Boo Hoo

[Al the optimist]

Just visited the Doctor for the second time in 8 years. (I must be getting old). The trouble I have been having with my heel since this summer's walk has been diagnosed as a heel spur. Looks like physio for a while. Dammit, I might not be able to walk next year.

 

[Tincatinker]

 

[JohnMcM]

Just visited the Doctor for the second time in 8 years. (I must be getting old). The trouble I have been having with my heel since this summer's walk has been diagnosed as a heel spur. Looks like physio for a while. Dammit, I might not be able to walk next year.

 

[ebrandt]

Just visited the Doctor for the second time in 8 years. (I must be getting old). The trouble I have been having with my heel since this summer's walk has been diagnosed as a heel spur. Looks like physio for a while. Dammit, I might not be able to walk next year.

Al -- I have been following your posts and this would be so sad. Follow the directions of the physio!!! I will be rooting for your walk! LIz

 

[neverlost4good]

Just visited the Doctor for the second time in 8 years. (I must be getting old). The trouble I have been having with my heel since this summer's walk has been diagnosed as a heel spur. Looks like physio for a while. Dammit, I might not be able to walk next year.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Just visited the Doctor for the second time in 8 years. (I must be getting old). The trouble I have been having with my heel since this summer's walk has been diagnosed as a heel spur. Looks like physio for a while. Dammit, I might not be able to walk next year.

That doesn't sound like Al the Optimist!!

 

[CaminoCruiser]

I'm sorry to hear that Allan Could you have a steroid injection into your heel? I wonder if this would be more beneficial?

 

[wayfarer]

Sorry to hear your news Allan. I know what its like to be told you can't walk for a while. There are lots of treatments you can carry out yourself to improve it. Check Google and YouTube.

 

[Albertinho]

Just visited the Doctor for the second time in 8 years. (I must be getting old). The trouble I have been having with my heel since this summer's walk has been diagnosed as a heel spur. Looks like physio for a while. Dammit, I might not be able to walk next year.

The devil is old Alan and his old mother even is older. As a Dutch proverb says !
Wish you be back on your camino soon.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

I do hope and wish you a speedy recovery. Don't be over anxious or decide on your own you have mended properly, listen to the doctor and follow advice and you will be walking the Camino again soon.
Peace my friend.

 

[peregrina2000]

Al, I had that same diagnosis years ago when I had to cut my Via de la Plata short in Caceres. Immobilizing the foot in a walking cast, along with some ultrasound or sonogram type treatments meant that I was back in action and ready to go in a few months. I'm hoping you will experience a similar recovery. Hang in there and keep up with the optimism! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Lydia Gillen]

Allen,
Heel spurs often develop to ease the tension on the plantar facia, which is the tendon which runs from the heel to the front of the foot.

I am not a doctor nor nurse, but I do have experience of Plantar faciitis. I woke up on the morning of. Sunday 22nd October 2001 and literally could not walk. To cut a long story short I went to my nephew's wedding in December 2001 (14 months later) in a wheelchair.

It might be a good idea to google "Plantar Faciitis"

There were times I thought I would never walk again without holding on to the wall or furniture . My first Camino was an act of Thanksgiving to God for my physical healing and all the other things I learnt whilst being disabled.

Do try to get to a really good foot specialist. I have met many people who continue to suffer because they are getting treatment that lessens symptoms but do not get to the core of the problem.

I have specially made orthotics, Night splints( Plaster casts the size of wellington boots worn in bed at night) and Physio to stretch the muscles at the back of the lower leg.

I mean to be helpful. I hope I am not depressing you Allen.

The correct treatment and you will be better.

 

[fernandezr]

Allen,
Heel spurs often develop to ease the tension on the plantar facia, which is the tendon which runs from the heel to the front of the foot.

I am not a doctor nor nurse, but I do have experience of Plantar faciitis. I woke up on the morning of. Sunday 22nd October 2001 and literally could not walk. To cut a long story short I went to my nephew's wedding in December 2001 (14 months later) in a wheelchair.

It might be a good idea to google "Plantar Faciitis"

There were times I thought I would never walk again without holding on to the wall or furniture . My first Camino was an act of Thanksgiving to God for my physical healing and all the other things I learnt whilst being disabled.

Do try to get to a really good foot specialist. I have met many people who continue to suffer because they are getting treatment that lessens symptoms but do not get to the core of the problem.

I have specially made orthotics, Night splints( Plaster casts the size of wellington boots worn in bed at night) and Physio to stretch the muscles at the back of the lower leg.

I mean to be helpful. I hope I am not depressing you Allen.

The correct treatment and you will be better.

A podiatrist friend of mine suggested getting an orthotic called Super Feet which are available at REI (about $40). I was suffering from the beginning stages of Plantar Faciitis and he told me to get the Super Feet and not stand up unless they were in the shoes I was wearing. It took a few weeks but the problem went away and has never returned. This works for the Plantar Faciitis but I don't think it would do anything for Al's problem. In the Army they commonly said "when the going gets tough, the tough get going"; Al, your a Brit, you guys are tough, I know you'll get going. Your great positive attitude also helps.

 

[Theatregal]

Sending you positive thoughts to heal well and fast, Al the Optomist!

