#dummy brain

I have a cracked metatarsal, not metacarpal. The metatarsals are the bones in the feet that connect your phalanges (toes) to your tarsals (ankle bones which sounds weird), and metacarpals are the bones in the hands that connect the phalanges (fingers) to the carpals (wrist bones).

Pics for reference:

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(img source)

Anyway, onto what's going on.

My doctor called while I was at work, and the first thing he said was "you have a broken metatarsal." Then, as he started explaining it, he said "cracked." I'm fairly sure that, since I can move all of my toes, it's simply a fracture and not a break. I'm sure he meant to say fractured to start with, though.

The problem is: we have no idea how I could have possibly cracked it.

My theory is that it's a stress fracture. These typically happen as a result of repetitive actions, like jumping. In my case, I believe that working for two weeks straight without a day off, and the day I worked 10 hours, is what led to my fracture. I typically work 5-6 hours a day, depending on what hours I work.

My doctor told me that the radiologist said that the fracture is healing well. I recently bought a pair of shoes with a stiff outsole (apparently that's what it's called), and I've been wearing them when I'm not working. He told me to actually keep wearing those shoes because it'll benefit my foot more?? I just bought them because they're cute, honestly. He told me again today to keep wearing shoes like them, and he didn't give me any other specific instructions. I'm going to call tomorrow and talk to him about whether he wants me to continue taking Naproxen or go back to simply taking ibuprofen.

Anyway, I don't know anything about feet except they look weird. I've never broken or fractured a bone in my life up until now, so I was a bit surprised. I'm usually spraining and dislocating things.