"This little piggy stayed home..."

It is so interesting to me how every time I try to exercise or get into better shape - I run into a myriad of obstacles along the way. Generally, the most common one I encounter is my own laziness. "You don't really want to get up that early do you? You will have to shower again. You will have to wash that many more clothes. You don't have time today." Or, my favorite...PILLOW. BECKONS. ME.

I have been trying hard to develop a routine of working out and started going to the gym a few times a week for the past week now. (I know, don't fall of your computer chair.) I have been doing some weights and some jogging on the treadmill. I guess that one day I just jogged a little bit too hard or something (we're talking a whole 5.5 mph max pace that many of you use as a warm-up speed). My right big toe area began to hurt me a lot. I slowed down and was only able to barely walk for the rest of the time.

It was quite painful for the next few days and then I finally asked Greg to check it out. He, being the smart physical therapist that he is, concluded that I may have sesamoiditis (inflammation of the tendon running into the big toe due to irritation of the small sesamoid bones that are embedded in that tendon).
He sent me to a podiatrist the next day who conformed this diagnosis. He did an ultrasound and in fact could clearly see how one of my sesamoid bones is fractured into 2 pieces.



Here's what my treatment regimen includes: NO JOGGING for at least 3 weeks, a padded orthotic to decrease pressure to this area, and to take anti-inflammatory drugs. Well, being told by a medical professional that I can't go jogging was actually good news to me (and my pillow). It may not however be good news to my waistline. So, here's to tryin' to hit those weight machines more frequently.