Hi Alyssa... welcome to the group. Did you completely break your foot or just a stress fracture? Did it happen running or form something else? Are you in a full cast/crutches or walking cast? I was treated for a stress fracture at first, but since it was in my 5th metatarsel they warned not to cross train as it is imperative that that bone heals corrrectly. I was in a walking cast and using crutches for 5 weeks before they did an MRI and determined that whatever is wrong wasn't a stress fracture. That was on January 2nd and I am still 4 months later trying to figure out what is wrong so I can fix it. Good luck to you on your recovery!

Yes do to running or yoga. It just started hurting and graduallly got worse within a span of 3 days. So now I have a walking cast and a compression wrap that hardens over time. It is the 5th metatarsal though... your scaring me. Did your x-rays not show a stress fracture? Was it more of a ligament/tendon..whatever... I used crutches for about 1 1/2 weeks, even though he told me I don't have to. Now I don't have any pain. It has been about 3 weeks since I think it happen. I'm seeing a podiatrist and not an orthapedist (sp?) I saw him yesterday and he said that I could probably drop my walking cast in two more weeks and begin light exercise, walking, etc. Then after 6 weeks I should be able to run again. Is this not going to be the case? I freaking out now... I hope it's just a stress fracture.

It is the 5th metatarsal though... your scaring me. Did your x-rays not show a stress fracture? Was it more of a ligament/tendon..whatever... I used crutches for about 1 1/2 weeks, even though he told me I don't have to. Now I don't have any pain. It has been about 3 weeks since I think it happen. I'm seeing a podiatrist and not an orthapedist (sp?) I saw him yesterday and he said that I could probably drop my walking cast in two more weeks and begin light exercise, walking, etc. Then after 6 weeks I should be able to run again. Is this not going to be the case? I freaking out now... I hope it's just a stress fracture.

I'm sorry! Don't freak out. I think my case is 1 in a million as I have seen 3 doctors and all of them have remarked as to what an interesting case study I am. I started off seeing a podiatrist and he saw a minor issue on the bone in the xrays which he called a stress fracture. He told me I didn't really need the crutches either, but I used them along with the walking cast most of the time because I wanted it to heal ASAP. Yet, I was still in pain most of the time even with the crutches, even when sitting down (which should have subsided after a few weeks). It sounds to me like you do have a stress fracture if staying off of it relieves your pain. I'm sure you are healing. My problems really started after the MRI showed nothing wrong as now there is no concrete idea as to why I am in consant pain (even now as I sit at my desk to write this my foot hurts). I have had several xrays since then which all show the same issue with my bone, but it is unchanged and the doctors believe that it was there all along (before the injury even occured) since all of the rest, drugs, PT, etc have not caused it to change at all. The newest idea is that it is probably a nerve problem, possibly chronic pain. I've got a new specialist visit tomorrow, I'll let you know what they come up with. It seems like most of the people with stress fractures do their time off, and with proper care and PT they can ease back into running in the 8 weeks. I know Claire had a good recovery and it seems like Cheryl is well of her way *fingers crossed*. I'm sure she will check in and tell you her story, but she's been doing a lot of pool running to maintain fitness without impact. I think she is doing the elliptical too, but if your doctor told you not to, it's probably a good idea to hold off. I know mine didn't even want me swimming the first few weeks in the walking cast when they thought I had a stress fracture just so that it could begin to heal properly. Good luck and again sorry if I worried you.... stay positive, it sounds to me like you are already in the recovery process!

one more thing.... Does age help? I'm 26. Sorry to make this all about me...I'm just so excited to have feedback from people who understand the problem and can feel my pain