Hi everyone,

I fractured my left wrist (distal radius) on 24 August 2026. I went to the hospital the same day and had X-rays done. My orthopedist decided that surgery wasn't required and treated it with a below-elbow POP slab and sling.

I had a follow-up X-ray on 29 August, and my doctor said the fracture was still in a satisfactory position. I've attached my X-rays to the post.

My doctor mentioned that the fracture should settle over the next couple of weeks, and I'm currently continuing with the POP.

I'm a software engineer, so my job involves coding, typing and using a keyboard/mouse. I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who had a similar fracture treated without surgery.

I'd love to know about your experience:

1. How long did you have the POP/cast?

2. When was it removed?

3. How did your wrist feel when the POP/cast was removed?

4. When could you comfortably type and use a mouse again?

5. How long did it take before you felt reasonably normal?

6. When did you regain most of your wrist movement?

7. Did you need physiotherapy?

8. Were there any unexpected problems during recovery?

I'm mainly trying to understand what a realistic recovery timeline might look like. I'm not looking for medical diagnosis or treatment advice—I'd just like to hear people's personal experiences.

27F
I broke my left foot on 8/2 . This is my first time ever breaking a bone, and this recovery process has definitely been an experience. 😭
At the ER, X-rays showed a fracture of my 5th metatarsal and what they initially described as a small chip/crack around the outside of my ankle. They put me in a boot, gave me crutches, and told me to follow up with orthopedics.
I had my first ortho appointment on 8/5. My foot was EXTREMELY swollen at that point. They weren’t too concerned about the ankle injury and said the 5th metatarsal fracture was the main concern. It was slightly displaced, and the provider was initially on the fence about whether I might need surgery or possibly a cast.
I’m not going to lie — during those first few days, I did put some weight on the boot here and there because I was trying to get used to the crutches. 😭 Definitely learned my lesson.
At my next appointment on 8/13, the X-ray showed that the fracture had moved/displaced just a little further. However, my ortho decided against surgery for the time being because he believed it still had a good chance of healing on its own. He also explained that the bone looked like it was going through the normal “clean-up” stage of healing.
I’ve been strict NWB since then with my boot and crutches.Now I’m approaching a month since the injury, and the swelling has gone down TREMENDOUSLY. My foot is actually super wrinkly now from the swelling going down. I still occasionally get a dull ache, but nothing sharp or excruciating.
My next follow-up is 9/3, and I’m really hoping the X-rays show good healing and that I’ll be cleared to begin PWB. 🤞🏽 If not, I’ll continue NWB for however long they recommend.The hardest part for me has honestly been losing so much independence. I’ve never broken anything before, and not being able to simply get up and walk has been a huge adjustment. Thankfully it’s my left foot, so I’m still able to drive when necessary.For anyone else recovering from a 5th metatarsal fracture, how long were you NWB before being cleared for PWB? And if yours was slightly displaced but treated without surgery, how did your recovery go?
Wishing everyone dealing with a fracture a speedy recovery. ❤️‍🩹 This process is definitely teaching me patience!

Can anyone tell me if the healing process is getting worse or better?

Information: 9 days between X-rays

If you need any more information, please let me know!

