Anyone trek The Camino with plates and screws in their ankle?

[elviento]

I'm particularly curious if one experienced any chaffing of skin against the screws?

I have a great orthopedic surgeon who will give me advice, but I'm really curious to hear from others in similar situations.

Thank you!

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I'm particularly curious if one experienced any chaffing of skin against the screws?

I have a great orthopedic surgeon who will give me advice, but I'm really curious to hear from others in similar situations.

Thank you!

I guess that maybe your screws are newish. If your screws are not bothering you in everyday life then they are unlikely to be a problem on Camino.

I have had a residual screw in my shin since 1977 when the head broke off while trying to get it out. It doesn't bother me when I walk. I just have to remember to tell someone before they put my leg in an MRI machine!

 

[elviento]

I guess that maybe your screws are newish. If your screws are not bothering you in everyday life then they are unlikely to be a problem on Camino.

I have had a residual screw in my shin since 1977 when the head broke off while trying to get it out. It doesn't bother me when I walk. I just have to remember to tell someone before they put my leg in an MRI machine!

Yes, I broke my ankle 1.5 years ago. It is a concern as I really want to trek in boots vs shoes, but I will modify as/if needed.

...and wow! You truly epitomize having a loose screw! I'm glad it doesn't bother you. Thanks for taking time to share your story.

 

[malingerer]

I guess that maybe your screws are newish. If your screws are not bothering you in everyday life then they are unlikely to be a problem on Camino.

I have had a residual screw in my shin since 1977 when the head broke off while trying to get it out. It doesn't bother me when I walk. I just have to remember to tell someone before they put my leg in an MRI machine!

I like this! On having an x-ray some years ago and being curious about the row of black dots on the screen I was informed I must have been eating game as they were shotgun pellets! Carrying an Irish passport and this was in the times of " the troubles" I wondered what would happen on going through search machines at airports! NOTHING !

Samarkand

 

[jungleboy]

It is a concern as I really want to trek in boots vs shoes, but I will modify as/if needed.

Maybe I am reading too much into your use of the term ‘trek’, but assuming you are talking about the Francés (or most other routes), the camino is not a trek, or even really a hike, but a walk. There are a million opinions on footwear to take on camino, and some swear by boots, but many (including me) feel that boots are unnecessary on camino.

Basically, what I am trying to say is that while the camino of course comes with physical challenges (mostly caused by the repetition of walking 25km days for weeks on end), it is generally quite flat and much easier than a mountainous trek in terms of elevation change and resultant pressure on knees and ankles. I have no idea how your ankle would respond to the camino but I’m trying to point out that it is not as difficult as the term ‘trek’ suggests, which hopefully gives you a better idea of what to expect.

Buen camino!

 

[malingerer]

Maybe I am reading too much into your use of the term ‘trek’, but assuming you are talking about the Francés (or most other routes), the camino is not a trek, or even really a hike, but a walk. There are a million opinions on footwear to take on camino, and some swear by boots, but many (including me) feel that boots are unnecessary on camino.

Basically, what I am trying to say is that while the camino of course comes with physical challenges (mostly caused by the repetition of walking 25km days for weeks on end), it is generally quite flat and much easier than a mountainous trek in terms of elevation change and resultant pressure on knees and ankles. I have no idea how your ankle would respond to the camino but I’m trying to point out that it is not as difficult as the term ‘trek’ suggests, which hopefully gives you a better idea of what to expect.

Buen camino!

would like to point out that not all of us do 25km a day. I was 65 when I started in 2003 and have settle over the years for 15. I also pronate easily and find boots an necessity not a gimmick. I also find these posts condescending in terms of description e.g. its a walk not a trek. Buen camino and may those in agreement with you improve with age It also comes as a surprise to me that the highest percentage of pilgrims only do it once in a lifetime so I feel that they are entitled to be apprehensive unless they are tick boxers and now its the Camino and tomorrow something else!

Samarkand.

 

[Marbe2]

On the CF There are some steep and sometimes rocky declines that puts pressure on the legs, knees and ankles….particularly descending to Zubiri,
descending from Alto de Peredon, descending down to Molineseca, and short descent to Ponferrada (on-pavement-stay to the right). Some find the descent into Triacastela wearisome especially at the end of the walk.

 

[Fr Scott]

I'm particularly curious if one experienced any chaffing of skin against the screws?

I have a great orthopedic surgeon who will give me advice, but I'm really curious to hear from others in similar situations.

Thank you!

Yes, I have hiked three Caminos, no problems at all, with screws and metal in my ankle. I also hiked with a partial knee replacement in 2019, no problems, just a little sore, so I wrapped it with an ace bandage and I was fine.

