Knees

[Bob Chambers]

I am planning a Camino del Norte/Primitivo next year, hoping to have recovered from (old age) painful Arthritis in my knee. At 80, I was usually pretty fit but was felled by the painful knee in January. Just had a magical Cortisone injection which has seemingly cured the pain. Will that easing last? Will I need a second injection before I leave? (some months to go)

 

[notion900]

My mom has these injections. They do wear off after a while. Try to time your next one so it's the optimal time before you go (ask the doctor for help with working out when that would be).

 

[Bob Chambers]

Thanks for that, I haven't asked the doc about that, but I expected as much.

 

[NicP]

I realise this is peripheral to your original question, and you may have already considered many of these points, but for what its worth...

I have somewhat annoying knees / knee pain at times - probably not arthritis though. I found using walking poles to be very useful, especially on uneven ground - great for balance as well as taking some of the weight of your knees and ankles, especially on the down hill stretches. I also used a sports type knee support, and when that wore out, I bought some compression type knee supports which were available at pharmacies everywhere in Spain. Depending on how far you are planning to walk and how much physical activity you usually do, I would also consider seeing a physiotherapist to get a good stretching routine, as well as consider seeing a podiatrist, who might be able to customise orthotics and give advice on appropriate footware, specifically for your own biomechanical needs. Whilst all of this might seem a bit over the top, if you plan to walk a long distance with a pre-existing musculoskeletal impediment, I think its worth doing what you can to set yourself up for success from the outset.

Ibuprofen was also good for me, occasionally - it might not be right for you though - you should check with your doctor before you leave regarding what might be the best pain relief solution on such a long walk, given your personal medical history.

Good luck and buen camino!

 

[Lupo]

Bob,

I just came back from the Camino del Norte. Walked from Irún to Bilbao. If you have problems with your knees, don't do it. There are a lot of passages going up and down quite hard. Sometimes not so easy terrain. Could be a real torture for your knees.


Maybe the Camino Frances could be an easier option for you?

 

[HeidiL]

Camino de Madrid (apart from the day before Segovia) is deligthfully flat...

I'm 29 years younger than you, but with my bad knee (arthrosis following the removal of a cracked meniscus many years ago) I would never dare to try the Norte after all the stories I have heard.

 

[alaskadiver]

I just finished the Primitivo and we had no knee problems. Hiking poles are the reason my knees don't hurt, I'm convinced if that. My problem was plantar fasciitis (very bad).
You will likely be in pain on the Primitivo if you have knee and or ankle problems. It's a very steep hike with long stages. Be aware that you won't have the option to stop shorter than 15km if your knee acts up. In most places you won't even be able to call a taxi until you walk a few kilometers into a larger village. I was lucky and just pushed through the pain but I had no choice. I finally took a taxi at a bar about 8 km outside if Fonsagrada because I couldn't take another step.
I'm 50 and healthy. But that road walking is murder. Please be sure your knees are strong and ready for such a strenuous hike. I don't doubt you can do it. Just get lots of stretching and strengthening in before you go.

 

[SYates]

... Will that easing last? Will I need a second injection before I leave? (some months to go)

Sorry, nobody but your doctor can answer that as every body/knee is different! We here can only wish you all the best and, perhaps, share some anecdotes, but nobody here, not even somebody with a medical profession can give exact advice in such a case. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Deleted member 43985]

I'm a bit younger however an overachiever when it comes to early onset osteoarthritis (who says playing sports aggressively when you're young will amount to nothing?) in my knee. I too take a cortisone shot in the knee and can stretch 6 months out of it before I know it will need a top up. One piece of important equipment I have now is an 'Offloader Knee Brace'. If you're not familiar with this, it's a brace that realigns your leg to take weight off the affected compartment and place it either back onto centre alignment or even a titch towards the other compartment. This, along with my injection, allows me to happily motor along now and just enjoy the sights and sounds as I walk.

Good luck and I hope you're able to keep on walking!
Buen Camino.

 

[t2andreo]

All of the advice here is sound. I too suffer arthritis in my hips, knees and ankles.

Last year (2016), I had to terminate my Madrid to Santiago effort at Sarria after two straight weeks of rain and snowy mix in early April. The pain quotient simply started to surpass the pleasure quotient. Each step was painful. So, reason (and my wife's intervention by phone) intervened and I took a bus the final stretch. NO Compostela for that effort...

On my first three Caminos, (2013, 14, 15) I used Spanish farmacia-sourced knee compression supports. They were good but too small, they curled down and slipped during the day's walking.

But, the 2016 addition of serious ankle and hip pain after Leon, made matters much more complicated. I sourced ankle supports at a farmacia in Molinaseca that helped for a week or so, until the hips started complaining and forced me to pull the plug.

So, on returning home last year, I sought professional assistance and obtained high-quality compression knee and ankle supports, they have both nylon stays for lateral stability and sewn in gel pads for pressure at the right places. In my recently completed Camino Portuguese from Lisbon this year, they made a HUGE improvement in knee and ankle comfort. My ankles did not hurt at all, and the pain in my knees was reduced about 90 percent.

My walking companions termed me "the tin man." I was fine as long as I was moving. But, whenever we stopped for coffee at a bar / cafe, and if the stop was longer than about 10 minutes, everything from the hips down started complaining about moving forward. I needed "oiling..."

Nightly applications of Voltaren Forte (the 12-hour formula) helped too, by allowing me to sleep more solidly, or at least without leg pain or cramping.

