It's so helpful to hear your fractured cuboid stories, all so similar. It's somehow reassuring to know that I'm not alone in this as so little info is out there and it's been a frustrating experience so far, with probably more ahead.
On Aug. 15, I was in a hurry, carrying a bunch of assorted things in my arms. I partially stepped on the edge of a curb and my ankle rolled right over it to the pavement 8" below. Needless to say, I went down and all my things went flying. I didn't feel the pain right way and sat on the ground collecting the scattered items. A friend came over and helped me up. I thought I would be fine, but when I tried to take a step I felt terrible pain both on the bottom of my foot and also shooting across the top down to the ends of my toes.
I'm prone to rolling my ankles and had badly twisted and sprained the other foot a couple of years earlier. I didn't go to the doc that time. I just iced it, elevated it, borrowed a crutch and took it easy, and it did heal on it's own over a few weeks. So at first I thought this injury would follow the same course, Especially since there was very little swelling this time and no bruising. I followed the elevation and ice treatment, and the pain was pretty bad. It throbbed, it stabbed, and strangely, seemed to vibrate painfully deep inside.
The next day, caring friends pressured me to go to the doc. I went to a well-known bone & joint practice that has their own walk-in clinic and got an x-ray. The on-call doc who saw me was not a foot specialist. I think he was a shoulder-guy. He told me there was no break, but I had strained ligaments that may take several weeks to heal. He gave me a boot to wear and told me to keep off my foot as much as possible and come back for a check up in a few weeks.
I stayed home from work a few days and tried to wear the boot, but it seemed to put pressure on one particular spot just below my ankle toward the outside of my foot causing further pain. It hurt more to wear the boot than not to wear it. I couldn't deal with it, so I gave up the boot, went back to work and limped around the office for several weeks. After a while, the pain was still there, but had decreased and I thought I was on the mend.
At 6 weeks after injury I went back for the check-up and new x-ray. This time I saw a real foot specialist. She saw something on one of the bones that looked suspicious and sent me for an MRI. Because the injury happened at work, all this was a workman's comp issue and had to go through their approval system, so it was another 2 weeks before I actually got the insurance company's approval for the MRI, had the MRI, and got another appt. with the same foot specialist to learn the results. I was shocked to find I had a broken cuboid -- and that it was still broken.
The MRI report noted a nondisplaced cuboid fracture and significant marrow edema associated with the fracture. I think the nondisplaced part is a good thing, but even so, healing has not yet taken place.
The doctor told me to wear the boot all the time except to bed and to shower. Ugh! I tried to wear it for a couple of days, but it still caused such pain. Now I understood that the location of the pain was, of course, right over the broken cuboid.
I went back to the doc and found I was not wearing the boot correctly, that my heel was not far enough back so the position of the straps was off and putting pressure right over the cuboid. Once we figured that out and got me fitted properly, I found the boot to be at least not painful, which helps. But it's cumbersome and tiring to wear all day every day. My job requires a lot of walking in a large, spread out building, so I've been trying to still do my job and walk as little as possible... good luck with that!
I also finally got approved this week for the bone stimulator that the doc prescribed, so I've started that every day.
So, now I'm at 9 1/2 weeks since injury, still having pain. Even the light pressure of the covers on my bed is painful so that I position a pillow down by my feet at night to hold the covers up off my foot.
I think when I first was injured, I was in denial... I thought it was a "simple" sprain and would heal on it's own... Now that I know the cuboid is broken, and from reading many of your posts, I'm grimly understanding how difficult and long the healing process is and it's finally sinking in that I must stay off it as much as possible and be good about wearing the boot. Easier said than done. I can't afford to be off work for weeks on end. But then, I can't afford not to do what it takes to get better.
So far there has thankfully been no mention of a cast or possible surgery. Now if I can just be good!
I broke my cuboid bone on 12/20 by slipping on wet floor in high heels. The next day I could not even put weight onto my foot someone had to put me on their back to take me to a doctor.
The first doctor I saw took x-rays and confirmed it was broken. He sent me for a CAT Scan on 12/24 (merry christmas to me). He did not read the scan until 12/28 at which point he did not seem confident in his decision whether or not I would need surgery.
I consulted with the insurance to see if I was allowed a second opinion. I saw a second doctor, highly rated on 1/8 (hard to get an appointment w/these specialists - they work so few days). On 1/10 I had emergency surgery to repair my SHATTERED cuboid bone, what the doctor referred to as a jigsaw puzzle. There was 5+ fractures of the bone and it had shortened in size.
The surgery added a metal plate and screws and bone graft to my foot. They expanded the bone, filled it with bone graft and secured it with the plate/screws. I did not walk/drive/move basically at all for several weeks (about 6). After I was put in a boot, still non weight bearing for another 4 weeks.
I believe the beginning of April I was cleared to begin putting weight with the boot and slowly progress myself off the crutches/out of the boot. It took a long time, a lot of patience and a great physical therapist to help me get to the stage where I walked then with a cane for a few weeks. I finally walk without a cane/boot/cast/crutch/aid but I still experience severe pain. Some days are better than worse, but at least one point in every day I have pain.
