- Time of past OR future Camino
- Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo
So, on my 11th Camino you would think I had a bit of experience and good sense. But no, it seems I only learn by making mistakes. I post this in the hope that someone might read it and benefit.
On my first full day of walking, I started to feel pain under my right heel. Not too bad at first, so I ignored it. Walk through the pain, I thought. And continued to ignore it for about 15km. By which stage it was excruciating. I limped into the nearest village. Saw a doctor in a drop-in clinic whose recommendation was voltaren gel. Caught the bus. Had physiotherapy. Rested it for a couple of days. Tried walking again, after about 5km the pain just became too much; it felt like daggers were being thrust through my heel. Over the next month (not walking much, but still travelling the camino) it did not get better, in spite of further visits to physiotherapists, lots of stretching, icing, bandaging and orthotics. And three new pairs of shoes!
Now I'm home I've had it properly diagnosed, with an ultrasound. I have a 10cm tear in the fascia under my heel. If I had but stopped, when I first started to feel the pain, I could have limited the damage. And maybe, after a couple of days of rest, been able to finish my camino.
I'm also much more conscious of the need to keep my feet flexible and strong by doing some stretching exercises as a preventative measure - in fact I think it would be good for my whole body. I know from the past that I am strong and have endurance, but the lesson from this camino is that flexibility is also important. And more important as the body ages and loses its natural elasticity.
On my first full day of walking, I started to feel pain under my right heel. Not too bad at first, so I ignored it. Walk through the pain, I thought. And continued to ignore it for about 15km. By which stage it was excruciating. I limped into the nearest village. Saw a doctor in a drop-in clinic whose recommendation was voltaren gel. Caught the bus. Had physiotherapy. Rested it for a couple of days. Tried walking again, after about 5km the pain just became too much; it felt like daggers were being thrust through my heel. Over the next month (not walking much, but still travelling the camino) it did not get better, in spite of further visits to physiotherapists, lots of stretching, icing, bandaging and orthotics. And three new pairs of shoes!
Now I'm home I've had it properly diagnosed, with an ultrasound. I have a 10cm tear in the fascia under my heel. If I had but stopped, when I first started to feel the pain, I could have limited the damage. And maybe, after a couple of days of rest, been able to finish my camino.
I'm also much more conscious of the need to keep my feet flexible and strong by doing some stretching exercises as a preventative measure - in fact I think it would be good for my whole body. I know from the past that I am strong and have endurance, but the lesson from this camino is that flexibility is also important. And more important as the body ages and loses its natural elasticity.