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I dropped about 30 pounds in the year before my Camino. The way I looked at it, I lost more than my pack weight. I’m glad I did. It clearly lessened the pounding my legs and feet took. You are on a good trajectory. Buen Camino.
In the lead up to my Camino in 2015 I lost the equivalent of my pack weight…22 pounds. I’m glad that I did. When I walked I was at 230 pounds (6’-2”). I don’t think I would have had to to complete my Camino, but it helped I’m sure. I lost another 12 on the Camino.
I developed a similar sharp pain in the main joint of my right big toe. I chalked it up to tendinitis. I found applying ibuprofen gel to the joint helped relieve the pain. I also applied the gel right above each kneecap where I was also experiencing some tendinitis pain.
Well, the good news is that two years later I still haven’t needed surgery. In fact, I haven’t needed a cortisone shot for over a year, if not more. I’m still walking a lot. I wear a knee brace, which helps a lot. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m glad your surgery worked out well.
I live in Minnesota, where the mosquito is facetiously called our state bird. If you want to get outdoors in our beautiful summers you have to learn to live with them.
This is the brace I use on my left knee. I have a torn meniscus on that knee. This brace helps quite a bit. I can't tell you whether it's better than what you have.
My wife started down this path two years ago, so we’ve learned quite a bit about breast cancer treatments. Treatment plans are driven by the pathology of the tumor. If my wife’s tumor had been highly estrogen receptive, she wouldn’t have needed chemo. Unfortunately, it was not, so she went...
I am so, so sorry this is happening. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer December of 2017. She is now in the longer term hormone therapy part of treatment. My advice to you, for what it's worth, is to surround yourself with loving support and get yourself educated. I will be sending prayers...
Snoring on the Camino is like gravity. Complaining about it does no good. Getting mad at the source of it is futile. Having expectations of a world without it is unrealistic.
I wear ear buds at night, playing white noise from the White Noise app on my iPhone. A buff helps keep the ear buds in. I’ve slept through freight train decibel snoring with this method.
Here is a good article on the topic. It’s probably worth a visit to a doctor, although it seems unlikely that it should derail your Camino plans.
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bruising-easily-can-be-normal-but-sometimes-signals-an-underlying-problem/
The dreaded norovirus! A doc once told me that if it’s hitting you at both ends it is likely norovirus. Close quarters and communal living arrangements are prime breeding grounds for the bugger.
If it’s hitting you at both ends then it’s likely norovirus. Hydrate a lot. When you are able to start keeping something down, liquid yogurt or liquid kefir is a good start.
I lost about 15kg before my first Camino. 13 of that is still off. I lost 5 more on my Camino. That 5 hasn’t stayed off. I’m planning to lose 5kg more before walking in Feb. Losing the weight is critical for me to be able to walk with comfort.
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