What is the right load for the foot? | Metatarsal fracture – pain afterwards

What is the right load for the foot?

The right load for the foot depends on the type and severity of the fracture. Either way, the foot is immobilized with a splint, plaster or tape for 4-6 weeks in the initial phase of the injury. Under certain circumstances, however, the foot may already be fully loaded again.

This is the case, for example, with simple, non-displaced fractures. In general, the load is always adapted to the pain, which means that the foot should always only be loaded as much as possible without pain. Rolling movements should be avoided as a matter of urgency, otherwise there is a risk that the fracture will not heal properly or that it will shift.

For this reason, X-ray control examinations are often necessary during the first few weeks. Especially in the case of displaced fractures that have been treated surgically, the help of X-ray diagnostics is used. With this type of fracture, the foot must not be subjected to any load for 6 weeks. The correct load is therefore different for each individual, so that no general statement can be made.

When should you actually no longer have pain ?

Especially at the beginning of the healing phase, the affected persons can suffer from severe pain. The swelling of the tissue causes pressure on other structures of the foot, such as nerve tissue, periosteum or other soft tissues. Depending on the type and severity of the fracture, the pain also varies in intensity.

In the case of a fracture without complications, the acute pain usually subsides within 1-2 weeks if proper follow-up treatment is provided. Stress pain, on the other hand, can last even longer and may last for several weeks or months. In general, it is not possible to make a general statement about how long pain is normal after the fracture, since the circumstances of the injury ultimately determine the duration of the pain.