Fractured the fifth metatarsal in my foot a few weeks ago while surfing... Anybody else had this and how long before they were back on the water? Any tips on the rehab?
hmmm.. I tore the ligaments and muscles around the same joint. 4 months later and still having problems, but it doesn't keep me out of the water any more. I didn't help it by kiting on it within a week of doing it.
Specialist said that he is getting more surfing injuries of this type lately, he thought mainly due to the "more aerial nature of modern surfing". His words.
generally 6 weeks non weight bearing (moon boot) is ideal but in truth barely anyone is willing to put themselves through that. Best to not stress it out for a few weeks bare minimum.
It will be weak and break more easily if you don't put it through a good 6 weeks, but that also depends on the type of fracture that it was.
Maybe when the pain is bareable enough to go surfing again wear a wetsuit booty for a while to protect it from a re-break.
Currently have 3 x fractured toes, I got back on the water (with pain) at the 3 week mark and then took another week off. I have been back out recently and use strapping tape - loads of it and booties. 
It's easy to say harden up...but it can hurt like hell and everyone's pain threshold is different. Move at your own pace.
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Select to expand quotePaul1 said..
Put a band aid on it and get back out there.....Select to expand quoteKIT33R said..
Maybe when the pain is bareable enough to go surfing again wear a wetsuit booty for a while to protect it from a re-break.
+1 for this. 6 weeks is standard.
If you really want to get into the water start with some water walking and light kicking in a pool and progress from there to the sea gradually. Load it in its pain free range as tolerated.
Used paddlepop sticks when I dislocated finger - still bent but full functional...
Get some performance enhancing drugs onto it if UR that desperate...
AP
Did three of them in the L2L two years ago.
6 weeks sounds about right, but you still feel like taking it easy for a bit, no big jumps or hard landings, ease into it.
Try and ride a bike or something while in the moon boot to keep some leg strength up ;)
That's for the advice guys... Haven't looked at the forum for a while because I didn't want to see all the green arrows! I reckon I can last another week, have been getting in the pool a bit... Have the moon boot and thinking I can get a session in with that!
Maybe you could try riding in boots as when done up properly you have ally more support and it is around your ankle/ heelas opposed to straps which hold over the top of your foot. It may be a good safety measure to prevent reinjury, Boots do take a bit of work to get into though so maybe try the hyperlite system binding you could strap your foot up real nice put the boot on and then just clip into the bindings once you get out on the water.
I broke two a couple of years ago, five weeks before a mate was coming over from the UK for a weeks kitesufari in WA 
I had an intensive course of electroacupuncture on my foot and was out kitesurfing five weeks later with a little discomfort.
Hope you mend soon
Select to expand quoteaxion said..
Maybe you could try riding in boots as when done up properly you have ally more support and it is around your ankle/ heelas opposed to straps which hold over the top of your foot. It may be a good safety measure to prevent reinjury, Boots do take a bit of work to get into though so maybe try the hyperlite system binding you could strap your foot up real nice put the boot on and then just clip into the bindings once you get out on the water.
I think that would work really well axion, but I only have a strapless surfboard and a wakeskate. The moon boot support feels exactly like my snowboard boots though, so I think it would definitely get me out on the water sooner if I had a TT!
I just kept kiting. If you need to, strap your toe to the next one. Doctors do very little with these injuries.
Select to expand quotethorn said..
I just kept kiting. If you need to, strap your toe to the next one. Doctors do very little with these injuries.
Dude a metatarsal is not a toe.
Being a 5th metatarsal is the long bone on the outside that attaches to the pinky toe. Being that injury..... Narrow you stance if you can on the twinny..
As far as rehab. The bone heals itself as it has weight on it every day. The way to make it heal faster it let it set....
As far as kiting on a twinny, 4 weeks minimum if you treat it right then 4 weeks mowing the grass with appropriate strapping at a FLATwater spot. Better still strap your foot and get out on that surfboard. Rember the young bulls that rush in to sire all the cows and within 1 day there all out... The older bulls then go nuts for the whole season...
