What can speed up the healing process?

It is difficult to speed up the healing time, because the bone simply needs a certain amount of time to grow back together. It is important to follow the doctor’s instructions regarding stress and movement restrictions in order to give the bone pieces the possible rest they need to grow together again and not endanger the healing process. Measures to improve blood circulation and lymph drainage can have a positive influence on the healing process.

The following are suitable for this: It is equally important to keep the entire organism healthy and fit. Attention should be paid to a balanced, vitamin-rich diet. Harmful substances such as alcohol and nicotine should be avoided. Certain medicines, such as cortisone, can slow down the healing process. However, before discontinuing medication or reducing the dose if necessary, a doctor must be consulted urgently, as otherwise life-threatening side effects may occur.

Muscle tension exercises in which the affected joint is not moved (isometric tension)
Mobilization of surrounding joints
Raising the foot
Manual lymph drainage.

Midfoot fracture strained too early – and now?

Depending on how the metatarsal fracture is treated (conservatively, with plaster, tape or surgically), sooner or later the weight can be put back on. The physician determines when weight can be put back on the foot, e.g. on the basis of the available x-rays, while assessing the healing process. The healing process is always jeopardized by premature weight-bearing and is usually prolonged.

However, if the foot is loaded again too early, the fracture may be trivialized. This means that the bone tissue still formed is destroyed again by the premature loading and healing is delayed. It is possible that healing may have to start all over again.
In the case of surgically treated fractures, premature loading can damage the surgical result.
Especially if severe pain occurs after loading, an X-ray check should be performed to assess whether the surgical result is still sufficient to ensure safe healing.
Without adequate immobilization there is an increased risk of complications. Due to the constant breaking of newly formed bone connections, there is a risk of the formation of a false joint – a so-called pseudarthrosis.
Further complications can include axial deviations in the midfoot region, which can change the joint mechanics and the interaction of the skeleton in the foot. This can result in premature arthrosis (posttraumatic arthrosis).
The arch of the foot can also be lowered, resulting in a flat or splayfoot.