I broke my fifth metatarsal on Mar 3 around 8:30 am. Below is my journey in hopes it can help others.

Takeaways

  • Take photos so you can see the progress

  • Trust your body - see your doctor again if you are concerned

  • Make sure your hips are aligned by wearing a taller shoe on your opposite foot

  • Find ways to be comfortable - elevation pillows, crutches/scooter, etc

  • I’ve been using a heating pad for my hips

  • Do things for your mental health

  • Find ways to sleep - it’s hard to sleep with the boot and the pain

Mar 3 (Day 1) - indoor bike workout wishing it wasn’t a day off and I could run. Not sure why that was going through my mind. Decided to finally donate the kids’ soccer balls and was carrying them to the car (two large bags with 10+ each) in my Oofoo slides when I tripped over a plastic gutter drain with my left foot and landed off balance on it with my right. I felt my foot roll off the slide as the plastic piece tilted and I rolled off of it. The pain was intense but the worst part was the fear that it was similar to when I tore my ACL off the bone in college (first year, second day of ski team practice).

I wasn’t sure how bad it was and I didn’t want to put weight on it. My knee and left hand were skinned. I tried to crawl to the door. It hurt and I couldn’t put weight on it. I rang the doorbell and got inside. I still thought I could rest and then deliver the soccer balls…

I elevated it and may have iced a little - mainly I wanted heat over the first few days. I couldn’t bear weight at all and crawled. It was exhausting but I thought it would probably heal quickly and I didn’t want to go to the ER to hear another - you sprained it (RICE). I took all my meetings from the couch. Total steps: 5118

Mar 4 (Day 2) - new crutch tip arrived and I started moving on crutches which was much easier! I could rest my foot briefly on the ground. My body was tired from the different movement and I was sad to miss a run day. I still worked on the couch and wasn’t sure how I would get to my office - down three stairs. Or how I would elevate my leg while I worked. I rode the indoor bike for 20 minutes and walked half a mile outside with crutches. Total steps: 5152

Mar 5 (Day 3) - able to put weight on my foot. Found one of my kids’ boots and started wearing it. Foot didn’t fit in a normal shoe. Indoor bike 30 minutes and walked .69 miles outside. Steps: 5311

Mar 6 (Day 4) - Used the erg for 30 minutes, short walk outside, and short walk on walking pad indoors in the short walking boot. It felt better but something wrong. There was a lack of stability in part of the stride. I ignored the swelling and bruising. Steps: 5418 looking forward to getting back above 10000…

Mar 7 (Day 5) - 31 minute indoor bike and then my PT could see me. She didn’t love how it was presenting and told me I needed x-rays. She prepared me for what they might say. I was able to get in to see a doctor and was told I had broken my fifth metatarsal and to wear a post op shoe or boot. It would take about 4 to 6 weeks to heal. I asked about running and the doctor put in an urgent request for me to see a podiatric surgeon. Steps: 5955

Mar 8 (Day 6) Indoor cycle 27 min (late for a call) Outdoor walk .75 miles Thinking about how I can maintain cardio and muscle while I heal. Steps: 5731

Mar 9 (Day 7) 20 min erg - it was okay - wore a normal shoe for it. 0.85 mile walk - excited to get out. Steps: 7126

Week 1 Step Avg 5687

Week 2 Post boot step avg 3366

Mar 10 (Day 8) 25 min bike, 1 mile walk. I feel like I am building up to a normal walk. The low boot doesn’t hurt my stride too much, I’m just taking everything very slowly. Steps: 6389

Mar 11 (Day 9) 30 min cycle Then a few calls and off to the surgeon. 8-12 weeks in tall boot. No more exercise. Just sit. Hmm. Not able to process it. Apple Fitness is telling me my activity has changed. Strava Steps: 4066 mostly before the boot was put on.