 

[Kanga]

@Al the optimist - friend, I will be praying for a miracle for you. So I am sure your foot will be better for next year's walk. It will, of course, have nothing to do with the fact that you will seek out a really good podiatrist/foot specialist and have a walking cast/orthotics/ultrasound/steroid injections.

If the worst comes to the worst you might have to take a tapas cure.

My experience with feet is to find a specialist who actually cures people. In my case that turned out to be a particular podiatrist. The doctor was useless. Very nice, a great bedside manner, but hopeless at working out how to fix my feet.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Hoping you don't have to join your own thread of Caminos postponed . Our best wishes and prayers for a speedy solution and recovery Al .

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Just visited the Doctor for the second time in 8 years. (I must be getting old). The trouble I have been having with my heel since this summer's walk has been diagnosed as a heel spur. Looks like physio for a while. Dammit, I might not be able to walk next year.

Hello Al,

A few weeks before heading out on del Norte this fall I started feeling something in my heel. Chose to ignore it. By the time I got to Pebena it wasn't the heel hurting but the whole arch and the area going along the side of the foot to the little toe. Since my flight back home was only in 2 weeks or so ... I kept walking. Now the side of my foot in numb - I am told a nerv is stuck in all the inflamtation.

Couldn't see parking myself in a hotel for 2 weeks after all, but I did not help myself at all. Heel spur in the diagnosis and the RX is time, time and more time. It was also suggested I get a cortisone injection which I will do a few weeks before I head out again next spring. I also pop in a voltaren here and then.

I will go check the solutions other have posted and wish you patience for your recovery.

 

[Al the optimist]

Thanks all, I appreciate it. Don't worry, it won't stop me trying. I have a flight booked on May 26th for the Madrid Camino so I have 6 months to trty to sort it out, but the concern is not training enough beforehand.

 

[Mike Savage]

I'm sorry to hear this Al. I hope it works itself out.

 

[Phillypilgrim]

Hi Al. If all goes well with your healing and you make your planned C de M walk, remember you can always take the train from Cercedilla over the mountain to Segovia to avoid that section of 33 K hiking. My best to you, Pam

 

[Al the optimist]

Yes, I know about the train. We used to pick up my ex-girlfriend's daughter up when she caught it from Segovia on Fridays. Maybe have to resort to a little assistance there if necessary.

 

[susanawee]

Just visited the Doctor for the second time in 8 years. (I must be getting old). The trouble I have been having with my heel since this summer's walk has been diagnosed as a heel spur. Looks like physio for a while. Dammit, I might not be able to walk next year.

Not good Al....hopefully things will heal up quickly for you....thinking of you.

That doesn't sound like Al the Optimist!!

I have been trying to press the like button to your comment Kiwi family but that function does not seem to be working.... anyway....No, that definitely does not sound like our Al the Optimist. hugs to you Al.

 

[Liz444]

Keep up the optimism, Al. With all the good vibes everyone is sending you will be on your way next year.
As the very best

 

[Rebekah Scott]

get well soon, and we'll see you in the Spring!

 

[alexwalker]

Don't be a pessimist, Al! Buen Camino! ;-)

Wishing you all the best there can be.

 

[Kiwi-family]

Al....don't worry about the training......if you have to arrive in Madrid having not trained, well you'll just need to take it really slowly...and if you don't make it to Santiago, you'll be back to finish later.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

How can my friend Al the Optimist start a forum entitled Boo Hoo?!?
I'm just back from Spain. A ten day break on the Mediterranean coast. I love the blue skies of Spain, the Spanish people, the history, the mountains, the sea and the caminos!

L'Ampolla, November 2014.
I plan my next camino in May on the Camino Del Ebro [on the Mediterranean coast.] If I don't walk that camino, it may be because I'm buying a flat down in Vinaros Castellon.
It would be great to meet you, Al, one day.
Blessings from cold, wet England ....

Stephen

 

[Al the optimist]

Why BooHoo Stephen? Well even I was not over the moon that day even though I am invariably (apart from that moment) always of a cheerful disposition. The confirmation of having caused a heel spur on my right foot this year to add to the dodgy left knee caused last year gave me a momentary vision that I might not walk the Caminos into the 4th age. But hey, it was only one day and I'm back to looking at my new hip-pack and wanting to give it an outing. Maybe I can be forgiven this once? Pretty please?

 

[ivar]

Get well soon Al!! Un abrazo!

 

[Al the optimist]

Thanks Ivar. Don't worry I will and I'll get to SDC to go for a coffee.

 

[peregrina2000]

I remember two arrivals into Santiago with bad heel pain and one aborted Via de la Plata for the same reason. An X-ray showed a heel spur, which I was told would disappear with immobilization. I was surprised that in all of Santiago I could find nothing resembling what my doctor calls a walking cast, not even in the fancy orthopedic places. Nor could I find one in Oviedo, when I made my way by bus from Caceres to drown my sorrows about ending the Vdlp with a trip up to Naranco. Back in the US, the walking cast worked like a charm for me, and the best part is that you can still get around without putting any weight on the heel. Is this something that is not generally available in Spain or was I just unlucky not to find them?

Glad to see that your can-do spirit is back, Al!

 

[smj6]

Whilst we've never met, I enjoy your postings and upbeat approach.
It must have been a pretty hellish moment when you got the news about your foot, but I see you're already working your positive attitude on yourself.
Everyone is rooting for you, including me.
Buen Camino in 2015.
Suzanne