Charles Ross
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Two people to walk the Camino de Santiago in the spring of (2018)
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I remember your story and actually thought about you in the middle of our travails. I think we were pushing it all, injury or not. I'm 73 and Karen, my partner is 77. Maybe it's our last full Camino. Thanks for sympathy from a person who really knows!!I'm so sorry that this happened. I also had a Camino ending injury in Portugal in 2022 - right after I came out of isolation from Covid! I was all alone when I broke my wrist when I slipped and fell on a jetty (it was the afternoon, and I had finished my walking for the day). A family came to my rescue and took me to a beach bar where they applied ice and called an ambulance.
My break was a compound fracture, so they had to do surgery that day to immobilize it, then I had a second surgery in Portugal about a week later to insert a metal plate. The care that I received was outstanding, and my AXA travel insurance reimbursed me 100%.
My daughter flew over right away to "spring" me from the hospital, though they said that I could stay as long as I needed. My husband came over a couple of days later, and we enjoyed some sightseeing in and around Porto. Fortunately, with my injury I remained mobile. I was lucky that I didn't break anything else!
@Charles Ross , I feel for your partner and yourself. It’s rough. I’m currently in hospital with exactly the same issue. Two days ago I was walking the Jakobsweg (Camino) here in Germany, with just one and a half days to go. Trod on a concealed rock, it moved and over I went. No one around - it’s a summer or weekend walk for most. Fortunately I was very near a major town ( which also hosts the local regional hospital) my phone worked just fine, and I speak enough German to be understood. Once the ambulance service found the path - I could see their lights through the trees- I was able to guide them to me with my whistle.
The hospital assessed me, and operated a few hours later. I’ve now got a plate and a bunch of screws in my ankle.
My biggest problem is boredom! I’m a couple of hundred kms from home, and they won’t let me leave until my son gets home from England. Already chewed through my normal month’s worth of data, and at present have no roommate - he left yesterday morning. ( At least I got to sleep last night !) But I’ll survive.
Fantastic care! But, here in Europe,I have to say that’s the rule, rather than the exception. It’s harder in a foreign language, but whether it’s Portugal, Spain, Italy or Germany people generally go out of their way to help. It’s a shame that’s not your experience at home.
No walking for your partner or I for a while. I hope that your partner recovers so well that she feels up to walking the Camino again, like most of us on here, I appreciate how special/ meaningful it is.
All the best to the both of you.
Peter
We're so sorry to hear of your experience. We talked about how much worse it could have been for us had this happened in a more remote setting. From beginning to end we had services to move and treat us; it was expensive, a hassle but doable. You were in a dangerous place being injured, alone, with perhaps with dangerous exposure conditions had you been out there a substantial amount of time. I'm curious as to your age and your previous experience walking long distances and, most of all, do you feel right now that you want to get back on the path?@Charles Ross , I feel for your partner and yourself. It’s rough. I’m currently in hospital with exactly the same issue. Two days ago I was walking the Jakobsweg (Camino) here in Germany, with just one and a half days to go. Trod on a concealed rock, it moved and over I went. No one around - it’s a summer or weekend walk for most. Fortunately I was very near a major town ( which also hosts the local regional hospital) my phone worked just fine, and I speak enough German to be understood. Once the ambulance service found the path - I could see their lights through the trees- I was able to guide them to me with my whistle.
The hospital assessed me, and operated a few hours later. I’ve now got a plate and a bunch of screws in my ankle.
My biggest problem is boredom! I’m a couple of hundred kms from home, and they won’t let me leave until my son gets home from England. Already chewed through my normal month’s worth of data, and at present have no roommate - he left yesterday morning. ( At least I got to sleep last night !) But I’ll survive.
Fantastic care! But, here in Europe,I have to say that’s the rule, rather than the exception. It’s harder in a foreign language, but whether it’s Portugal, Spain, Italy or Germany people generally go out of their way to help. It’s a shame that’s not your experience at home.
No walking for your partner or I for a while. I hope that your partner recovers so well that she feels up to walking the Camino again, like most of us on here, I appreciate how special/ meaningful it is.
All the best to the both of you.
Peter
I'm so sorry that this happened. I also had a Camino ending injury in Portugal in 2022 - right after I came out of isolation from Covid! I was all alone when I broke my wrist when I slipped and fell on a jetty (it was the afternoon, and I had finished my walking for the day). A family came to my rescue and took me to a beach bar where they applied ice and called an ambulance.
My break was a compound fracture, so they had to do surgery that day to immobilize it, then I had a second surgery in Portugal about a week later to insert a metal plate. The care that I received was outstanding, and my AXA travel insurance reimbursed me 100%.
My daughter flew over right away to "spring" me from the hospital, though they said that I could stay as long as I needed. My husband came over a couple of days later, and we enjoyed some sightseeing in and around Porto. Fortunately, with my injury I remained mobile. I was lucky that I didn't break anything else!
On our first Camino in 2010 herself fell off the top bunk in Roncesvalles and broke her heel. Ended our first attempt on the France.So sorry this happened. I hope you both have more enjoyable days ahead!
