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Original poster

Broken foot- holiday in 3 days

12 replies

Emily12345678 · 30/05/2019 13:01

Hi,
I broken my foot yesterday and off on holiday in three days. It’s a 5th Metatarsal fracture. They have given me a big boot to wear and said it will take 4-6 weeks to heal. I asked the nurse if I would be able to go ‘bootless’ by the pool etc and she said it would be fine, just wear it the rest of the time. I then spoke to another Person from the hospital over the phone who said I couldn’t be weight baring at all without the boot and couldn’t swim.

This is my first holiday with my 9month old baby and I feel like I am going to ruin it for everyone and my poor husband who has booked it all as a surprise (I don’t even know where we are going).

I just want to know if anyone has had a similar injury? I am happy to wear the boot 95% of the time, but I just want to be able to walk to the pool and back to my sun lounger without the boot and be able to have a light swim. It doesn’t hurt too much to walk without the boot and if I’m careful can it be that much of an issue? I can put the weight through my heal instead and not flap the foot in the pool.

Any advice would be great as I feel torn by the two bits of advice I have been given.
Thanks xx

OP posts:

SeaToSki · 30/05/2019 13:18

Is it a simple fracture? If so, then you could probably hobble a bit on it bootless and you could def go in the pool. BUT you mustnt step on anything with an uneven surface as it could displace the ends and Iwouldnt actually swim much as that will put pressure on the foot. They didnt use to give you a boot or cast at all for simple 5 th metatarsal fractures at all, just said to wear a firm soled shoe all the time.

For more practical measures, get yourself a walking stick from Boots or Amazon for the airport and book special assistance for the airport from the airline. They can allocate you a wheelchair so your dc can sit on your lap and you wont have to walk miles to the plane.

Try really hard to not get sand in the walking boot or get the fabric salt watery

But first you must confirm what type of fracture it is, because the complicated types (i think spiral fracture is one of them) means you have to be way, way more careful

Land0r · 30/05/2019 13:19

What dreadful luck Emily. I broke my 5th metatarsal a few 26 years ago and was in plaster for 4 weeks, then in a boot for 2 weeks after that. Sounds like you're not in plaster though? I remember it being very painful, so I hope you're OK.

Original poster

Emily12345678 · 30/05/2019 13:45

Thanks Land0r- luckily just a big ski boot/ moon boot thing. Not quite the look I was going for on holiday! Ha

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Original poster

Emily12345678 · 30/05/2019 14:01

Hi SeatoSki.
Thank you so much for taking the time to message. They said it was a very simple fracture....
To be honest it’s hardly swollen now and doesn’t even hurt that much unless I twist it in an awkward position by a mistake.
So I am thinking if I wear the boot down to the pool but take it off to sunbathe on the lounger. Then very carefully walk without the boot to the pool and then just be very gentle in the pool with no flapping or swimming....
I was thinking if I wanted to go in the sea where it’s uneven I could wear the boot in the water? I have bought a shorter one as the long one the hospital have me is huge and long.
Thanks x

OP posts:

SeaToSki · 30/05/2019 15:46

Sounds like a good plan, but maybe try and find a water shoe with a really strong flat sole (no arch support). The risk of lumps and bumps in the sand is quite high so I would be very wary about barefoot on the sand

Lorelaithe1st · 30/05/2019 15:55

What a shame! I broke the same place the day before a holiday a couple of years ago. We ended up cancelling as I was in a lot of pain and we were going to Center Parcs and I couldn’t face being stuck in the lodge for a week.

I would be very careful walking without the boot on but a hard soled shoe might work or even crocs? Do you have a stick? Could you sit at the side with your legs in the water. I would personally have felt a bit precarious in a pool in case I slipped but it would be lovely to be in the sun (especially as you might be stuck in a lot at home anyway!).

Hope it heals quickly.

ScarletPower · 30/05/2019 15:58

I broke my 5th Metatarsal just before Christmas and was in plaster for 6 weeks! I wonder why they treat them differently. Sorry no advice but I hope you manage to have a nice holiday

orangeshoebox · 30/05/2019 16:02

I certainly didn't feel like swimming with my broken foot.
tbh the first couple of weeks are vital wrt healing, you need to rest-rest-rest for that.
are you flying? if yes that can lead to extra swelling and pain.
you dh will have to take baby swimming with you watching from a sun lounger.

stucknoue · 30/05/2019 16:19

H did this a couple of days before a ski trip, they didn't give him a foot thing though (fracture doesn't always require it) and he still skied after all those ski boots are basically like plaster.

Hortz · 30/05/2019 16:30

I had a 5th Metatarsal fracture last year. Ended up cancelling a holiday as I wouldn't have enjoyed it.
The boot has a thick base so you end up with one leg longer than the other and that gave me horrendous back ache. I couldn't walk more than a few yards as you have to "roll". I compensated by putting insoles in a trainer for the other foot.

I was told to wear it all the time except in bed or shower.
I took the boot off for bed and for an hour in the evening while sitting with my foot rested. It really felt too fragile to walk about on.

I went swimming once at the local pool but felt very vulnerable in case I got kicked. No way would I have been able to go on a beach or in the sea. There is a lot of foam in the boot it would become very heavy.
I had it on for six weeks and it was probably four months before it felt near normal.

PawPawNoodle · 30/05/2019 16:37

Are you going by plane? You will need to check with the airline as they may not permit you to fly if you have an injury requiring a boot due to increased risk of clotting.

fussychica · 30/05/2019 17:12

I broke mine a few years back and although it was exceedingly painful at first I didn't need plaster but had a boot. I was living abroad at the time and a boot with a skimpy sundress isnt a great look! I was pretty careful but still think I may have done too much too early as I still have discomfort on damp days or after strenuous walking years later.

Do be careful and follow the advice you have been given. I think flying might be a no no for the reasons above. Unfortunately you may have to say goodbye to this trip and even if you do go you'll need to be ultra cautious about what you do. If you are on your feet you need the boot, no walking from sunlounger to the pool and back etc or you might land up needing a plaster after all. With a 9 month old in tow this sounds like it might be even more difficult.

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