Back Condition

[ITALIS LOPERENA]

Hi everyone! I have picked some dates for next year to do part the Camino Portugues. I have a major concern, I have scoliosis and herniated discs and have noticed that after walking 7-8, miles the next day I get pretty bad back pain. Anybody else with back problems in the forum?? Should I bike the Camino instead of walking? Should I travel light and have my backpack taken to the albergues? Help!!

 

[Tony Jansen]

Both a scoliosis and "bulging discs", all I can say is train, train and train with full backpack.
My wife is a sports massage therapist who kept me up and running during training.
Also, I've split the entire trail in two, this year I'll be walking three weeks from Pamplona to Léon, next year from Léon to Finis Terre, also in three weeks. For me it feels realistic and doable with the condition that my spine is in. I cringe at the notion of walking 6 weeks with a pack.
As always, your mileage may vary.

 

[amorfati1]

Yes,
- yet your first line of inquiry maybe posed to your health care provider/chiro or who else you would see.
If your herniated disk has been a recent event - I'd be mega cautious and only commit to a long pilgrimage if the body/muscles have healed well enough and you feel confidence in your body not to 'torture' itself with a strenuous endeavor of any kind. Herniated disks are no fun whatsoever ...horridly painful.... and was an experience that certainly upgraded my gratitude scale for even the simplest things (being able to walk up/down stairs, to brush ones teeth over a sink while slightly bending forward, having a meal while sitting (vs while standing up with the meal tray poised on an outdoors wall or a shelf) etc etc.
(I can recommend a book by John Sarno MD. "Mind over back pain". - It helped me tremendously - but he seems to be a controversial figure for some folks. Not for me though - his approach worked for me.)
Also have Scoliosis - so, will all that said, yes, i did walk the Caminho Portuguese ...but took it very slow. and rested well. And at times when my body gave me the signals, not my 'mind'. if your body signals you something with the pain after 7-8 miles, why push beyond it? Give yourself plenty of time
And, ideally, one ought to aim to travel light in any case .... no need to have the backpack transported -
Not to mention that the portuguese caminho has those notorious cobble-stone paths and roadways. (Always wondered why they are called Cobble stones? perhaps when walking on those for too long one Hobbles on Cobbles ??)
Be wise, fellow pilgrim ...
very best wishes - and Bom Caminho -

 

[Leaningforward]

Having walked the Frances with two herniated discs in my neck and one in my lower back, I can attest to the importance of a properly fitted and appropriately weighted pack carried on one's hip bones (technically, the iliac crests) -- not carried on one's shoulders. Also, a pair of trekking poles should help guard against slips and falls.

 

[William Garza]

Sometimes the Heart...whispers
sometimes..it demands are absolute, unbending, unyielding and and undying
your heart calls, and sometimes it is called..when both align... it is undeniable

By all means, go to your medical provider and tell them what is going to happen, and ask them how to make it happen.
I suffer from many spine issues, knee issues,other injuries.. yet the call is so clear, so sure, that i have to make this happen.

I cant tell you how to pack or how, but from what i do know, find very supportive footwear, and ask a podiatrist for recommendations, i use some heal cushion/support and find it helps me to stand longer and walk further
each body is unique in injury's, and you know your limits
the sacrifice your wanting to take is humbling in its scope, and worth
I hope you do make it, with heart and spirit filled to overflowing!

With the sage advice and heartfelt information from many of the members here, i will also try to make my Camino
step by step, ever reverent and cognizant of the toll..but to me it is worth the sacrifice.
My Buddy whom im trying to coerce.. ahh get to come with me, suggested biking, which would make the journey easier, but i feel i would miss the better parts, not to mention the uphill sections..

be brave, know your limits, then by all means listen to them!
you will make it, with love for yourself and body, you will begin, and soon enough you will walk into the final few steps!

My regimen is to warm up gently in the morning after trying for a good night's best as i can, comfortable sleep.
wear supportive shoes
lighten the load
stop when you need to, there is no shame in being passed, there is glory and love in your journey, its not a race, its a walk of life
if you need to stop, by all means! it means you can continue later
be gentle with yourself, one step at a time, always forward, will finish the journey
Peace!

