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  1. P

    Shin Splint Prevention 2023-07-19

    I developed shin splints myself in walking the Chemin / Camino and did not find many public resources available, so I wrote this up.
  2. P

    Shin Splint Prevention

    Penbaysail submitted a new resource: Shin Splint Prevention - Shin Splint Prevention Read more about this resource...
  3. P

    Shin Splints pre-Camino

    Shin splints generally are not bone stress fractures. They’re the result of weak / strained muscles, typically on the front and sides of the calf, that don’t get much specific strengthening, even from walking or hiking. While walking the Camino, I saw many pilgrims afflicted with them, myself...
  4. P

    from SJPP on a Brompton!

    I have a Brompton and have used it for touring. I’ve also cycled the Camino Frances from Pamplona to SDC, though on a mountain bike, so I can probably speak to both. It’s feasible to do the trip on a Brompton, and I think you can find trip reports that others have done. There are guidebooks...
  5. P

    Trying to figure out best bike route

    Yes. I live in Waterville and sailed out of Rockland for years. Now my boating is mostly coastal canoeing and kayaking, typically a bit farther south from Bath to Port Clyde or over in Deer Isle. Your journey sounds exactly like mine - leg injury leading to bicycle purchase. Good luck!
  6. P

    Trying to figure out best bike route

    T The Spanish guidebook that I used clearly marked the paths that were too narrow, steep, or rocky for cycling and indicated the side roads that were more suitable. I regret giving the book away at the end of the trip, and I cannot locate its title in online searches. However, I just noted a...
  7. P

    Shin Splint Help Needed!

    Not trying to diagnose your condition from afar because there can be other causes for your pain, including a tibial stress fracture. However, I just finished a podcast discussing foot and leg injuries on Pilgrim Lost, and the show notes include a page of recommended exercises for calf muscles...
  8. P

    Help with blisters!

    Your blister pattern is not typical (you probably know that). Besides friction, I’d estimate that your skin is becoming weakened by excessive moisture. Suggest trying the following: Non-waterproof shoes that breathe as much as possible. Swab between toes with Povidone Iodine solution for...
  9. P

    Trying to figure out best bike route

    I rode from Pamplona to SdC and have a few observations. I rarely rode on a narrow trail with walkers since it was uncomfortable for both parties. To me, pedestrians always have the right-of-way over cyclists, so it makes for slow going. The main exception were wide dirt roads where there was...
  10. P

    Looking for a Podiatrist Who Has Walked the Camino

    I did in 2017. Walked from Moissac, France to Punta La Reina, and then finished by bike to SdC. 36 year career as podiatrist in Maine, USA.
  11. P

    Checked the “toe issues” threads... this one is not addressed (so far)

    Faye - you do have joint laxity if all your toe joints can be moved opposite to their intended direction. You might have a friend take a video of you barefoot walking, and you learn a lot by watching your gait in very slow motion. Are you more comfortable in flexible shoes or ones that are...
  12. P

    Checked the “toe issues” threads... this one is not addressed (so far)

    A few suggestions: A strong deforming force on the lesser toes in gait is Flexor Digitorum Longus contracting when your foot is fully on the ground. It’s part of the two muscle group (the other being Tibialis Posterior) that resist pronation in mid stance by contracting strongly. At its most...
  13. P

    Medication (Pain Killers).

    Whenever possible, I grabbed a 20-30 minute nap after showering and clothes washing. Amazingly restorative. Both NSAID’s (ibuprofen) and acetaminophen have safety issues that should discourage more than occasional use. Instead, I relied on sleep when I felt beaten down.
  14. P

    chondromalacia patellae

    Chondromalacia is softening of the cartilage on the deep side of the kneecap (patella). It's aggravated by repetitive motion (like a long day of walking or hiking) and when the patella doesn't track properly in the groove on the front of the thigh bone. It would help to get a diagnosis and...
  15. P

    Inter-Metatarsil Bursitis

    Respectfully, I don’t recollect ever using the diagnosis of intermetatarsal bursitis (36 years of a hospital podiatry practice + just retired). My thoughts below are not an attempt to diagnose you from afar, but rather broad treatment suggestions. Most instances of forefoot pain were either...
  16. P

    Monkey Butt. . . Prevention, Care, and Treatment

    I use Calmoseptine paste, available in the U.S. for about $7 for a 2.5 oz. jar (about 70 grams). I always carry a half full jar, and it’s basically a thickened calamine lotion with Menthol + 20% Zinc Oxide. Works on many rashes & skin scrapes. Also works as a sunscreen around the eyes & ears.
  17. P

    León to Santiago by Brompton?

    Your Thorn bike sounds like an ideal choice. I haven’t used an Alsa bus, but FlixBus carried my full sized bike from SdC to Bordeaux, but I had to put it in a plastic bike bag that cost about €5 plus pedal removal & turning handlebars. Buen Camino!
  18. P

    León to Santiago by Brompton?

    I have a Brompton but I used a 26” mountain bike for cycling the Camino. I needed all of the lower gearing, and I wished that I’d had a front shock absorber rather than a rigid fork (it was an old used bike) for some of the trails. Consequently, I stuck to the roads most of the time. The climbs...
  19. P

    Lightweight Costco Down Quilts on Sale

    If you do any sewing, it’s fairly easy to turn a Costco quilt into a quilt that is longer & has a foot box. One of these combined with a sleep sack would be a nice combination. A pattern that I’ve used is https://www.exploreserac.com/make-underquilt-topquilt-6-steps/
  20. P

    Winter Gear Shakedown

    There are differences in Crocs traction, and the Bistro model work better than the regular ones. I wear mine frequently during a Maine winter in snow & ice. I also attach a traction device (Stabilicers or Microspikes).

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