Fifth metatarsal skin#
Fifth metatarsal free#

This includes running, jumping and dancing. You should avoid any impact activities and contact sports for 3 months in total. Once you are able to walk normally, you should gradually increase your level activity.

Is there anything I should avoid during the recovery? If this does occur, continue to use elevation as described previously. Swelling is usually worse towards the end of the day. We advise continuing to use simple analgesia such paracetamol to help control your pain and allow you to walk normally. Pain and swelling can persist for 3-6 months following the injury. How long will the pain and swelling persist? Slowly turn your foot/ankle in, then out (like a windscreen wiper), without moving the upper leg.Lie down on your back with the foot elevated so your heel does not touch anything, like on the picture opposite.This range will increase as your injury heals.Īll photos with kind permission of ©Physiotec™.

Fifth metatarsal free#

Try to do this within your pain free range.Pull your toes up towards you slowly and then point them down as far as you can.The simple exercises described below will help prevent stiffness developing in the ankle and foot. Carrying out the movements of the ankle described below, while the leg is elevated, may help to reduce any swelling further.The leg should be elevated above the level of the heart as much as possible, as this will reduce and prevent swelling. The tubigrip should be removed when you go to bed at night, as when you are asleep you cannot monitor these symptoms.

Fifth metatarsal skin#

If you have been given a tubigrip to wear it is important this is removed if you develop any signs of poor circulation such as tingling, numbness, blueness of the skin of the foot and increasing pain. the area becomes excessively painful, numb or tingles.the area becomes white, blue or blotchy.When you apply ice to your skin, check the skin every five minutes and stop using it if:.Do not apply an ice pack to an area that has poor circulation.Only use an ice pack on areas that have normal skin sensation i.e.Whichever method you choose it is important that you wrap the ice in a damp towel, in order to prevent it from ‘burning’ the skin. There are many different ways in which ice can be applied however crushed ice, in the form of frozen peas for example, is the most effective. This will also help to reduce the swelling. Ice will help reduce the pain in your foot and so should be applied for 10 – 15 minutes before performing any exercises. Exercises in the section below, can be started straight away. If necessary, you will be given crutches to help you take some weight off the injured foot. What should I do in the first few days?Ĭontrolling the pain and swelling by following the principles of RICE are important:Ĭomplete rest is not advisable. Talk to your GP or go to for more information. It is really important to note that smoking will delay the healing process and so should be avoided. If you have allergies or conditions, which prevent the use of pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory medication, please seek advice from your doctor or a pharmacist. To manage your pain, we advise that you regularly take simple pain relief, which can be bought over the counter. This should be no later than 5 weeks after its application. Once you can walk comfortably without the cast, it can be discarded. The cast can be walked on with or without the use of crutches. You may have been offered a removable slipper cast which can be removed when in bed, to exercise the ankle and for hygiene purposes. This fracture can be treated simply in a tubigrip and you can place as much weight through the foot as you find comfortable with or without the help of crutches. The fracture you have sustained is undisplaced and should heal well. The area circled in the image shows the base of the fifth metatarsal.For example when twisting foot down a kerb or hole in the grass. The base of the fifth metatarsal bone can be fractured when the foot is forcefully turned inwards while putting weight through the leg.This is a break to the bone on the outside of the foot. What is a base of the 5 th metatarsal fracture? Contact details are available at the end of this leaflet. If after reading it, you have any concerns or require further explanation, please do not hesitate to contact the fracture clinic team. We understand you may not have seen a clinician face to face in fracture clinic however, most of your questions should be answered by this leaflet. This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about your injury. Need some help choosing a language? Please refer to Browsealoud Supported Voices and Languages. You can translate this page by using the headphones button (bottom left) and then select the globe to change the language of the page.