- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2019, 2020
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Thank you! So good to hear you’re 3 Camino’s in with tendinitis - gives me great hope and courage. I’ve read anti inflammatories can be counter beneficial. Is this your experience?I have chronic Achilles tendonitis and have managed 3 Caminos so far. (though not painless)
I would go to see a Physio (Fisio) in Burgos. They are great in Spain.
They will advise on treatment.
For me it usually involves:
Stretching. Physio will show you how.
Strapping. The Physio can show you how to do yourself.
Icing 2 or 3 times a day.
Elevation at breaks.
Careful use of Painkillers and anti-inflammatories.
With care you'll be fine.
Lots of Fisios in Burgos. Just google "fisioterapia burgos"
Maybe call ahead to book an appointment.
They are good at dealing with Pilgrim's ailments.
'Healing' is unlikely. As you are still walking.
But you can 'manage' it, and try to minimise the discomfort.
Thank you! So good to hear you’re 3 Camino’s in with tendinitis - gives me great hope and courage. I’ve read anti inflammatories can be counter beneficial. Is this your experience?
No, they help. For me at least.
I take panadol + nurofen every 4 hours whilst walking. (my GP's advice)
Nurofen I try to take with food.
The effect starts to wear off at 3 hrs 30 mins! I notice the difference.......
But I suggest you get professional advice from a Pharmacia or Physio, for your own condition.
Sounds a great tonic! I’ll keep my eyes peeled.Against tandonitis, comfrey (consuelda in spanish) is efficient, either as a balm or oil.
But I do not know how to find such a remedy on the camino. I never walk without a little pot of comfrey balm.
Thanks Michelle I’ve been doing that exactly but there’s plenty of conflicting opinions. I thought I’d check in with ‘lived experience’!If wanting to get on the healing trail, I might suggest taking the Advice that Robo has provided and start searching the internet for what you need. That may help get you to Burgos in better form.
Buen Camino
I also had tendonitis in both achilles for last 3 Caminos. What worked for me at 62 yrs old and 175 lbs: Took 600mg ibuprofen 3x per day, 0600, 1400, 2200, always with lots of water and some food so as not to irritate stomach lining. Applied Voltaren gel to ankles 2x per day, 0600 and 1800. Drank profuse amounts of water throughout the day. My calf muscles were too tight from lack of stretching over the years. Performed various stretching exercises each morning and throughout the day. Used a roller to deep massage the calves several times a day. When this first happened in 2019, I slowed down to half distance for 2 days, took a day off to get better innersoles in Leon and do some easy sightseeing. 2 more half days, and then got back up to 40km/day. Try to walk without pounding and do shorter smoother paces. Stop anytime discomfort acts up and stretch; change the gait a bit. I always use trekking poles to full advantage 100% of the trek!!! Reduce the junk you carry in your pack. Got mine down to 10 lbs base weight, 12.5 lbs including water and food. Per other advice in this blog, you should immediately see a clinician for advice tailored to your specific situation.I have chronic Achilles tendonitis and have managed 3 Caminos so far. (though not painless)
I would go to see a Physio (Fisio) in Burgos. They are great in Spain.
They will advise on treatment.
For me it usually involves:
Stretching. Physio will show you how.
Strapping. The Physio can show you how to do yourself.
Icing 2 or 3 times a day.
Elevation at breaks.
Careful use of Painkillers and anti-inflammatories.
With care you'll be fine.
Lots of Fisios in Burgos. Just google "fisioterapia burgos"
Maybe call ahead to book an appointment.
They are good at dealing with Pilgrim's ailments.
'Healing' is unlikely. As you are still walking.
But you can 'manage' it, and try to minimise the discomfort.
Thank you so much. This is really helpful. Just one more question(I’ll be definitely following your advice) - does the careful gentle walking aggravate your tendinitis and make it worse?I also had tendonitis in both achilles for last 3 Caminos. What worked for me at 62 yrs old and 175 lbs: Took 600mg ibuprofen 3x per day, 0600, 1400, 2200, always with lots of water and some food so as not to irritate stomach lining. Applied Voltaren gel to ankles 2x per day, 0600 and 1800. Drank profuse amounts of water throughout the day. My calf muscles were too tight from lack of stretching over the years. Performed various stretching exercises each morning and throughout the day. Used a roller to deep massage the calves several times a day. When this first happened in 2019, I slowed down to half distance for 2 days, took a day off to get better innersoles in Leon and do some easy sightseeing. 2 more half days, and then got back up to 40km/day. Try to walk without pounding and do shorter smoother paces. Stop anytime discomfort acts up and stretch; change the gait a bit. I always use trekking poles to full advantage 100% of the trek!!! Reduce the junk you carry in your pack. Got mine down to 10 lbs base weight, 12.5 lbs including water and food. Per other advice in this blog, you should immediately see a clinician for advice tailored to your specific situation.