Mar 12 (Day 10) Reduced exercise minutes on Apple Watch to 5. Steps: 3442

Mar 13 (Day 11) Steps: 3354

Mar 14 (Day 12) Steps: 3243

Mar 15 (Day 13) Steps: 2896

Mar 16 (Day 14) Steps: 3893

Week 3 Step Avg of 4467

Mar 17 (Day 15) Is something wrong with the boot? It really hurts. Steps: 4001

Mar 18 (Day 16) I’m in so much pain with the boot. Saw my PT to check on the angle of my foot and the pain. Suggested I contact the surgeon and there was a cancellation. He spent time making a kidney shaped inset to take the pressure off the break. Steps: 4749

Mar 19 (Day 17) Steps: 4290

Mar 20 (Day 18) Steps: 4157

Mar 21 (Day 19) Steps: 4614

Mar 22 (Day 20) Felt great with new crutches. Walked around the block! Steps: 5427

Mar 23 (Day 21) Tired and muscles are very sore. Seems the walk around the block was too much. Steps: 4033

Week 4 Step Avg 4772

Mar 24 (Day 22) Foot and muscles hurt. Did a lot less than two days ago. It’s been warmer today and the foot in my boot is very warm at night. Feels like it’s on fire. Steps: 3603

Mar 25 (Day 23) I’m barely using the crutches. Steps: 3775

Mar 26 (Day 24) I am able to do some leg lifts and move more without pain - I could turn off the lift by the bed by turning my upper body and didn’t feel pain in my arm or leg. I used the crutches only on an outing to a store and on a walk - 1/2 mile! Steps: 4600

Mar 27 (Day 25) Foot feeling better. Noticing that I can move my leg more without pain. Steps: 5187

Mar 28 (Day 26) Steps: 4658

Mar 29 (Day 27) Oops! It was under 6000 before I brushed my teeth and I feel it’s too high. Steps: 6153

Mar 30 (Day 28) Feeling fine - some hip soreness. Steps: 5429

Week 5 Step Avg 5471

Mar 31 (Day 29) First shower since I go the boot. Used a chair. Step into shower is tough. Very exciting to shower! Steps: 5246

Apr 1 (Day 30) Caught outside during rain/sleet - yikes. Scary and made it home safely. Boot and left shoe are wet - trying to dry them. Switching from Sketcher to Hoka for left foot. Steps: 4507

Apr 2 (Day 31) Second shower since getting the boot. Saw PT, raised height of crutches to fix posture. Looked at hip alignment with Hoka plus Superfeet on top of Hoka insert. Cut Hoka insert toes out to give more room in shoe. Discussed tendon strain with leg lifts - don’t do anything that causes pain in the tendon - the bone needs to heal first. Using a heating pad on the shin/tendon while working. First time with leg elevated under desk without the brace - previously I have only taken the brace off in bed to change or on the couch to rest/elevate it. I’m really glad I am tracking everything so I can see the progress. Decided to cancel a weekend trip that is 90 minutes away. The vibrations in the car are uncomfortable. Steps: 4671

Apr 3 (Day 32) I got nervous about my healing and almost started using the crutches in the house again. I spent most of the day not moving much and then went for a walk where I relied on my crutches a lot. I think my Apple Watch is giving me credit for arm movements instead of steps. Went to the local market to buy more vegetables. I’m trying to eat well to help with healing. Steps: 4517

Apr 4 (Day 33) I slept a little better last night. Still waking twice. My opposite hip hurts a lot. Super glad it’s Friday! Might venture all the way to Costco today. I haven’t been out much and have cancelled all our travel plans. It’s tough. Costco indoor 0.62 miles. Outdoor walk later 0.71 miles Steps: 6448 oops!

Apr 5 (Day 34) Outdoor walk of 0.72 milesSteps: 5778

Apr 6 (Day 35) Outdoor walk of 0.75 miles plus another shorter walk I didn’t track. Steps: 7136 - oops!

Week 6 Step Avg 5252

Apr 7 (Day 36) Yay! Week 6. I’m excited to have made it this far. Outdoor walk 0.66 miles Steps: 5138

Apr 8 (Day 37) PT was great. Helped stretch my big toe while holding the rest of my foot. Prepared me for the plan if my bone callus isn’t as big as they want at 8 weeks. Told me to eat more Calcium. Trying! Outdoor walk of 0.72 miles Steps: 5432

Apr 9 (Day 38) Tough day. Just wanting to stretch my foot. It’s warm out and my foot feels sweaty. My hip hurts and I’m trying to minimize walking but ended up going for a walk (0.92 miles - oops) with crutches when I felt low. Steps: 5612

