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It’s been a couple of months since my last update, and a lot has happened in my recovery journey. Like many parts of this process, it’s been a mix of waiting, learning, and adjusting plans.
After receiving my MRI results, I decided to pause physical therapy until I had a chance to review them with my physician. The appointment was a month out, and that wait felt long, especially when you just want answers and a plan.
When the day finally came, my physician explained that while there had been progress, the MRI showed the crack in my bone hadn’t fully healed yet. He recommended that I consult with a surgeon to better understand my options. I was honest about how I felt: I really didn’t want to have surgery unless it was absolutely necessary. Thankfully, he supported that, and we agreed to wait another six weeks before making any decisions. But to still go ahead with the surgical consultation so we’d be prepared just in case.
The surgical consultation happened quickly, which was a relief. The surgeon examined my foot and reviewed the MRI, then gave me the best news I could hope for: surgery wasn’t needed! That same afternoon, I went to physical therapy for the first time in weeks. My therapist went over the surgeon’s notes and gave me new exercises to help build strength and stability. We also set up a follow-up appointment for the next month to keep tracking progress.
Not long after, we took a trip to Colorado to visit some national parks. Hiking is one of my favorite activities, and I wasn’t sure how much I’d be able to do.
We kept the hikes easy and short, making sure not to push too hard. The longest hike we did was around Bear Lake, about four miles total. I brought my compression neoprene ankle sleeve, which I wore during our hikes and it was great for support and comfort.
Back at home, I’ve stayed active with weight lifting, Pilates, and stationary biking. These activities let me move and build strength without putting too much stress on my injury. I haven’t tried running yet — and I probably won’t until later this year. Traditionally, I kick off my running season with a local 5K race. This year, I signed up but walked the entire event instead of running. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a really peaceful experience and a good reminder that participation can look different during recovery and that’s okay.
If you’re recovering from an injury, I hope my journey reminds you that it’s okay to adjust your expectations, seek second opinions, and celebrate even the small milestones like a short hike, a new exercise, or a peaceful walk through a race you used to run.