Sometimes things just don’t go my way. My follow-up with Dr. Rudzki yesterday was supposed to be an “all clear – just be careful.” Alas, it was not to be.

The bone I broke is the fifth metatarsal of my left foot. It happened when my foot twisted while walking across an uneven portion of a baseball diamond, from the field into a baseline that was about an inch lower. The fracture, just a little hairline crack, was by the protuberance on the base of the bone. The good news is that it was not displaced – no change in the shape of the bone, nothing chipped off – and it was not a Jones fracture (which commonly occur at the narrowest part of the shaft). Those take the longest to heal.

It is so much better than it was that I was certain Dr. Rudzki would say I can go back to my exercise routine, which includes weight-bearing aerobic exercise four times a week along with one or two strenuous abs workouts and at least two upper body strength routines with weights. I thought he would say to ease my way back in ...

Well, he probably will say that – when the time comes! But not yet. I still have some tenderness around the site of the fracture. And ... it seems these fractures typically take six to eight weeks to heal. I am now permitted to spend some time on the recumbent bike (which I had been doing already in anticipation) but still no weight-bearing exercise. Not even squats! I thought as long as I stand still it wouldn’t hurt, but apparently that’s not so – it’s not the stepping but the flexing that would keep the bone from healing properly.

No hikes. I can walk the dog and go shopping in hiking boots. I also need to wear my boots at the gym. Not my favorite ... But at least iti's not that awful walking boot I had to cart around on our trip out west.

I would like to be totally healed by Thanksgiving. I’m going to do as told.

Well, sort of ...