All off this laid out, there is nothing one can do to wear a compression support for one's hips. Also, Voltaren Forte and arthritis-strength, timed-released Tylenol (Paracetamol) only help so much. So, I have an appointment with a specialist later this month to stat the process of getting that issue evaluated and sorted.

I hope this helps...I really do feel your pain...

 

[Undermanager]

I had ops on both knees a few years ago. The more I exercise, the better the are! I had less problems on the recent Camino than when sitting around at home. Take all the advice you can and act on it - prevention is much better than trying to deal with problems; use walking poles to reduce knee impact (and know how to use them - YouTube), try knee supports before you go, don't overdo each day and listen to your body, Ibuprofen is good, discuss the trip with your doctor, have rest days if you need them. It's a fun holiday not an SAS entrance course so enjoy it at your own pace.

 

[backpack45]

I would agree with almost all advice previously given--especially the hiking poles. I am 76 and in 2016 completed the final section (we did the majority in 2015) Norte and all of the Primitivo with no knee problems. (However, I have had knee problems in the past (30 yrs. ago) and know that it can take a long time to improve.) What I have had recent problems with in the last couple of years in a sciatica-type condition. Ibuprofen was somewhat helpful in 2015, but has its own risks. Results from my three lumbar steroid injections: #1. 24 hours--until the sedative wore off. #2 -- almost a year, which made last year painfree. A new lease on life! #3 -- was about 3 months ago and so far so good.
I would also make sure that your shoes and/or any orthotics you use do not add to your knee problem. Different shoes/orthotics can affect the alignment of other parts of your body. Make any changes in footwear gradual.
The Norte is beautiful--I hope you can make your trip. The Camino Frances is nice in its own way, but much more crowded and a completely different experience.

 

[t2andreo]

Though I did not state it originally, let me make it abundantly clear that I am a very strong proponent of using hiking sticks / poles / pacer poles TGWO of whatever floats your boat.

I suppose if I were NOT a chunky monkey, and perhaps half my age, I could do without. But at 64, and with gamey joints, in addition to being born top-heavy, the poles are an absolute MUST.

I used a variety of excellent Leki poles for my first four Caminos, then switched to a pair of Black Diamond (BD) FLZ carbon fiber poles on my most recent, fifth Camino.

The Leki poles offer outstanding value for money and are the world standard for traditional hiking poles. They are made in the Czech Republic (or at leat they were the last time I checked) and are of high quality.

The BD poles are a much lighter and easier on the wrist and lower arm muscles. The difference in weight is relatively slight, viewed overall. But the carbon fiber poles weigh HALF as much as the aluminum alloy poles. You realize this at the end of a seven or eight hour walking day when your wrists are among the few muscle groups that DO NOT ache.

Also, when fully collapsed, the BD poles are only about 16 inches or 41 cm long. So, they better fit in rucksacks and luggage. They fit into a vertical side pocket of my Osprey Kestrel rucksack and are completely hidden from view.

However, the BD poles, as most all carbon fiber poles, do have drawbacks. They are less flexible laterally. So, if you needed to stress the pole, like bend it lengthwise, it could shatter or crack faster than aluminum. Metal poles have more "give" or flexibility. However, mine worked great in all weather.

Also, the cosmetic finish is less durable than the traditional aluminum poles. My new BD poles fell a few times, at least once with me attached, on my recent Camino. Now, they have customized scratches all along the shafts. As the poles are finished in dark grey or black, scratches are more evident. Or well, they ARE made to be used. So, now they are "veterans" and have the surface wounds to prove it.

The final drawback to carbon fiber over aluminum poles is the cost. My BD poles cost about triple what comparable, traditional twist lock Leki poles cost me in the past. But, I still like them.

I hope this helps.

 

[JRO]

I am planning a Camino del Norte/Primitivo next year, hoping to have recovered from (old age) painful Arthritis in my knee. At 80, I was usually pretty fit but was felled by the painful knee in January. Just had a magical Cortisone injection which has seemingly cured the pain. Will that easing last? Will I need a second injection before I leave? (some months to go)

Hi Bob: I, too, have problematic knees...arthritis, and also loose ligaments that allow my kneecaps to "slide", which over time becomes painful with swelling. Did part of the Frances last year, and true to the advice you have been given here, found poles and Knee "straps" or braces critical to my comfort, especially for the days with alot of downhill terrain. My knee straps were purchased on Amazon, were black, about 1.5-1.75 inches wide, and padded, with a strap across the back that velcroed on either side to adjust tightness. They handwash beautifully and I'm still using them on hikes here at home. The other thing that I did for the Camino which really helped was to go on Amazon and order KT Tape. It's a tape that kinestheologists, OTs, PTs, and others use to strap around areas of the body in certain patterns to provide support. It comes in cotton, or in a synthetic, also on a roll as "cut your own" and already cut in individual pieces. I then went to youtube.com and put in "KT taping for knees", and watched the video. It was easy to get the hang of it. I would recommend the synthetic tape if you aren't allergic to anything like that, because the cotton gets soggy in the shower or with sweating. But...even my cotton tape stayed on for two days...the synthetic stayed on much longer. Just some options for you....buen camino! (PS - I have never tried the cortisone, but my mom tells me what the other posters have said...it wears off after awhile, so good timing will be essential for you. ) Oh, also in Spain they have a cream/ointment that is a topical anti-inflammatory, which I found to be about 7 E per tube. Here in the States it is prescription only and my cost here was $62, so if you like it, bring some back. One caution; I think one must be careful about using this AND taking oral anti inflammatories, because you will absorb some of the cream through your skin, and wouldn't want to inadvertently take TOO much at once. J