Did you get medical care on your Camino?

I did get attention to a problem with my heel–it was certainly related to the same frictions, stresses, strains (and odd gait) as cause blisters; but the way I describe it, my heel delaminated–that is, the pad of the heel began separating from the foot until about an inch, inch and a half slice had appeared back to front. I had to hold the foot together with tape and treat with betadyne a couple of times a day, but all the emergency clinics, red cross and other services were kind with checks for infection, medications, assistance and advice. Never any hesitation, always helpful. The wound had healed within a month of the end of the Camino (we walked the full 500 miles from St. Jean to Santiago–but drove to Finesterre) and never left a scar.
ADVICE: The trick, as I was told and practiced, was the 30-40 minute morning ritual bathing of the foot with medicated soap, liberal betadyne, applying a generous layer of paper surgical tape each morning forming almost a cast to hold the foot together, wearing an inner sock–as a result, we were often the last to leave the albergue. Along the way, despite causing considerable delay, we needed to stop almost every time we came to cool running water to bathe the foot for 20 minutes–part of the advice: bathe, re-dress, re-sock, march on. Microbes and discomfort never had a chance! It took devotion, being methodical, honest . . . and a very patient walking companion!

I am an American who hiked the Camino in Sept-Oct 2011. I needed to see a doctor twice, once for tendinitis (shin splints) and the other for an infection in my gums. Both times I was treated with excellent care. Since I had the pilgrim’s passport, I only had to pay for the medication…I was very grateful for the generosity of the doctors along the way.