Are you stretching regularly? I had a very painful Achilles tendon for over a year. Turns out my problem was caused by a tight calf muscle.I have a mild yet uncomfortable tendon issue in my left Achilles area. With ibuprofen it quite a down and I can walk ok. I’m only coming into Burgos in the next couple of days and want to make it to de Santiago. Any advice from seasoned travellers on maintaining or healing () the problem much appreciated. Am resting today and again in Burgos for a day. Thanks.
…I will be from here on in! Thanks Scott - can I ask which calf stretches work best for you?Are you stretching regularly? I had a very painful Achilles tendon for over a year. Turns out my problem was caused by a tight calf muscle.
A massage should relax the muscle. Regular stretching (3-4 times / day while walking) will keep the calf muscles long, which takes pressure off the tendon. It worked for me. YMMV. Good luck.
Are you stretching regularly? I had a very painful Achilles tendon for over a year. Turns out my problem was caused by a tight calf muscle.
A massage should relax the muscle. Regular stretching (3-4 times / day while walking) will keep the calf muscles long, which takes pressure off the tendon. It worked for me. YMMV. Good luck.
I usually do a strong forward lean with the heel on the floor. One foot then the other. Rinse and repeat.…I will be from here on in! Thanks Scott - can I ask which calf stretches work best for you?
One reason why the following works for some peopleJust in case you're wearing zero-drop shoes.... they gave me tendonitis. Once I replaced them with nice and cushy 3-5mm shoes, tendonitis be gone!
Possibly look at buying gel heel wedges as it reduces the overstretching of the Achilles tendons which is one of the mechanical reasons for Achilles tendonitis.
Seriously? That quickly wow. I have orthotics which were meant to help. Will see a physio today and then get on with it.Just in case you're wearing zero-drop shoes.... they gave me tendonitis. Once I replaced them with nice and cushy 3-5mm shoes, tendonitis be gone!
Did you keep going without further injury?I had severe pain on my ankle related to my achilles tendon on one of my first caminos - I went too far too fast early on. But besides regular massage of voltarol i found that putting in gel heel inserts into my boots helped hugely and stopped the problem from reoccurring. Hope this helps, buen camino!
Yeah i was much better for the rest of that camino (a further 2-3 weeks) , still needed to take care of it, tried to stretch as much as i could etc but yeah i could walk without pain.Did you keep going without further injury?
I am only up to Burgos so fingers crossed. Did you take anything for the pain?Yeah i was much better for the rest of that camino (a further 2-3 weeks) , still needed to take care of it, tried to stretch as much as i could etc but yeah i could walk without pain.
Good idea. Heading to Burgos today for a physio appointment.Possibly look at buying gel heel wedges as it reduces the overstretching of the Achilles tendons which is one of the mechanical reasons for Achilles tendonitis. Seeing a Physio now allows a professional diagnosis and accurate treatment to keep you going, identity if it's an upper, mid or heel attachment issue and not make the tendon worse by damaging it more . Good luck and Buen Camino.
That's wonderful news, Tess. I hope you find quick relief!Heading to Burgos today for a physio appointment.
No. Careful, gentle slower walking is easier on the tendons. I think it is the impact from coming down hard and impulse from strong push offs that exacerbate. Adding heel pads inside the shoes may also help as calf doesn’t have to extend as muchThank you so much. This is really helpful. Just one more question(I’ll be definitely following your advice) - does the careful gentle walking aggravate your tendinitis and make it worse?
Yes, I bought the wrong shoes (Altra) for my camino before consulting with a podiatristSeriously? That quickly wow. I have orthotics which were meant to help. Will see a physio today and then get on with it.
