was given a postoperative shoe to wear by the hospital, i was given an appointment with the fracture clinic on the friday (1st May) gave me a healing time of 6 weeks, i went back the fracture clinic on 12th June, the Consultant i saw was unhappy i wasn't given a beckham boot, i now have the beckham boot and have to wear this for a further 6 weeks, + it weighs sooo much.
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Tomorrow makes a week since my Lisfranc injury. Unfortunately I do not have a glorified story of how I broke it but basically got light headed & dizzy as I was walking up a step into my home, my legs gave out and all of my weight dropped on my foot that was on the step. As soon as it happened I knew something in my foot wasn't happy so off to the ER we went. ER was a total nightmare and knowing what I do now I would have just been better off waiting to go to the foot Dr. Went to the foot Dr and he said I have a Lisfranc injury and recommended that I see a specialist so I went. He informed me that I had broken my 1st & 2nd metatarsals and torn the ligaments. He recommended surgery to properly correct and said that I would need two screws to put it back in place. I am scheduled for surgery in two days!
What should I expect? Will it truly be a 2-4 month process before I can run and actively get back into the gym again? Will the pain after the surgery be far worse than the pain since the break? Did you eventually have your hardware removed and if so, why?
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I broke my 5th metatarsal about 10 weeks ago, no big deal i thought it's a fairly common injury.
I'm 36 and i keep myself quite fit, i've never smoked, drink moderately so i expected to be up and running again in no time. It hasn't panned out that way. The last x-ray was 3 weeks ago and showed a non-union. I can get around ok with the moon boot on, i can walk small distances without, but my foot clearly still isn't right.
It's crunch time now, i go back to the hospital tomorrow for an x-ray and the bone is still refusing to play ball they're going to open me up and put a screw in.
Now this is where it get's complicated. We'll overlook the fact i'm terrified of being anaesthetised, there is another issue with my foot...
When they first x-rayed the broken metatarsal the doctor was more impressed with my big toe. I hurt it playing football when i was 15 and it appears, or at least the doctor believes, it was dislocated and remained so leaving me with a deformed toe and a right foot that's a full size smaller than the left!
He wants to repair the toe at the same time, should he need to operate on the metatarsal.
Can anyone shed some light on how exactly the toe would be repaired? I know roughly what happens with the metatarsal. How long recovery time would be? Will i need a cast or moonboot?
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Broke my foot 5th metatarsal. At 4 weeks not healing yet,i'm now in an aircast from a hardcast. This is week 6. Foot at night just burns and burns. I don't get much sleep and now i have a deep aching.along with the burning. I was told no weight on it but i can walk on the heel only if necessary. Why now at 6 weeks is it hurting and burning?.
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I fractured my 5th metatarsal and sprained my ankle about 5 weeks ago and was given a cam boot walker. I can finally sort of walk on it if i don't put much pressure on the broken part. But man oh man my calf just aches and throbs as if i just ran a marathon, and all i did was some chores around the house. i wonder if i should be walking on it or is the pain in the calf a sign i shouldn't? or is it just cause the muscle atrophied? when does the pain subside?
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On January 31, I fell on ice walking my dogs and fractured my surgical neck of my arm and have a very large spiral fracture down my humorous. Initially the pain was pretty bad, I struggled with sleeping, but after day seven it started feeling a little less painful. But then I met with orthopedic again and he put me in a plastic brace to help align the bone and now the pain is almost unbelievable. The only thing I am taking is Tylenol because any kind of opiate makes me very nauseous, and I have a history stomach ulcer so I cannot take Ibuprofen. This whole ordeal has been a huge struggle for me to go from a very active person to sitting in the recliner all day long. I am alone also most of the days because my husband has to go to work. It's been really hard for me not to become overwhelmingly depressed. I'm dealing with the guilt of not being able to go to work as I am a supervisor of a program. In addition I have four animals that are being neglected because I don't have the energy and stamina to do anything with them. Not being able to be self-sufficient is also extremely saddening to me. It is hard for me to see the future when when the orthopedic is saying it will be at least six weeks before I will start seeing some changes. I have tried to keep my mind occupied with things but all I want to do is get better. How has other folks dealt with the pain, the lack of independence and the feeling of being cooped up?
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I broke my leg on the 21st September 2013, and it has now been broken for 15 weeks! I have a spiral fracture to the right tibia, and the doctors decided not to operate. I had a full leg cast for the first 8 weeks, and then went onto a half leg cast, fully weight baring! At first I could only put some of my weight through the bone, and would rely mostly on my crutches, but recently I have been able to hobble around with using no crutches at all - I only do this when i'm inside my house as I would still not rely on my bone fully to steady me. But in the last week or so, it has started to ache more, and it had completely stopped hurting before I am scared that I have put to much weight through it and damaged it again! The pain isn't that bad, it comes and goes and i only take paracetamol to make the ache go away, but it really is worrying me! I don't yet know when my cast is due off as apparently the doctors said my bone will take 4 to 4 and a half months to heal, but by my x rays he said it could be a little earlier! I am a 19 year old girl at university, doing a practical drama degree, so as you can imagine this has been a nightmare for me & I was so hoping I was nearing the end! It seems ever lasting! I'm just wondering if this pain that i'm experiencing now is normal, or if i have possibly done something to damage the break again! I am just panicking because i so want this to be over now i've come 15 weeks and i don't want to go back to square 1
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I have broken my tib and fib -(think it's called a bimalleolar fracture?) I did it on a pair of high heels at Xmas party, stupid or what? I climbed up one step and it was gone over, my future for next however many months mapped out for me I a nano second! I have the usual metal plate and screws like many of you folk in here. I had my cast off on Monday and went to a physio today who advised me to not use the airboot and "try " to use just the crutches in the house and airboot outside. I a m confused as the consultant at the hospital said keep boot on for two weeks then ditch it AND the crutches. I am really confused, I want to push myself but don't want to do any damage. I am so down, fed up and FRUSTRATED? I have been given exercises from the physio man which he said to do every couple of hours and push through the pain as he said it needs to get moving ASAP. My ankle is so swollen, STIFF and painful. I just don't know what advice is the best? I am 49 WAS fit doing spinning, gym, swimming and lots of classes.
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I broke my humerus (upper arm) bone in half about two weeks ago. It is a oblique break in the middle of the bone. They had me take x-rays yesterday so they expected me to straighten my arm. Well buddy my bones started grinding and popping and OW! needless to say say they didn't didn't get me to straighten it... Ah whatever they got pictures of it straight the day I broke it thanks to painkillers. It is in a sling and perfectly aligned according to what they did get yesterday and two weeks ago. I am 20 I don't smoke and i don't drink. That is my story now my questions are. 1: how long until I can straighten my arm without the bone moving and snapping? They expect more x-rays in 2 weeks but if this thing moves its not happening! (because I'm a wuss I know) 2: how terrible does therapy really hurt? Should I take pain pills beforehand? I've heard some scary stories about therapy after a break. 3: do I I have have to worry about breaking it again in therapy or when I do decide to straighten it out? May be a stupid question but last time my arm was broken i was 2 so... 4: I have a numb spot on my arm, that from the bone or did I give myself frostbite from non stop ice packs? It's above my elbow, below the break. And lastly how long until it's completely healed? I'm a CNA I kinda need the thing :/ thanks for taking taking time to read this please help me out a little. I have borderline PPD and a hint of wimp so I appreciate any HONEST information!
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