 

[Chevychase]

I have walked three Caminos with plates and screws in my left ankle , CF, Portuguese and busy with the Norte, yes some pain of course. I am careful not to take too much pain medication but rather to monitor the pain on a scale of 1/10. I use a simple regime of paracetamol 500mg 30 min before I start walking and judge it up through the day. I stop and rest for at least 10min every 5km. My daily distance does not extend past 30 km.
At the end of the day I quickly shower and get my feet up above my head (eg on a wall) to reduce and reverse any swelling, ready for the next day walking. I walk in Altra timp 4 shoes and mohair "Balega socks" and I Vaseline my feet every morning. I travel with a digital copy of my xrays.
Hope this helps

 

[bergmannfamily]

I'm particularly curious if one experienced any chaffing of skin against the screws?

I have a great orthopedic surgeon who will give me advice, but I'm really curious to hear from others in similar situations.

Thank you!

Some plates and screws are very shallow under the skin surface, and if these rub inside a shoe can be very destructive. I would expect your ortho surgeon will take those out if they pose a risk of ulcerating the skin. The other concern with 'overuse' is sometimes a tendon can be damaged by wear over a screw. These deeper ones may need to be removed also. Hardware though in and of itself is not a contra-indication to walk 800-900 km.

May you have a great camino!

 

[Andpartner]

Walked in 2014 following plate and screws in left ankle in 2010. The ankle # was a wake-up call to me about my weight and couch-potato life style. Walking the Camino was the hardest thing I have physically done - I understand for many people that is not the case, but that does not negate my experience. Everybody starts from a different point in their lives, age fitness, experience, etc. I wore midi boots that didn’t rub over the skin where my screws are. I also took and swapped in and out of Brooks Adrenaline running shoes. I took and wore orthotics, and used Nordic walking poles with rubber paws (which I had practiced with before hand).

like @Chevychase said, I also lay on my bunk with my legs in the air after walking and massaged them to try and reduce the swelling.

goodluck

 

[JanieG]

I'm particularly curious if one experienced any chaffing of skin against the screws?

I have a great orthopedic surgeon who will give me advice, but I'm really curious to hear from others in similar situations.

Thank you!

I’ve walked the Le Puy route with a lot of hardware in my ankle. I realized early on when I was training for the trip that my old hiking boots that came up above my ankle chafed it due to surgery/hardware leaving it a little wider than my other ankle. Not fun. So I got Oboz boots that come up just under my ankle. It doesn’t give me the ankle support I had in my old boots but I never felt like I needed it, and they’re very comfortable, lightweight and provide protection from the rocky paths.

 

[Glamgrrl]

My husband had screws and also a titanium rod from ankle to knee. It hurt him on descents. We used compression leggings at night and it was a game changer for recovery

 

[Buz Radican]

I'm particularly curious if one experienced any chaffing of skin against the screws?

I have a great orthopedic surgeon who will give me advice, but I'm really curious to hear from others in similar situations.

Thank you!

Yes. One plate, four screws. Broke my fibula in two places just above where it joins the tibia. Walked two French Caminos afterwards, 2018 and 2021, without any issue or problem. (Also have a plate and five screws holding my big toe, same foot, together).

 

[elviento]

Some plates and screws are very shallow under the skin surface, and if these rub inside a shoe can be very destructive. I would expect your ortho surgeon will take those out if they pose a risk of ulcerating the skin. The other concern with 'overuse' is sometimes a tendon can be damaged by wear over a screw. These deeper ones may need to be removed also. Hardware though in and of itself is not a contra-indication to walk 800-900 km.

May you have a great camino!

Thank you. You nailed my concern - the skin to screw is very, very, thin. Seeing as though this is my 2nd visit to the Camino, it is still my preference to wear boots. I'm just beginning to walk in hiking boots again, so I guess we will see how I do.

 

[elviento]

Yes. One plate, four screws. Broke my fibula in two places just above where it joins the tibia. Walked two French Caminos afterwards, 2018 and 2021, without any issue or problem. (Also have a plate and five screws holding my big toe, same foot, together).

Ouch! Thank you for inspiring me!

 

[elviento]

I’ve walked the Le Puy route with a lot of hardware in my ankle. I realized early on when I was training for the trip that my old hiking boots that came up above my ankle chafed it due to surgery/hardware leaving it a little wider than my other ankle. Not fun. So I got Oboz boots that come up just under my ankle. It doesn’t give me the ankle support I had in my old boots but I never felt like I needed it, and they’re very comfortable, lightweight and provide protection from the rocky paths.

Thank you, JanieG! I may try out Oboz as well. I appreciate your response.

 

[elviento]

Walked in 2014 following plate and screws in left ankle in 2010. The ankle # was a wake-up call to me about my weight and couch-potato life style. Walking the Camino was the hardest thing I have physically done - I understand for many people that is not the case, but that does not negate my experience. Everybody starts from a different point in their lives, age fitness, experience, etc. I wore midi boots that didn’t rub over the skin where my screws are. I also took and swapped in and out of Brooks Adrenaline running shoes. I took and wore orthotics, and used Nordic walking poles with rubber paws (which I had practiced with before hand).

like @Chevychase said, I also lay on my bunk with my legs in the air after walking and massaged them to try and reduce the swelling.

goodluck

Thank you, @Andpartner. You are inspiring! I appreciate you sharing your experience.