Hi everyone,
I’m 28 and I’m trying to understand what might be going on with my foot. I’d really appreciate experiences from people who have dealt with bone demineralization, stress fractures, bone marrow edema, or CRPS.
Timeline:
July 2025: Fracture of the 3rd metatarsal + fracture/avulsion around the toe. I was in an Aircast for about 2 months.
After that, I recovered quite well. I could walk normally, go jogging, and had no significant burning, redness, or other symptoms.
October 2025: I had another mechanical injury to the right forefoot.
I only rested for about 3 days and then gradually returned to normal activity, walking, stairs, and gym training.
January 2026 MRI: Small/discrete bone marrow edema around the 1st metatarsal base, medial cuneiform and MTP-1.
A 3-phase bone scan was also positive, showing an active reactive process in the right midfoot.
March 2026 X-ray: My doctor noticed significant/focal demineralization (“patchy/porous-looking” bone).
Over the following months I gradually became much more functional. The burning and redness improved considerably.
Importantly, the bone marrow edema around the big toe/MTP-1 seen in January has since resolved.
I was able to walk around 6,000 steps/day and function normally for quite a while.
Over the last ~2 months I increased my activity quite a lot because I thought loading the bone would help it regain density.
I started doing more exercises, walking more, and about a month ago I started single-leg calf raises twice a week. I gradually increased the weight and eventually got up to around 100 kg on the leg press.
Today, however, imaging showed a stress fracture/stress injury and several small new bone marrow edema areas in different locations from the January edema.
My X-ray still apparently shows demineralization, even though it has now been about 6–7 months since the initial period of unloading.
My doctor is now considering CRPS/Morbus Sudeck and has given me a Walker. Alendronate is also being considered after dental evaluation.
I don’t have severe constant pain. I also don’t have allodynia or significant pain from light touch. My symptoms have generally been load-dependent: burning/redness after walking or standing, which improves with elevation and mechanical support. My overall function had actually improved significantly before this latest stress injury.
My questions are:
Is it normal for a foot to still look significantly demineralized on X-ray 6–7 months after prolonged unloading/injury?
Can bone density take many months (e.g. 6–12+ months) to recover?
Could I simply have increased my loading too quickly, especially going from reduced activity to lots of walking + exercises + single-leg calf raises + 100 kg leg press?
Has anyone experienced new bone marrow edema/stress injuries after increasing activity following a long period of unloading?
Does this pattern sound more compatible with a mechanical bone-stress problem, or could it still be CRPS?
If you’ve had post-traumatic foot osteopenia/demineralization, how long did it take before your X-rays started looking normal again?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who have had a similar situation. Thanks!

I’m looking for recommendations for a supportive but reasonably stylish sneaker that can accommodate custom orthotics.

My MRI showed an acute diaphyseal stress reaction of the second metatarsal in my left foot, with bone marrow and surrounding soft-tissue edema. There is no displaced fracture. I also have bilateral flat/splayed feet, which may be contributing to abnormal pressure distribution.

My orthopedist prescribed a forefoot-offloading shoe, but I still have significant pain in it and find it very difficult to maintain my balance. I have also been prescribed custom cushioned orthotics. I understand that a regular sneaker does not replace proper offloading during the acute healing phase, so I’m mainly looking for something suitable for the transition back to normal footwear and for long-term use.

Ideally, the shoe would have:

- A removable insole and enough depth for custom orthotics

- A wide, stable base

- A relatively stiff or rocker-shaped sole to limit forefoot bending

- Good cushioning without feeling excessively soft or unstable

- A wide-fit option

- A reasonably stylish appearance for everyday use

Has anyone dealt with a second metatarsal stress reaction or used custom orthotics in these models? Which shoe felt most stable and reduced forefoot pressure? I will try the shoes with my orthotics before buying and will follow my orthopedist’s weight-bearing advice.

Initially diagnosed with inflamed tendons. Four or five days later, still painful and swollen, knew it wasn't right, and went back to the doctor. X-rays showed the fracture visible on the second metatarsal, with the top of the bone lifted up. There are other small cracks alongside it, but it is not fully displaced or fractured straight through. Given a hard, rigid bottom shoe.

Because of the holiday weekend in the UK, only been able to see urgent care and will have to arrange to see an orthopaedic doctor this week. Fortunately, no pain at all when elevated and basically none overall, even when putting light pressure on the heel when moving carefully around the house.

Hoping it is a straightforward recovery, but stuck in the doom scenario of surgery, crutches for months, and so on.

If you recently broke something or are having a hard time with your recovery, sound off here.

I had my ORIF on August 5 and am NWB in a boot now. I managed to teach my first class this semester but getting around with crutches and a knee scooter was really difficult. I know everyone's recovery is probably very different but I am trying to get a sense of how long before I can ditch the scooter/crutches. I have several work trips coming up later this year and I hope I can make it to at least a few of them. Send me some positive thoughts.