That's the type of accident that could happen to anyone, anywhere.
We both were very sick when we got to Pamplona, April '22. I became sick first. I was in a top bunk in Roncesvalles monastery and the person just over the divider was coughing all night. I think that's where the crime occurred. We were laid up in Pamplona for 5 days, thought we had Covid. We hope, Scott, that the two of you had a 2nd Camino!On our first Camino in 2011, herself fell off the top bunk in
On our first Camino in 2010 herself fell off the to bunk in Roncesvalles and broke her heel. Ended our first attempt on the France.
and I would like to tell you about my Camino friend Christopher Bray from England whom we met at the lovely albergue at Pieros in late October 2023. He was 85 at the time walking from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and plans to walk his fifth Camino in 5 years from now. So I really hope you and your partner (and you Peter) are able to walk all the Caminos that you want going forward. Wonderful to hear about the care that was provided.I think we were pushing it all, injury or not. I'm 73 and Karen, my partner is 77. Maybe it's our last full Camino
On our first Camino in 2011, herself fell off the top bunk in
On our first Camino in 2010 herself fell off the top bunk in Roncesvalles and broke her heel. Ended our first attempt on the France.
Oh yeah, she faithfully wore "the boot" for the next six months and we were back in May. We started in Saint Jean Peid de Port and walked all the way to Muxia. (Hint, she is a Marine and that fall wasn't going to stop her).We both were very sick when we got to Pamplona, April '22. I became sick first. I was in a top bunk in Roncesvalles monastery and the person just over the divider was coughing all night. I think that's where the crime occurred. We were laid up in Pamplona for 5 days, thought we had Covid. We hope, Scott, that the two of you had a 2nd Camino!
It definitely can happen to anyone, and does more often than we realize on the Camino. This thread with 20 posts shows many stories of aborted Caminos. I have often read threads of ankle, foot, knee and hip injuries sending people home early; sometimes very bad blisters can do it. I have learned a lesson and may decide to finally use two hiking poles instead of my preference of only one.So sorry this happened. I hope you both have more enjoyable days ahead!
That's the type of accident that could happen to anyone, anywhere.
So sorry about your friends accident. However, it was so wonderful to hear of how the Spanish people rallied around and helped your friend. It unfortunately doesn't surprise me the treatment you received back home. Sad to say. I've walked 5 caminos and each time I receive the kindest and most warm hearted thoughtfulness of the Spanish and Portugese people. I hope your friend heals quickly and you can return to complete your camino.I and my Partner set out from Porto March 16th with the intention of reaching Santiago on or about April 1st. We reached Tui, checked into a hotel and went out to dinner. On the way back to the hotel, my partner slipped on the sidewalk and twisted her ankle. We limped back to the hotel and, next day, taxied to the train to get us into Pontevedra, a comparatively major city on the Camino.
We checked into the Hotel Avenida de Pontevedra. The manager urged us to get it looked at and made a few recommendations. We went to the public hospital near the hotel, had an examination and X-rays. It was determined that the ankle was fractured in two places and she could simply not walk on it. It was so serious that the surgeon suggested we return to our home city, Portland, Oregon, and go immediately to the hospital emergency. Once again, employees and management at this hotel were just outstanding in the help and advice offered. I can't say enough about these people.
When we got back to the hotel they brought a chair out to the taxi and carried her up to our room on the 3rd floor! Think about this: we were halfway around the world from our home, immobilized, and having to go home NOW!
I spent a couple of hours searching for connections that would work and eventually settled on Vigo-Madrid-JFK-Portland; total one way price for two was about $2,800. (Keep in mind that the initial cost, round trip, Portland-Lisbon-Portland was $980 for two people). We had two connections to make, one was a 3 hour layover at JFK. We barely made them. when you are disabled, you get off the plane last. You have to wait for an aisle chair and then be transferred to a regular wheel chair.
At JFK we nominally had plenty of time but had to wait for the aisle chair. Then customs, then getting our bags, rechecking them, then transfer to new people at Delta who would get us to our next flight, go through security again and then run about a quarter mile to gate 53, terminal 4 to catch a flight that was finished loading and waiting for us!!
We are not newbies. This was our 3rd Camino and, nominally, the shortest one. I've long thought of travel in Europe as enjoyment, good experiences and fulfillment, never seriously considering what a position we'd be in with a serious illness or injury.
What we learned from this. People in Spain were incredibly helpful. When my friend fell down we were quickly surrounded by a dozen people, individuals, families, all very sympathetic and concerned. They called the police, transportation was called. Taxi drivers, the people at the hospital, the Avenida Hotel. We are really shocked at how helpful people were.
Here in Portland, if you are on the ground you might have a few people step over you before some asks how you are. (and that's no exaggeration!). Occasionally life presents situations where you quickly realize that you are totally screwed with no immediate, workable options in front of you and it all becomes a triage, solve this problem, make this connection, pay this money and move on to the next. Also, we learned that there is very little that is not solvable if you are willing to throw a lot of money at it!! That's it.
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