Question
Hi there, please bear with my long history!  

I fractured my lateral malleolus and my 5th Metatarsal (avulsion fracture) on 1st May.  7 weeks in a hard NWB cast, fibula was ok, foot was still broken.  Further 6 weeks in a removeable Aircast boot.  Main met fracture healed at this point, still a small floating fragment, was told to wear normal shoes, wean off crutches and see if it healed itself.  6 weeks later, it had healed itself.

That was 3 weeks ago.  My walking is improving, and I've no real pain at the met fracture site when I walk, just a slight twinge maybe occasionally, but I get severe pain here if I try to rise onto tip toes.  (Which I started doing in a bid to get toe strength back, as I can't run or negotiate stairs properly yet).  I am now concerned, is it just peroneal tendonitis, or have I possibly torn it when it pulled my bone apart?

On toe raising, the pain seems to ease after I do a few, but I will then feel pain just walking normally for the rest of the day, and sometimes throbbing when at rest.  By the following morning it's ok again.

Obviously I stopped doing toe raises after a few days because I'm worried about this!

Thanks in advance!

Answer
Susan,

You likely had significant damage to the soft tissue. That would likely include the short Peroneal tendon which connects to the base of the 5th metatarsal.

You also had further weakening from being in casts and not using the tendons and muscles.

To see if you did tear any major structures, an MRI would be helpful.

If you haven't had physical therapy already, I would highly recommend it now.  A therapist can help strengthen the muscles and tendons and assist with soft tissue repair or tendonitis.

Hope all goes well.  Good luck.

You can check information on physical therapy on my site:

http://www.thetampapodiatrist.com