I visited the orthopedist today. He, like the general practitioner, suspects I have a stress fracture. The treatment is simple but time consuming: avoid the activity that caused the issue, and other high-impact activities, for at least 6 weeks. Then take another 6+ weeks for a gradual return to the activity with increasing intensity. I have already completed two weeks of rest at this point, so I have perhaps 4+ weeks to go.
This approach will take a few months before I should resume my hike in earnest. That takes me to Jan-Feb, the dead of winter.
I also need to consider how to approach the remaining 850+ miles of my hike: return to my stopping point and continue south? Or head north from Springer Mountain, Georgia, with the rest of the crowd next spring?
I’m not sure yet what to do. But, on a positive note, I do have plenty of time to think about it…