I too walked my first Camino with a sore/tender Achilles tendon. I agree with most of the advice that I've read so far: warm up in the morning by stretching before walking, install "heel lifts" in shoes, use 2 hiking poles, take breaks and monitor the Achilles as one walks, massage the Achilles during after walking, etc... The usual common sense stuff. I do have one disagreement. I do not take "pain" medicine such as Ibuprofen during the day/walking. It only masks the pain without promoting healing. From my perspective, it is actually a bad thing to do. The "pain" medicine masks the pain/discomfort resulting in my walking more when I should be slowing down or taking care of it. I would only use pain medicine (pills or cream) after I'm done with walking for the day. Of course, you should consult a professional on your situation. Best wishes and buen camino.I have a mild yet uncomfortable tendon issue in my left Achilles area. With ibuprofen it quite a down and I can walk ok. I’m only coming into Burgos in the next couple of days and want to make it to de Santiago. Any advice from seasoned travellers on maintaining or healing () the problem much appreciated. Am resting today and again in Burgos for a day. Thanks.
I just did that to get ready for the Camino and I have been battling Achilles tendinitis even with physical therapy with no results! This helps me so much!!Just in case you're wearing zero-drop shoes.... they gave me tendonitis. Once I replaced them with nice and cushy 3-5mm shoes, tendonitis be gone!
Me too!!Yes, I bought the wrong shoes (Altra) for my camino before consulting with a podiatristthey felt wonderful.... at the store.
…that’s interesting. I’ve been to the physio and had treatment and for the moment, I’m not taking anything to gauge how it’s healing. I think there’s some progress - I read that resting as much as you can for the first 3-4 days is very important. I’m doing just that soI too walked my first Camino with a sore/tender Achilles tendon. I agree with most of the advice that I've read so far: warm up in the morning by stretching before walking, install "heel lifts" in shoes, use 2 hiking poles, take breaks and monitor the Achilles as one walks, massage the Achilles during after walking, etc... The usual common sense stuff. I do have one disagreement. I do not take "pain" medicine such as Ibuprofen during the day/walking. It only masks the pain without promoting healing. From my perspective, it is actually a bad thing to do. The "pain" medicine masks the pain/discomfort resulting in my walking more when I should be slowing down or taking care of it. I would only use pain medicine (pills or cream) after I'm done with walking for the day. Of course, you should consult a professional on your situation. Best wishes and buen camino.
What shoes did you switch to? I am going to find new ones as I do not walk the Camino for another month.I just did that to get ready for the Camino and I have been battling Achilles tendinitis even with physical therapy with no results! This helps me so much!!
Actually ibuprofen is an anti inflammatory in the higher doses (for me 600mg) in addition to being a pain relieverI too walked my first Camino with a sore/tender Achilles tendon. I agree with most of the advice that I've read so far: warm up in the morning by stretching before walking, install "heel lifts" in shoes, use 2 hiking poles, take breaks and monitor the Achilles as one walks, massage the Achilles during after walking, etc... The usual common sense stuff. I do have one disagreement. I do not take "pain" medicine such as Ibuprofen during the day/walking. It only masks the pain without promoting healing. From my perspective, it is actually a bad thing to do. The "pain" medicine masks the pain/discomfort resulting in my walking more when I should be slowing down or taking care of it. I would only use pain medicine (pills or cream) after I'm done with walking for the day. Of course, you should consult a professional on your situation. Best wishes and buen camino.
In case it helps, I switched from Altras to wide, New Balance 880 v12 Fresh Foam.... the greater heel drop was like night and day!.... if you live by a NB store, they have amazing foot scanners.What shoes did you switch to? I am going to find new ones as I do not walk the Camino for another month.
I have been seeing a physical therapist for the past two months. And they have not even mentioned my footwear. I was the one that brought it up to them. Sigh.. time for a new therapist. Thanks so much!In case it helps, I switched from Altras to wide, New Balance 880 v12 Fresh Foam.... the greater heel drop was like night and day!.... if you live by a NB store, they have amazing foot scanners.
I agree with @Lurch, seeing a specialist is the best advice because they can analyse your feet mechanics.
I saw a podiatrist I trust, the best spent $75I have been seeing a physical therapist for the past two months. And they have not even mentioned my footwear. I was the one that brought it up to them. Sigh.. time for a new therapist. Thanks so much!
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?