A Delayed Start

Posted on by Ashley

I’ve my Appalachian Trail start date back by a few weeks!

I was having some mild left lateral ankle pain with each step for about 1.5 or 2 weeks. I thought at first it might just be a little sore from the new shoes (Altra Lone Peak 4.0) and hiking more with more weight on my back (20+ lbs) during practice hikes. Not entirely concerned at the beginning, I began RICE-ing (rest, ice, compression, elevation) my ankle and laid off on the hiking to let it rest. When the pain didn’t subside after a few days of rest, I began to get incredibly nervous about the constant reproducible pain with my start date coming up so soon (original start date was March 21st).

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Yesterday's short hike in Tallahassee, FL. I hit the trail in less than 2 weeks! Have some ankle pain where I had a fracture 5 years ago when I used to play roller derby so I'm hoping a little RICE-ing (Rest, Ice, Compression bandage, elevation and NSAID pain relievers) clears that up and that it's just some arthritis from the fracture and not something with my new shoes or a tendon. I think it's just the bone though! My pack is fully loaded with 4 or 5 days worth of food and 1 liter of water. It weighed in around 21lbs when I left the house- good practice as I think my pack will be just over this on the trail. Ashleyhikes.home.blog Thetrek.co/author/ashley-harrison #AT2019 #appalachiantrailprep #lakejacksonmounds #hike

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I don’t have insurance but I decided to bite the bullet and I got it checked on March 12th. The x-ray didn’t show any fractures (I didn’t expect to see any) but they said it could be either a tendon injury, a stress reaction, or a stress fracture.

No obvious fracture, of course! Can you tell my toes aren’t painted?

The PA I saw told me it didn’t matter what the cause was, that the treatment was the same for each issue: going into a walking boot for 6 weeks. Confusingly he also told me he wouldn’t tell me not to go on my hike. He did suggest at least switching out my shoes, continuing to RICE my ankle, and bringing the ankle brace on my trip. I spent that day mulling over the confusing advice thinking, Okay I guess it’s a go then! Still the next day I felt uneasy as I walked around the store having pain with each step. My dad phoned his neighbor who was also an orthopedic PA for me to ask his advice. I cringed and apologized for bothering him for his advice. I felt rather desperate. He heard me out, was very kind and told me how he’d done parts of the Appalachian Trail himself, how it was incredibly tough, and how he would suggest going into a boot for as long as I could while pushing my start date back to heal up if time allowed. Despite not wanting to delay my hike, I felt his advice was what I needed, and am very appreciative of him for it.

Per the PA’s suggestion, I started to wear a boot and/or an ankle brace if I was having pain. The pain has gotten a lot better already, and I haven’t been wearing the boot this week, even. My ankle for the most part is pain-free until I over-do it and then it starts to feel tight or sore. I was able to work out on the stair climber and the elliptical pain free a week ago (low-impact cross-training) and will resume hiking this week with my brace on and my new shoes that have more support.

Here is an update:

It was a tough call, but here are some of the silver linings:

Trouble maker (on left)
  • Having the chance to heal to have a better shot on the trail
  • Learning those shoes may not be the shoes that work for me before getting on the trail and getting an injury there
  • Having a chance for the weather to warm up, even if only marginally before starting my hike
  • More time to prepare for my hike

I’m hoping that by next week I’ll be good to go and head to Springer Mountain, GA. I can’t wait to get going out there! Wish me luck!

Ashley H.

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