Where Have I Been Hiding?

As a general rule, I’m a big personality. “Larger than life is just the right size!” to quote the fabulous Noxeema Jackson. When I go quiet, there’s a good chance I am struggling with something.

So how does that apply to a hiking blog? One fearsome word: INJURIES.

Expectedly, my 2022 AT thru hike beat me up a bit. I was envious of my friends and trail family as I watched them bounce back and run marathons shortly after they reached Katahdin. Such was not my fate. I had to finally turn my attention to a massive infection that occurred early on in my hike and never went away. I returned to my friends at the physical therapy office for a couple of months of work to deal with some issues in my hips and hamstring. I did not just lay on the couch, but comparing my new activity level to what it had been like on the AT, it sure felt like it some days.

Six months after I finished the AT, I tackled the shorter New England Trail. The infection was mostly at bay, and the PT worked its magic. I worked with a trainer, the awesome Lee Welton over at Trailside Fitness so I was as close to fighting shape as I could get. The logistics of the NET involved a lot of day hiking, so I traveled ‘fast’ and light to ease the beating my still recovering body took. After that trail, my body showed no sign of returning damage, though the infection remained.

Now I lead a fairly active life. I am on my feet a lot. I am the person says, ‘oh we can totally walk there.’ Suddenly, last fall, I couldn’t. Being on my feet hurt. Walking short distances hurt. If I worked out, I hurt, if I didn’t work out, I hurt. I didn’t even like walking around in my house, let alone get into the woods. I will always maintain that physical injuries are so much harder on the mind than the body, and this was no exception. I turned to Morgan Brosnihan with Blaze Physio (another great hiker resource), and she set me up with some basic mobility exercises that helped incrementally.

What was going on?

How could I go from hiking in the Whites with a heavy pack to barely making it to the end of the block in such a short time? Morgan was suspicious of tendon or nerve issues. So off to the health insurance carousel I went to get some diagnostics.

And around we go…
To see soft tissue, you need an MRI, to get an MRI, you need a referral. To get a referral, I had to visit my PCP, who wanted an Xray, not an MRI. Fine. Insurance said I had to go to a specialist before I could get the MRI. Fine. All of this took so much time, and patience is not a virtue I possess. Fortunately, stubbornness is. Seriously though, the logistics of a thru hike are less complicated.

Finally, I saw a specialist. I found out just before my 2022 hike that I had bone spurs in my spine. What I have now learned is that I am really good at growing them. All over my feet and ankles. Part of the mystery solved, but we also discovered some issues, possibly related to that pesky infection, that will require further testing.

I was ‘rewarded’ with an aggressive round of PT and some medication that is tackling the pain.

Most importantly, I am officially cleared to go hiking again. YES! My next blog I will tell you all about my 2024 adventures.

Moral of the story:Hiking friends, take care of your bodies. Advocate for yourselves in a big loud way. And if you have the tenacity to complete a 2000 miler, you have what it takes to navigate the healthcare system.

Don’t let it get in the way of your goals. Ever.