Two weeks and three days since I've been off the trail for my injured foot. I'm still on a roller coaster of emotion. Today I went to visit Arizona at Donner Pass. He wasn't at the trailhead when I got there, but I did run into Brett and Lee! WOW hadn't seen them since Kennedy Meadows! Met them at Mt. Laguna and leap-frogged with them for weeks. Seeing them brought back so many good memories of SoCal.
I decided to walk south on the PCT to meet Arizona. I've only been cleared by the PT to walk, not carry a pack and not hike.
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| Probably NOT what my physical therapist had in mind when he said I could go for a short walk. |
The wildflowers were nothing like I'd seen since I'd entered the Sierra. It was as if in these few weeks that I've been off the trail, everything has exploded in bloom. And I'd been missing it. I walked slowly, one careful step at a time, pausing to look at every single flower.
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| Lilies. |
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| Yippee!!! Thimbleberries!! I haven't seen them in so long!!! |
Sitting on a cold rock at the end of a switchback (where I realized that I should not go any further even though I really adore climbing switchbacks- and no I'm not kidding), I wiggled my toes in the breeze. My optimism slipped away when I realized this was the first day my foot didn't feel better than it had on the previous day. Guess I over did it walking around too much the previous day.
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| Oh foot, why are you causing me all this trouble? |
I sat on that rock for over an hour thinking. Funny, when I was on the PCT, I never just sat and thought. There was always something to do- eat, foot care, eat some more, look at maps, have another snack. But now that I am off the trail, time creeps by so slowly. I have more time to think.
I've been off trail for 17 days that have felt like the longest 17 days ever. And what have I done with all this time?!?! I still don't have an answer for why this injury happened and how to prevent it from happening again. I still have doubts about the diagnosis- is it really an inflamed joint (like my physical therapist says), or could it possibly be a stress fracture? I'm incredibly frustrated trying to navigate the insurance and health care system. And all I have to do with my time is to solve this problem, and I haven't figured it out and my foot still isn't better.
Finally Arizona rounded the bend and my downward hate spiral of self-loathing and despair came to an abrupt halt. It was time for burgers and ice cream and laughing about this crazy life on (and off) the PCT. I never expected my journey to be like this. But I just keep on going, finding ways to stay positive. Maybe after this is over, I will figure out what I am learning from all of this.
Good luck Joan, this sounds incredibly frustrating but its all part of the journey, I suppose! I hope that you continue to heal!
ReplyDeleteThanks Megan! I'm hanging in there and the foot is feeling better today again. Still healing for a few more weeks...
DeleteWhat you are experiencing is like the ups-and-downs of life. Flow with each phase. You'll make it! Your body (including that naughty foot) is designed to heal itself. Listen to what it tells you. (Sounds like that advise is redundant.)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Yes, I'll make it. I agree about listening to the foot. While on the PCT, I'd joke about how different body parts would talk- especially the stomach, feet and legs. Others said they had conversations with their bodies too. Definitely listening!
DeleteGosh , injuries are slow to heal sometimes . I hope it is not too much of a set back and that it gets back on track. I too am carrying a foot injury, an ankle injury ...probably arthritis aggravated from all the training I've been doing but you never realise how important those feet things are until you get a foot problem . I'm off in a few days to start my biggest walk ever . Nowhere near as long as yours ...only a 20 dayer on the Larapinta Trail in Central Aust . I am a bit worried about how the body will go and I need to carry a fair bit of weight but am rather inspired by those around me and by your determination . Keep it up and keep healing . Steve
ReplyDeleteThey sure can be slow to heal, especially ones like this where I didn't stop right away and just kept going, no ice and not enough ibuprofen which could have helped. Ah well I didn't know I was causing more damage, being so used to always just hiking through pain and having it go away. No I know better.
DeleteSo true the appreciation one gains for ones feet after something like this. I'm definitly resolving to be better to my body and to try to listen to it more.
WOW the Larapinta Trail for 20 days that sounds incredible!!! I'm so glad to hear that you are still going to be going on your trip despite your injury. I'll be rooting for you. Let me know how it goes!! :)
Remember: " The journey is the reward." Good luck and Hi to Arizona.
ReplyDeleteThanks SlowBro, I try to repeat that to myself several times a day. :)
DeleteArizona says hi back to you.