Question
Hi,



2 weeks from this tuesday december 2, 2008, I tripped by my sidewalk and knew immediately that I had injured myself pretty bad (more than normal pain from a simple fall). For a week - it seem to make sense that it was just a sprain and I followed the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) method to try to treat it (get the swelling down). I don't have health insurance at the moment, so I wanted to avoid having to pay big bills for hospital visits.



A week later I woke up, my foot still felling very achy and sore and the hard bump that had formed almost immediately on the left side of my foot had not gone away. So I caved (from worry of not knowing exactly what I did) and went to the somewhat cheaper Urgent Care and found I had a Jones Fracture. They referred me to go to an Orthopedic.



So I went to a orthopedic doctor. The orthopedic didn't spend much time with me (did see the x-rays of course)- just told me to wear a boot and I should be able to walk with it no problem. Any pain I am still feeling - he said - should be gone in about a week.



--So my question starts here. A week later - 2 weeks in total from the initial cause of the injury - my foot still aches, especially in the mornings and after trying to walk with the boot. Actually the problem is I can't seem to walk with the boot, I put it on but I used a walker or crutches to keep my balance. A nurse from the orthopedic office call to remind me to setup a follow-up appointment. I told her how my foot still hurts (not severely) but enough that I am not walking 'normally' with the help of the boot---still using walker/crutches to help with balance and I guess keeps from putting full pressure on my foot. The nurse seem to think this was highly unusual and said it was as if somehow be experiencing more pain than the average person. I felt mad and embarrassed that I was paying medical bills and almost felt as if I was being told I was being a baby?



So Finally my question is - is it normal to have trouble walking even with a orthopedic boot? If not, what can I do to help myself feel more stable and comfortable with the boot - so I don't the walker/crutches?



Also troubling, on the internet it seems people aren't suppose to be putting weight back on the foot with Jones Fracture for several weeks (or is that just without a boot)?



I am going crazy worrying about re-injury or it healing incorrectly and ending up with chronic pain in the foot - I am only 23. Plus, the foot is still slightly discolored up and down the left side (less than it was though and definition is back in my foot from it being overly swollen) and a big bump over the fracture is still there. Please let me know what I can do. I would love nothing more to just be able to get up and walk around fairly normally with the boot, but whenever I try - I still feel enough pain that I quickly want to stop and grab onto something and not take another step with support - it is just my natural reaction at the moment.



Thank you for any advice,

Lora

Answer
Hi Lora,

A Jones fracture doesa not heal easily becuase of poor blood supply to the bone.  It takes about 6 weeks to heal.  In most cases the foot is either casted or a screw is placed to stabilize the bone.  Many people do not tolerate the boots because there may not be enough support and too much motion occurs at the fracture site.  

So I would consider being casted.  You may want to get another opinion, consider seeing a podiatrist for treatment.

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com

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