Apr 10 (Day 39) I took a muscle relaxer to sleep last night - my hip has been in a lot of pain. Taking it easy today and I’m feeling better. So tough. I want to move around. Looking back at the increase in activity is helpful to see why I might be in pain. I hate not moving. Grump! Outdoor walk of 0.47 miles. Steps: 3869

Apr 11 (Day 40) Feeling a little better after not moving as much yesterday. It’s painful to stand for too long (hip and foot). Painful to not move as well. I’ve noticed that I am more nimble now so my foot must hurt less. I have been occasionally flexing my foot and slightly scrunching my toes in my boot. Outdoor walk of 0.8 miles. Steps: 5437

Apr 12 (Day 41) Left hip still hurts but foot/ankle/calf are feeling much better. I’m relaxing how tight the boot is to allow more blood flow and it doesn’t feel like I’m hurting it. So glad. I can’t believe it’s almost the end of week 6! Two outdoor walks, 0.63 and 0.26. Steps: 6222

Apr 13 (Day 42) Outdoor walk of 0.82 miles. Stepped out again but turned around for a total of 0.12 miles. Trying to be careful. Steps: 5051

Week 7 Step Avg 5574

Apr 14 (Day 43) Showering is a little easier. Still scared to PWB without the boot to get into the shower and grateful for my chair. Outdoor walk of 0.81 miles Steps: 5277

Apr 15 (Day 44) Gave a presentation today so lots of sitting at my computer in the morning. Outdoor walk of 0.74 miles. Was frustrated and tried the indoor cycle for 10 minutes. Need to use my arms to help my right leg but it was nice to do something different. Steps: 5431

Apr 16 (Day 45) PT was canceled and I really wanted assurance that I was making progress. Reading Percy Jackson and trying to rest… Outdoor walk of 0.77 miles Steps: 5007

Apr 17 (Day 46) Another presentation today - a little extra stress around the timing and again, lots of sitting in the morning. Outdoor walk of 0.91 miles. Foot/ankle/calf feels good. Steps: 5529

Apr 18 (Day 47) Foot is feeling so much better. Starting to stretch foot in boot. It occasionally cracks and I get scared but no swelling. I’m bored of wearing the boot! Outdoor walk with one crutch 0.97 miles. Starting to wean off crutches outside since I don’t use them indoors. Left hip hurts. Steps: 6197

Apr 19 (Day 48) Went for my first walk all the way to the library to drop off two books (1.04 miles). So exciting. Didn’t use crutches! Lots of steps from the walk and from “dancing” on the couch - arm movements mainly. So ready to stop using the boot. As my foot heals it’s not as bad at night but sometimes feels like it’s pressing on the inner ankle. Is that due to swelling I’m not noticing? I can’t figure out how to make it more comfortable. Steps: 7443

Apr 20 (Day 49) I’m in so much pain - right hip/lower back. Hurts to lift leg. Heating pad. It’s been improving throughout the day. Doesn’t hurt to walk or stand and I don’t want to overdo it. Clearly yesterday was a lot! I really hope I’m healing. Looking back at previous weeks I can see the progress. Steps: 4185

Week 8

Apr 21 (Day 50) Challenging day mental health-wise. In pain from hip still. It’s hard to lift my right leg. Took muscle relaxer to sleep. Foot occasionally cracks and I’m not sure if that’s bad. Sometimes the broken/healing area hurts. I am looking forward to seeing how it’s doing and hoping it’s healing well! Steps: 3857

Apr 22 (Day 51) Starting to feel better. Can move more. Went for two short walks one with one crutch and the evening one with two. Seems to help my hip. Steps:

Apr 23 (Day 52) Using both crutches outside. Steps:

Apr 24 (Day 53) Reading middle school/young adult books. Steps:

Apr 25 (Day 54) Always so exciting to make it to Friday! Steps:

Apr 26 (Day 55) Finding I can walk more outside with my crutches. Didn’t sleep well last night - up from about 1 to 4:30… Steps:

Apr 27 (Day 56) Steps:

Week 9

Apr 28 (Day 57) Steps:

Apr 29 (Day 58) Steps:

Apr 30 (Day 59) Steps:

May 1 (Day 60) Steps:

May 2 (Day 61) Steps:

May 3 (Day 62) Steps:

May 4 (Day 63) Steps: