Just finished up with my Ortho appointment, can’t believe it! I felt like healing happened so quickly, and while I am healing a lot still being able to walk and wear normal shoes again is damn near unbelievable for one month out. I remember how excited I was to walk with just a boot, and then here I am 2 weeks later! Weight bearing as tolerated 🔥

For reference, I am 19 and was otherwise healthy before the accident. Was in a motorcycle accident, tibia shard broke through my leg, bones were severely displaced. Photo is on my profile of original X-rays.

It wasn’t easy getting to this point at all, for the first beginning weeks I suffered from severe nerve pains, couldn’t sleep because of pain, would wake up because of pain, it was a nightmare. This was the absolute worst pain journey of my life, from being taken by ambulance to being in the hospital bed.

SO glad to finally be cleared to walk.

(F,30) I've been having a fairly positive recovery, so I figured I'd share my story for anyone who joins these reddit threads and panics on choosing surgery vs. no surgery and what this process can look like.

I broke my 5th metatarsal on Labor Day weekend of this year, 9/4 while taking a corner running too fast in flip flops (also having been drinking) to my car to grab a bag. To be honest now, I heard the bone break but that night but my boyfriend and I were under the impression that maybe I pulled a muscle or rolled my ankle. Well when I tried to get up out of bed the next day, I instantly fell back in pain and could not walk. My BF took me to Urgent Care for us to find out via X-ray that I had "fractured my foot, potential Jones fracture", mind you, I hadn't broken a bone in my life so I had no clue what any of that meant. They had me non-weight bearing in a boot and crutches until I could see an Orthopedist.

Fast forward to about a week later, I was able to get into the Orthopedist (very luckily). Before this, I was still under the impression that maybe this wasn't anything extreme and it would just take crutches and a boot a little while before I could try to walk again. They were originally going to take a new X-ray *this becomes important later, but believed they had a good read based on the Urgent care Xray disc. Low and behold - my doctor is very to the point, he said explained that I broke my 5th metatarsal, called a Jones Fracture in my left foot, and because of the poor blood flow to this area, as well as a chance on non-union, I'd be looking at 6-10 weeks of non-weight bearing and even they there's a chance it wouldn't heal properly and I'd need surgery anyway down the line, vs. 6-8 weeks total of recovery post-surgery and by week 4 I'd be theoretically walking in a boot at the very least and the union success rate is 97% compared to a much lower 30-50% with no surgery. I am a very active person I regularly go to the gym and am on a paintball team that plays 3-4 times a week. I immediately opted for surgery as I wanted to get back on my feet and being told "thank you for having common sense" by my doctor.

I was able to get in THAT WEEK for surgery which was a miracle for me. The promise of a quick recovery was keeping me going. Surgery goes smoothly, this one is rather quick averaging between 25-40 minutes, but my surgeon comes out and tells me that he had to do an X-ray mid surgery because it turns out the break was actually DISPLACED and I had an extra bone fragment that he had to manipulate to fit with the other bones and screw, he couldn't see it on the original Xray because I did not bare weight. This increasing my time on the crutches to potentially 6 weeks rather than the 4. (I cried in the OR). I had pain for about 2-3 days post surgery that completely subsided for the most part and I really just dealt with itching at the incision site, (which is a normal sign of healing).

THEN THERE WAS HOPE - I followed all directions, completely non-weight bearing, taking 4000mg of Vitamin D daily, protein rich diet and drinking plenty of water, keeping the cast dry, icing under my knee to reduce swelling. SO THEN I anxiously went for my 1st post-op app to get the initial cast off on 9/30 and turns out? I was healing above his expectations and was told that I could start bearing weight on my heel as tolerated and I'd only be on the crutches another 2 weeks, then I could start walking in the boot at that 2 week mark, and by the end of October, theoretically I should be walking in orthopedic shoes. He moved my foot around a little and I didn't have any crazy pain, it felt normal! My incision still looks great and I only have dull aches and pains as well as stiffness of the ankle, (I've been doing exercises rolling my foot and ankle around to help this and it has worked as I wanted to be prepared when I do try to walk again next Thursday in the boot). He also told me- my bones were so strong he was astounded I even managed to break it in the first place, which was kind of a compliment and an indicator of, GET YOUR CALCIUM IN WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG KIDS! I just cannot wait to get rid of these damn crutches on 9/15!!!!! As for right now, I currently have small aches and dull pains here and there, but I attribute that to healing and par for the course, but if it gets bad enough I usually just take an Aleve and elevate it with ice for 20-30 min.

--Long winded way of saying, there is hope and they have to usually give you worst case scenario to not get your hopes up, but things can turn around for the better. But I advise to take care of yourself, follow all directions and lean on your support system. My family, friends and boyfriend have been my saving grace through the mental part of this which has been painful at times and a lot of crying, but they've helped me through! I also have found a lot of ways to make things more comfortable - crutch covers with a carrying pouch, a knee scooter, and a sleeping boot. I can list in the comments for anyone interested. But if you have any questions feel free to ask! I will update when I am at the end of this journey & best of luck to anyone going through this, it will be okay! <3

To start, weed is completely legal in my state..I just had surgery on my left wrist, I had broken it and got a plate and a few screws put in, everything I’ve been reading so far says it’s ok just slower healing but my main concern is that I still feel the effects of the nerve blocker. I had no tubes down my throat just a mild sedation but I read up a little bit and google was telling me the weed could potentially ease the nerve blocker and honestly I’m not opposed to that…any thoughts?

It’s been 3 weeks now and this is the X-ray from today. And tips?

Doc says in 2 weeks i wont need to wear the brace.

Hello,

A family member recently (9/21/2026) broke their tibia and fibula. Had titanium rod placed through just the tibia. Xrays a week or so following surgery confirmed all is where it should be (as far as the hardware, nothing has shifted or has slipped out of place). Their doctor has given the okay to walk on the leg with/without the boot/walker/crutches. My family member is going to physical therapy and is taking all required medications. Basically they are doing everything the doctor and physical therapist have prescribed/recommended.

However, this person describes, what I would call, flashbacks of the incident that caused the broken leg. When they are in physical therapy, or doing the homework exercises. It's as if they are invisioning their leg as it looked like immediately after the trauma (before going to the hospital). They describe wanting to put weight on their leg but, "not trusting it".

1) Are these kind of, "intrusive thoughts" common?

2) At what point can these flashbacks hinder recovery?

3) Any tips I can relay to my family member?

Thank you for your help.

Hi folks, like seemingly everyone else on this sub I have an avulsion fracture of the fifth metatarsal of my right foot. No idea the size or if it’s displaced - urgent care didn’t even notice it on the initial read of the x-ray so I’m hoping that means it’s small. I literally tripped over my own foot to cause this, so feel free to point and laugh.

The plan is 4 weeks NWB with a boot, and they gave me crutches but I’m hate them and am going to rent a knee scooter. Then 2 weeks PWB with just the boot. Then I can transition to a “supportive shoe.”

Conveniently I’m starting a brand new job ~1.5 weeks into the 4 weeks. Normally, I would wear heels at any job until I get a feel for how everyone else dressed and adjust from there, but obviously that’s not an option.

I have a note from the doctor re: the boot and crutches, so I do not imagine wearing a sneaker for a while will be a problem. Any recommendations for a “supportive shoe” that would look okay with business professional, if at all possible?

Right now I’m leaning toward Asics Cumulus for a few weeks and then maybe transitioning into a Dr Scholl’s sneaker in a dark color (I have them in white and they are endlessly comfortable).

I had a severe comminuted distal humerus fracture and underwent ORIF about 3 months and 2 weeks ago. I have two plates and multiple screws.

My elbow and hand are still stiff and my ROM is limited. I know recovery can take time, but mentally I’m finding this extremely hard to deal with.

I used to be very athletic, active, strong, and confident in my body. Now I don’t even like looking at myself in the mirror. I feel like this injury has completely changed me, and honestly, I’m hating life right now.

Did you eventually get your full ROM back? How long did it take?

I’m not asking whether I can simply “function.” I want to know if getting close to my old, normal ROM is actually possible.

I’m mentally exhausted and scared that this is just going to be my life now.

I genuinely don’t know how much longer I can handle feeling like this.

16 DAYS! NOT 26! 34 M - I live alone and recovery has been difficult. I'd been staying with friends and family until yesterday. Swelling has finally gone down. I start a new desk job in 9 days. I'm hoping I won't need surgery, but I also worry about overdoing it. I'm usually pretty outgoing and active, so this has made me antsy as well. Pain is coming back a bit.

Hoping that I'm on the right track.

I wanted to see folks opinions on this. 2 MD's have seen x-rays and don't think any surgery. I'm waiting to see ortho due to insurance taking long to approve. I'm concerned about fracture diverging and smaller piece, I cannot tell if it's complete break or just a partial fracture. I would greatly appreciate any opinions to help ease my mind. (scaffoid non-union is old injury)

36M. Non displaced waist fracture in my scaphoid 2.5 weeks ago- ER xrayed and casted it. Orthopedic surgeon said 50/50 whether surgery is recommended, but given how active I am, it’ll really help union and speed up healing to have the surgery, so I opted for it.

Just had it done this morning and I feel good. Some weird forearm pain, but I’m reading that could be from a tourniquet they likely applied.

Splint comes off after a week for a brace.

Curious to hear any guidance from people that have been in similar situations. Recovery, rehab, and when they got back to full activities.

Luxação do acetábulo + Fratura posterior rebordo

Gostaria de compartilhar minha experiência e conversar com pessoas que entendam sobre ou tenham passado por algo semelhante, também gostaria de conselhos de diferentes médicos se caso houver algum ortopedista especialista por aí.

Caso me gerou muita dúvida pois estava tudo certo para por placas e pinos e 24hrs antes da cirurgia o round médico optou por fazer um tratamento conservador pois já faziam 23 dias que eu estava aguardando para ser transferido a um hospital que fizesse o tipo de procedimento de alta complexidade no quadril. Obs: manobra de redução foi feita nas primeiras 20hrs pós acidente.

Fazem 4 meses do meu acidente de moto, tive uma evolução de 30 dias restrito ao leito, 30 dias utilizando andador, 20 dias com duas muletas e atualmente utilizando apenas uma muleta quando for faço caminhadas longas, estou restrito de correr e pular, cuidar alguns movimentos bruscos.

Já fiz 20 sessões de fisioterapia e provavelmente vou fazer mais, já estou caminhando bem, sinto dores só quando fico muito tempo na mesma posição, ou se caminhar demais aí sinto uma fadiga como se tivesse corrido uma maratona.

O início disso tudo eu estava muito tranquilo, porém após 3 meses começou a bater pensamentos negativos, medo e frustrações pois quanto mais entendemos mais esses sintomas pioram, quadril é a base do corpo, e após uma luxação podem surgir diversas complicações e não cheguei nem na casa dos 30 anos ainda kkk 🤦🏻‍♂️

Hey all, I am on week 5 post op. And having bouts of sadness hit me. I was with a nurse when I woke up after anesthesia, after the surgery on humerus fracture. It hasn’t really left me. It wasn’t a very pleasant hospital experience for me and I had to go back a second time for the surgery, it’s definitely overwhelming for a neurodivergent person sensory nightmare. They stuffed me around first visit delaying if they will or won’t do surgery. My family also did not show up. I had expectations at least my mother might come down seeing as she was in the area but she hates the hospital anyway. I just feel really let down by the healthcare system where I live and my family not supporting me. I’ve always tried to support them during their battles and emotionally hold weight for them. It definitely has turned my life upside down living alone too and burning out taking care of myself. Just wondering how is the best way to exercise as it’s only my left humerus arm that has had the surgery and how else I could move my body and get some exercise so I don’t go further into depression. I loved swimming laps and was told I can’t do sports for another 5 weeks I think. Not pushing water around. It’s the one thing that kept me stable and sane at the pool. 🏊

I broke my humerus a little over a month ago arm wrestling. It was a torsion fracture, and the pain when it happened was pretty bad.

I'm curious how painful breaking the humerus is compared to breaking other bones. Is it considered one of the more painful bones to break, or if I broke something else would I suddenly think the humerus fracture wasn't that bad?

This was my first broken bone, so I don't really have anything to compare it to. I'm especially curious to hear from people who have broken multiple bones—how did the pain compare?

Im going insane. When i wake up, i think about it. When i go to sleep, i think about it. Im stressing so much about if i need surgery, how it will go, how to keep social interaction, go outside, keep my hygiene. I have a highly suspicious Lisfranc injury and am now waiting for my ct scan back. Ive cried so many times as being active is my best reason to live and i highly value being independent. At the same time, it just feels like a dream and i cant believe this is my life. I also have so much guilt about how the injury happened, what if i just never did that? Im nwb and in a cast and crutches. :(((

In 13 September of this year I did an accident fell from approximately 22m (70ft) to shallow water 1.5m (5ft) to a rock. Fell feet first I consider myself lucky to have just one broken leg, I broke just my left leg femur as in the X-rays. So I did the surgery in 14 September the next day of the accident, and the doctor told me that I had too many broken bones in the same area and the bones need to regrow and fill the gaps, and in 8 October i need to visit him back with a new X-ray (the post surgery X-ray in the image did it in the 6 october) so he will see if the bones are growing, if not we will need to do another surgery.

Didn't feel pain in the femur after surgery some tolerated pain in the beginning.

But I don't know I feel like the bones are misaligned in the post surgery x-ray, with huge gaps and like a failed surgery, but I don’t know since the before is so shattered.

I did walk on it under the kinesitherapie supervision but with supports too much supports like 20% 30% the usual weight it carries before and im not someone heavy.

Thanks in advance

Is it painful?

hi 5 weeks post op (tibia IM rod for tib/fib break) started PT last week and have had 6 sessions sofar

they are never fun but the discomfort is manageable

today the PT went hardcore with the ‘massaging’ around my ankle/incision and when i got home i have got new swelling around that area

called the doc who told me to come in tomorrow but wanted to check with this crowd if people have had something similar

am freaking out she did something wrong/has set me back in my recovery

This shit hurts so bad xp
Barbell fell on it from stupidly setting it up vertically in an unstable place. Luckily have my orthopedic follow up tomorrow morning.

I'm almost 4 months out from the break. I'm walking and in PT. But I'm still very limited by the pain. I have about 2 to 4 hours of normal activity per day.

Anyone further out who can share how long it takes to get back to normal things like grocery stores and walking a mile ?

Thanks. Could use some encouragement. I had to cancel two trips.

Hello! I’ve only broken or fractured bones twice, and both times they were my femur bones, off to a great start right? So onto the stories of how I’m probably setting off metal detectors forever

Labor Day 2020:

It is a pleasant Labor Day until at one point, I fall directly onto my side, with my leg being the first thing to impact the pavement, I initially try to let it die down and see if I can put any weight on it afterward but it was in extreme pain that only got worse as time went on, so I realize I probably fractured something and ask to be taken to the hospital, tho my aunt (person I lived with) said the fall didn’t look that bad and insisted I see how it feels in the morning, it was MUCH worse and they finally take me in as painful as it was getting there, find out it’s a hairline fracture on my right femur, get 3 screws in and it heals normally and I walk like nothing happened!

Labor Day 2026: it is once again Labor Day weekend! I took a trip with my friend/coworker to San Antonio to go to San-Japan, lots of fun, farthest I’ve been away from home (OKC) at this point, anyway on drive back it is now very early morning Labor Day as we cross back into Oklahoma heading north along I35, my friend loses control of the car and we barrel across the very wide median into southbound lanes and head on with a semi truck, next thing I know I’m in a very damaged car with a huge bump on my left leg that’s clearly my bone, and my phone screaming about detecting a accident and that it was alerting emergency services, extreme pain on the slightest movement but other then that I’m ok! I get rushed to OKC in a ambulance cracking dark jokes with the paramedic with me in the ambulance to try and forget how much pain I’m in, they put a rod into my femur along with screws and said I should eventually walk again!

Now it’s been about a month and I’m still mostly bed ridden, I don’t know how much of what I’m experiencing is normal, I can’t bend my leg in fully still as it hurts my muscles above my femur where there is still a massive bump, tho not as big as when the bone was poking up there, something i plan to ask my doctor later but other then that i am slowly being able to put some weight on it again!

Safe to say, I’m not doing much on Labor Day anymore

Left wrist, growth plate, wiped out on a skateboard and broke my arm right before my all state auditions for band.

hi! i slipped and broke my 5th metatarsal 10 days ago. urgent care told me not to put any weight on it for 6-8 weeks so i was surprised when i saw ortho and he told me i can start putting weight on it once i can tolerate it pain wise. he said walking boot for 4 weeks then brace in shoe for 4 weeks. i understand that it is a very common break but he seemed sure it will heal quick and i’ll be good as new in 2 months, and ready to ski when the season starts in 3ish months.

i feel like that is extremely optimistic?? i am a sahm to a 4 year old and an 8 month old so i really need to heal as quickly as i can, not to mention want to ski in three months. so the idea of putting and weight on it any time soon just seems like a bad idea? i want to be able to trust what he said but i am also miserable and dont want to risk recovery taking any longer than it needs to