 

[elviento]

I have walked three Caminos with plates and screws in my left ankle , CF, Portuguese and busy with the Norte, yes some pain of course. I am careful not to take too much pain medication but rather to monitor the pain on a scale of 1/10. I use a simple regime of paracetamol 500mg 30 min before I start walking and judge it up through the day. I stop and rest for at least 10min every 5km. My daily distance does not extend past 30 km.
At the end of the day I quickly shower and get my feet up above my head (eg on a wall) to reduce and reverse any swelling, ready for the next day walking. I walk in Altra timp 4 shoes and mohair "Balega socks" and I Vaseline my feet every morning. I travel with a digital copy of my xrays.
Hope this helps

@Chevychase -- Thank you! I will research your shoes. (I love Balega socks for running.) Good idea to have a digital copy of my xrays, too!

 

[elviento]

Maybe I am reading too much into your use of the term ‘trek’, but assuming you are talking about the Francés (or most other routes), the camino is not a trek, or even really a hike, but a walk. There are a million opinions on footwear to take on camino, and some swear by boots, but many (including me) feel that boots are unnecessary on camino.

Basically, what I am trying to say is that while the camino of course comes with physical challenges (mostly caused by the repetition of walking 25km days for weeks on end), it is generally quite flat and much easier than a mountainous trek in terms of elevation change and resultant pressure on knees and ankles. I have no idea how your ankle would respond to the camino but I’m trying to point out that it is not as difficult as the term ‘trek’ suggests, which hopefully gives you a better idea of what to expect.

Buen camino!

Thank you for your reply. I am returning to The Camino, so I have a sense of what to expect. This time around, though, I will have a plate and 8 screws in my ankle; hence my question.

 

[Cindy McGuire]

I'm particularly curious if one experienced any chaffing of skin against the screws?

I have a great orthopedic surgeon who will give me advice, but I'm really curious to hear from others in similar situations.

Thank you!

I have walked several times with plates and screws from a 2005 horse riding injury. I use a rectangular silicone gel pad long enough to cover all screws and hold it in place with pre-wrap. I do the same with any hiking boot, riding boot and ski boot. It works well for me. I guess it depends where the screws are. Mine are on the outside of my ankle along the tibia.

 

[elviento]

Excellent advice, @Cindy McGuire! I think I will follow your lead on this. Thank you for taking time to reply.

 

[Cindy McGuire]

Excellent advice, @Cindy McGuire! I think I will follow your lead on this. Thank you for taking time to reply.

Here are pictures to help you. Before, the pad, and after.

 

[elviento]

Here are pictures to help you. Before, the pad, and after.

@Cindy McGuire - This is great! The pictures are super helpful. My screws look like yours, except mine have remained purple/blue from scarring. I definitely think a gel pad is what is needed and I am hopeful I can use it without any issue like you have. Many thanks once again for being so thoughtful to follow up with pictures.

 

[bergmannfamily]

Thank you. You nailed my concern - the skin to screw is very, very, thin. Seeing as though this is my 2nd visit to the Camino, it is still my preference to wear boots. I'm just beginning to walk in hiking boots again, so I guess we will see how I do.

Make sure it feels perfect, not just Ok. As well, let your ortho know you are doing 800 km by foot. Sometimes people do not really understand the camino is truly all by foot.

 

[Jichat]

I too, had a trimalleolar fracture. Eight months later I hiked 500 miles on the Appalachian Trail. My only discomfort was from the stretching to the outside of the ankle, due to the slant of the trail switchbacks. It’s almost impossible to do PT for that, but after the first week it was stretched and didn’t cause me any problems. I chose not to wear boots. I wear Altra Timps, as someone else mentioned. I did have a friend with the same fracture and she was still limping a year later. They removed her hardware and she recovered completely, so I suspect that it’s different for everyone.

​

 

[hunsta]

I dont have any plates or screws anymore. But did have external fixatures for a compound fracture of my left tibia and fibula. Which left my fibula not only a non union break. But left it to protude forward and be quite prominent. Just above my ankle. Had some minor chaffing over the 800km. But nothing that worried me.

 

[Bob Chambers]

I have a hip replacement after breaking my pelvis in 3 places. My orthopaedic specialist OKed me to walk the Primitivo at 10 months from the replacement. I never did get to walk that year, and am interested if anyone has walked a Camino with that big chunk of titanium implanted.

 

[bergmannfamily]

I have a hip replacement after breaking my pelvis in 3 places. My orthopaedic specialist OKed me to walk the Primitivo at 10 months from the replacement. I never did get to walk that year, and am interested if anyone has walked a Camino with that big chunk of titanium implanted.

I have bilateral knee replacements. Last autumn we did the CF, and then on to Finisterre. For me the arthritic joints that were not replaced were the troublemakers. The knees did very well. I expect your new hip will be fine.

 

[elviento]

@malingerer I thought this might make you smile as it did me.