 

[ITALIS LOPERENA]

Glad to hear I am not alone in this! Thank you for the great messages! I am excited to do part of the Camino and will talk to my physicians and will do everything I can to be as fit as to have a great experience!

 

[William Garza]

Glad to hear I am not alone in this! Thank you for the great messages! I am excited to do part of the Camino and will talk to my physicians and will do everything I can to be as fit as to have a great experience!

Im in training trying to harden up, and lose some unneeded weight! the back problems iv had since a drunk driver hit me in 99.ugh..
i was surprises by the difference a good pair of shoes, insoles made in my everyday pain etc...
i have to work on my gait, making sure that i'm not wibbling and wobbling down the road, which tears up my back pretty quickly!
the stride is a problem, i tend to start covering ground with a mile eating stride by nature.. and a no no..
the spinal issues are not insurmountable, just kind of a object to be dealt with before all and with the others no?

You are far braver than I, as you have dealt with scoliosis all your life, and then the herniated discs on top of it all!
May you be Blessed in the Walk!, it wont be easy, but for the things you have dealt with before, this will be another Victory

 

[ITALIS LOPERENA]

Im in training trying to harden up, and lose some unneeded weight! the back problems iv had since a drunk driver hit me in 99.ugh..
i was surprises by the difference a good pair of shoes, insoles made in my everyday pain etc...
i have to work on my gait, making sure that i'm not wibbling and wobbling down the road, which tears up my back pretty quickly!
the stride is a problem, i tend to start covering ground with a mile eating stride by nature.. and a no no..
the spinal issues are not insurmountable, just kind of a object to be dealt with before all and with the others no?

You are far braver than I, as you have dealt with scoliosis all your life, and then the herniated discs on top of it all!
May you be Blessed in the Walk!, it wont be easy, but for the things you have dealt with before, this will be another Victory

I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 15. Didn't really have any problems until my mid 20's. I am a pretty active person and sometimes forget and there are activities I cannot do as before. I end up finding that out when I get an episode of pain. The Camino is something I have been wanting to do for a while but I will prepare as much as I can to be able to get to Santiago de Compostela! I think about getting there everyday!

 

[sriyantra]

Glad to hear I am not alone in this! Thank you for the great messages! I am excited to do part of the Camino and will talk to my physicians and will do everything I can to be as fit as to have a great experience!

I have spondylosis, a form of arthritis, and have not had a pain free day with my back in 15 years. My husband had major spinal reconstruction last year. Our advice would be the same as many others. Plan your Camino. Start training early and slowly, increasing gradually. There will be times when you need to back off for a few days or a couple of weeks, but keep trying. Find the right gear for you. Consider having a small bag taken ahead each night. Talk to experts - mine was our local doctor and a remedial massage therapist. I know we will have pain and if we need to bus or taxi that will be an option we might need to take, but we figure we will at least be out there trying and won't wonder for the rest of our lives whether we could have done it or not.

Most of all hold on to your dream and ask the universe to support and guide you.

We are having a Bon Voyage Pilgrim Afternoon Tea Party today. Only 9 sleeps to go.

 

[Bajaracer]

Like I've said to others, tailor YOUR Camino to YOUR abilities and limitations, if it means using a bag transport service, (which is still cheaper than most of those wheeled devices) or a bus or taxi, use it! Life still goes on after the Camino, no sense in injuring yourself further if you don't have to.

 

[William Garza]

"I am a pretty active person and sometimes forget and there are activities I cannot do as before. "

I tend to forget when someone is in dire need, weigh the consequences against the pain to come..and then usually decide the sacrifice is worth it.

inside i'm still the same person i was 25 years ago..lol, the feeling of that boundless energy, of infinite horizons and of the innocence before the fall,
all that is stoppered up inside like some fine vintage that i will open up on the Camino
what a heady brew to drink, to laugh to love and dance on the road of life again, if only for a little while... before the reality of it all sets its teeth

I know you will make it!
the heart can overcome any and all obstacles before it, in the right time and measure.
and that is my usual pitfall, getting the forge of my heart all fired up, hammering the will into the shape of"it"
that, that which will carry me across the miles and hours. and to suffer gladly the toil, the pain... of the circumstance of my choice.
that is the cross we bear to live free throughout, as well as within these mortal flawed and painful shells.

