The Blues' prized recruit from the 2008 trade period got off to a horrid start in his new home when he suffered two flare-ups of a stress fracture in his calcaneum or heel bone which surfaced following a pre-season ankle clean-out.
"It's not a common one. Most footballers get navicular problems, but mine was more related to the surgery," Warnock told carltonfc.com.au.
"I didn't get a full range of motion back, which altered the mechanics of my foot, so everything was a bit tight which put strain on some different areas of the foot which weren't used to it.
"Both times it came on all-of-a-sudden. It wasn't like a gradual build-up of pain where you could back off a bit which is what most stress fractures are like.
"We're pretty confident we've got it sorted out now. I just have to take more time with it and build up the running intensity a bit more gradually."
The slow-and-steady approach formulated by the club's medical staff with consultation from experts at the Australian Institute of Sport has the former Fremantle big man confident a Blue debut is not beyond him this year.
He has recently started the revised running program, but he hasn't been idle during his time on the sidelines.
"It has been frustrating, but at the same time it's almost been a bit of a blessing in disguise because I've been able to put on a bit of weight and get the shoulder right," Warnock said of the joint he had operated on late in his last season.
"Spending time in the weights room is one of the few things I've been able to do. When I came to the club I was 93 kg and I was 104 kg when I got weighed last Thursday.
"With the extra weight, though, you've got to learn to run with it as well, so it's something else to take into account.
"The extra size is great and should help me hold my position, but we're very mindful of making sure I can carry it properly."
Warnock is listed as four weeks away from being available for selection with a stint in the VFL to negotiate before he makes his much-anticipated debut for Carlton.
Read the full feature on Robert Warnock by clicking here.