I received a cortisone shot for the pain/inflammation a month ago which helped for about two weeks and when it wore off the pain was extremely severe again. Currently, my surgeon says I should have the plate removed as it may be rubbing against a tendon or the tendon that runs along the side of your foot may be growing in the scar tissue from the surgery. Since there is metal in my foot, an MRI is no good as it won't accurately show.
Does ANYONE have any IDEA what to do? I am petrified to have another surgery.
I broke my cuboid bone and the fourth and fifth metatarsal from my horse reading up and falling on me. This happened May 5 2013. I had a splint on for a week and then I got a cast out on after the swelling went down. I took a lot of supplements such as a daily multi-vitamin, magnesium, omega-3 and vitamin D, calcium and vitamin D plus I switched to eating as much protein as possible and took 6 pills of ibprofein daily and constantly wiggled my toes and had my foot elevated as much as possible. My doctor originally said it would be the fastest bone he ever saw heal if I didn't have to get a cast put back on. Well I had x-rays again June 11 and he was pretty amazed that he didn't have to put a cast back on. I have an air cast walker thing on and I'm not supposed to be walking on it but I have to start working with me horse so I have been longing her and walking on it when I'm with her and I feel no pain at all. The only thing is when I take my foot out of the cast and role my ankle my cuboid bone or something around it will pop or move, it doesn't hurt but I'm wondering why it is doing that? Anyway my next appointment is July 2 and then I'll be allowed to start walking on it in the walking boot, I can't wait to start riding again!
I fell from my attic two years ago and damaged my cuboid and guess what two years on im still attending doc going for ultra guided injections for pain next week and if this does not work then i will have it fused so dont tell me about cuboids i would nearly do surgery myself now .
Hi,
Like everyone else, I have a mis-diagnosed cuboid injury, and there is little online about this and possible recovery times. I began reading this thread even though it commenced in 2007.
My story started in Dec 2011, with two severe ankle rolls to my left foot within about 10 days of one another. Again, like a lot of others, I continued to walk on it for several days before seeking medical advice.
A trip to the physio turned into a trip to have some xrays, which upon first viewing showed nothing. After two weeks of complaining that the pain was not subsiding, I asked the physio if the radiologist was one prone to error. The physio revisted the xrays with the radiologist and found a seismoid bone on the outside of my left foot, which may or may not have been two pieces or one. So off for a bone scan and CT scan. Not a lot was made of those results, but after a few days in a cam bootm pain relief was felt, so I spent three weeks in the boot, mainly for pain relief as there was still only a sprain going on.
Did i mention the bruising and swelling all down the outside of my foot?? A horrfic pain under my foot, that I could only ever describe as something like a stirrup.
So physio continued (dry needling, massage, ultra sound, and at home exercises), until May 2012. At this point I was referred to a sports physician. He requested an MRI, and moderate odema of the cuboid was seen. Previously one of the scans had shown "traumatic arthritis" to the cuboid, but no one cared too much about that, except ME!!
Based on the inflammation of the cuboid itself and the joints on either side, the sports physician began a program of steroid injections into the joint. Four or five injections later, the doc tells me that this is as good as its gonna get, and i will merely have to avoid movements that aggravate and cause pain. Apparently bone oedmea can take months and months to heal, so i accepted this outcome. And by this time, end of August 2012, I still have swelling.
At this point, i visit my podiatrist and he suggested a soft insole, because i normally wear hard ones which are not ideal with a cranky cuboid. I gave up physio because the sports physician had told me to live with the pain and swelling. After a couple of months, I returned to the physio, who had wondered where I had gone, because the sports physician had written and recommended I continue the treatment. Pity, he did not tell me that. I usually walk for exercise, and had ceased this with a view to giving this cudoid a really good rest.
In late December 2012, I had returned to walking by this stage, I was feeling good with a couple of months of walkingunder my belt, that I thought it was time to start running again. I was only doing 5-6km runs at a slow pace, but enough to get the heart rate up. Foot is STILL swollen at this point.
By the end of Jan 2013, the foot pain had returned i spades. It was horrific. There was pain under my foot which was diagnosed as plantar fascitis, and treated as such. The physio suggested thati migt have a stress fracture of my navicular, so the GP referred me for a bone scan. What a surprise to hear that I have a stress fracture of my cuboid. So off to the orthopod foot/ankle expert.
He refers me to a second MRI, and the radiologist reading this set of pictures could see a law suit coming I am sure, because this report was two pages long. So not there is not a stress fracture, but excessive oedema of the cuboid (same thing????), evidence of an old fracture (does 14 months classify as old???), and severe tendonopathy with tears in the peroneual longus. This bloke wants to operated to strengthen the tendon, but does not want to talk about the cuboid. When I pressed him, he explained that the surgery would require 6 weeks of non weight bearing and a further 6weeks of limited weight bearing then three months of physio, so with all that rest I would have a rested cuboid and therefore healed cuboid. As well as the tendon repair he wants to do a heal re-alignment so as to limit the nature mild roll out that my foot does (pronate??). A lot of pain, whilst ignoring that cranky cranky cuboid. The specialist did state that the surgery is last resort when everything else has been tried with no success.
The surgery sounded fairly horrific with a long recovery, so i returned to my podiatrist and GP for further discussion. The GP was annoyed that the specialist refuses to use the term stress fracture, even though he could clealry see the "old" fracture. The podiatrist suggested that we are not at last resort yet, because the fracture (old or stress) has never been given an opportuit to heal.
So here I am at week number 6 of 8 in a cam boot and non weight bearing. The biggest shock now is that the swelling has finally gone from my foot and ankle. The time between periods of aching has increased, whilst the periods of aching have decreased. I have been putting a cream containing shark cartliage on twice daily, as well as an anti-inflam cream. I am also taking glucosamine with chondriton. These are all over the counter items from the pharmacy.
I am now busting to get out of this boot, or at least off the crutches beause i am finally starting to feel good, but after all this time, i dont wanna go backwards. Healing will be judged by way of bone scan rather than "feel" etc. Who knows how much physio i will now need to get up and active again, my leg is like a tooth pick. I am still cranky that this has been such a drama with medical errors all along the way, but finally things are looking positive.
Shiiit. This sounds exactly like me. I am currently at home with my foot in a moonboot. I fractured the cuboid bone in my right foot nearly 7 weeks ago (avulsion fracture). Read my time line:
Week one - off
20th Jan - Roll ankle by landing awkwardly on footpath. Visit emergency department at Casey Hospital immediately after. Undergo x-ray, told I have an avulsion fracture of the cuboid bone. Given compression bandage and crutches and that such a fracture is usually treated as a soft-tissue injury.
Week two - off
30th Jan - Visit Physiotherapist. He phones hospital to have x-ray results faxed to him. He tests flexibility, ROM and weight bearing ability. Applies heat and straps foot to provide better support. (Still on crutches and unable to put full weight on foot. Keeping leg elevated as much as possible).
Week three - work
4th Feb Two weeks since accident, decide to try to work. Next 5 days this involves a combination of order picking and forklift. I limp through the day, pushing through the pain. End of week, foot swollen, can’t really wear shoe comfortably.
8th Feb Friday, visit doctor after work due to accidently ‘jerking’ foot (whilst pivoting). Significant soreness is the result. Doctor requests another x-ray. Also advises me to take next week off and to get a ‘moon boot’. I discuss driving with the doctor. He doesn’t like the idea but says if I think I can get by then fine. Purchase boot on the day.
Week four – work part time
11-15th Feb Visit doctor on Monday to find out results of Fridays x-ray. The result hasn’t come through unfortunately. Doctor advises that despite not yet receiving the x-ray report, the result still would not affect his suggested treatment. Prescribes Celebrex. Same day I visit the Physio for a second time. Treatment same as first, advises it would be good for me to put pressure on foot (walk periodically) to help stimulate bone regeneration. Also to perform some basic foot exercises. Manager advises I can work the Wed, Thur and Fri in office for 4 hour shifts - if I want. I agree to this; the most difficult part being the driving 50 min each way as foot still sore.
At this stage, upon purchase off moon boot at the end of previous week, I have been wearing it on and off, and trying to do what I can around house on one leg, or sitting in a wheelie chair (washing dishes, preparing meals etc), and resting it on the couch in between.
Week five and six – off work
18th Feb Monday, I attend work to relieve manager as he needs day off. I work in the office mainly, doing only a small amount of walking with one crutch and moonboot. Shortly after, foot becomes very sore. Visit doctor up the road from work, explain whole situation, he orders a CT scan.
19th Feb Tuesday, the doctor, upon results of CT scan advises me to keep moonboot on (no ifs or buts) and to rest it for next two weeks solid. Since foot still not looking too good, doctor states that it’s a pity I hadn’t started wearing the moonboot earlier but still thinks I could be looking at a 6 weeks total time for recovery (4 weeks since accident at this stage) which he says is not too bad ultimately.
1st March Friday, I decide to leave moonboot off from here on as pain is becoming more frequent around the ankle and on top of the foot - yet the pain in the cuboid area seems to have diminished somewhat from the sharp stabbing pain experienced earlier on. Over the following weekend I notice foot is distinctly different in colour to my left foot. It is a light purple/reddish pink tone. I notice darker tones on the underside of the foot also. The foot appears as if it has not been receiving enough circulation. Feels tingly or like it is ‘buzzing’. When I try to ‘full weight bear’, I get sharp pain around the ankle and on top, and a pins and needles sensation on the sole. At this stage, foot is significantly swollen to the point where I can’t wear a thong or sandals without significant pain.
4th March visit doctor, writes referral, prescribes Endone for pain, at my request. I book in to see an Orthopaedic surgeon. (6 weeks since accident)