Be of good cheer
gird your courage to the sticking place and go forth unto the Road,
to see
to do
to be

Be ever so Blessed
Peace

 

[Tony Jansen]

Forgot one thing that my wife is about to smack me over the head about ☺
Strengthen your core. Go to the gym and train those pecs, abs and all related muscles. Have a physical therapist to put together a training program for it. Most will concentrate on your back muscles, but your core is equally important for carrying a backpack etc.
Hope this helps.

 

[ITALIS LOPERENA]

Forgot one thing that my wife is about to smack me over the head about ☺
Strengthen your core. Go to the gym and train those pecs, abs and all related muscles. Have a physical therapist to put together a training program for it. Most will concentrate on your back muscles, but your core is equally important for carrying a backpack etc.
Hope this helps.

I went to my back specialist recently and he referred me again to physical therapy. This time I will bring up to the therapist that I'm doing the Camino to see what they recommend. Thank you so much to you and your wife for all the advice!

 

[peregrina2000]

I know scoliosis and arthritis are totally different conditions than run of the mill lower back pain, but I would assume that for any back pain the structure of the backpack is essential. When I walk with my mountainsmith ghost pack (about 18 pounds when packed, though I swear every year I will make it lighter), I have not a twinge of back pain, because the pack transfers all weight of the pack to my hips. If I walk with a light daypack, just a few pounds, within an hour my back is crying out.

So I'd be careful if you decide to have your good pack transported and then walk with a small unstructured day pack because that might be worse for your back and your pain. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[jmcarp]

Hi everyone! I have picked some dates for next year to do part the Camino Portugues. I have a major concern, I have scoliosis and herniated discs and have noticed that after walking 7-8, miles the next day I get pretty bad back pain. Anybody else with back problems in the forum?? Should I bike the Camino instead of walking? Should I travel light and have my backpack taken to the albergues? Help!!

I have both of those conditions, although my herniated disks don't bother me much unless I do something really stupid. The main back problem I encountered in training and on the Camino was a sharp pain in my mid-back which was caused by my slight scoliosis pinching a nerve. This pain seemed to occur after walking perhaps 2-3 km, and was quickly relieved by removing my backpack and resting for 5 or 10 minutes. The pain would continue to come back as I walked, so I took a lot of breaks. One thing I did realize, though, was that the pain occurred more often when walking with my trekking poles, leading me to believe that the repetitive motion of using the poles, in combination with the weight and fit of my backpack, was somehow putting a stress on that portion of my back since using the trekking poles while walking without the backpack doesn't cause the pain, and using the backpack. Since your avatar says you'll be making the Camino in June 2015, you have plenty of time to evaluate different combinations of backpacks, trekking poles, etc as you train.

You have received good advice from others in this thread, so all I can do is repeat the absolute necessity of getting a properly-sized backpack and adjusting it properly each time you put it on. Make sure the overall length is sized for your torso length, and that you a) place the hip belt right on middle of your hip bone, b) that you properly adjust the shoulder straps and the load leveler straps. And use the sternum strap at all times. One other problem regarding the backpack that I discovered about halfway through my Camino was that as I lost weight, I could no longer adjust my hip belt, which meant that the pack slipped down too far, putting more weight on my shoulders, which in turn stressed my back issues. So be sure that in addition to a properly sized and fitted backpack, be sure that the hip belt has sufficient slack to adjust it in case you loose weight along the Camino. I eventually solved my hip belt problem, at least temporarily, by duct-taping a pair of socks on the inside of the hip belt. And, if all else fails, you do have the ability to transport your pack ahead if necessary.

Good luck in your planning. training, and on the trail itself.

Buen Camino,
Jim