LIVE from the Camino Recommendations for English-speaking Podiatrist in Logrono

[smj6]

My Achilles Tendinopathy was always going to be the weak link in my Camino. I've done around 250kms over the past 17 days (averaging 15kms a day) but my left heel is getting more painful earlier on each day.

I've got custom-made orthotics & Scholl air / gel cushioned insoles. My shoes are Hoka One One Challengers with very good thick cushioning soles. I've also used support bandages from time to time (& ibfuprofen) together with stops during the day.

I'be just arrived in Viana & will make Logrono tomorrow. I think I need to check in with a specialist to see if they can help me.
Does anyone know of an English speaking podiatrist in Logrono?

I'm also going to send on my sleeping bag to Santiago (with a couple of other things) to lighten my rucksack (presently 7.5 kgs) by about 1.5kgs. That plus approximately 2kgs of weight that I've lost, should also help

Thanks in advance.
Suzanne

 

[mspath]

Suzanne,

If you Google the terms Logrono, Podiatrist, English a few possibilities should appear marked on a map.

Additionally your host/hospitalero might have a handy list for medical help. The municipal albergue at calle Rua Vieja 32 definitely has such a list which I used last year when injured. Here is their Spanish page in Gronze.

http://www.gronze.com/rioja/logrono/albergue-peregrinos-logrono

Good luck!

 

[SYates]

... I'm also going to send on my sleeping bag to Santiago (with a couple of other things) to lighten my rucksack (presently 7.5 kgs) by about 1.5kgs. That plus approximately 2kgs of weight that I've lost, should also help ...

Sorry to hear that you are in Pain and wishing you speedy recovery! I would hesitate to send your sleeping bag ahead, it is mid October and you will miss it! Apart of following @mspath advice, I would also suggest of taking a rest day or two (really resting, with your feet up and not sightseeing ;-) and increasing your water intake as many tendon problems are caused/made worse by (often hidden) dehydration. Buen Camino, SY

 

[smj6]

Sorry to hear that you are in Pain and wishing you speedy recovery! I would hesitate to send your sleeping bag ahead, it is mid October and you will miss it! Apart of following @mspath advice, I would also suggest of taking a rest day or two (really resting, with your feet up and not sightseeing ;-) and increasing your water intake as many tendon problems are caused/made worse by (often hidden) dehydration. Buen Camino, SY

Sending my sleeping bag on is a bit of a gamble @SYates but (a) only once so far have I not had a blanket & (b) it's still uncommonally warm here (though I know this could change in a heart beat, although not this week according to the weather forecast).
Regular hydration has been the name of the game from the outset.
A complete rest day is one thing I don't tried yet
Suzanne

 

[Cayou]

smj6: how are your calves? if the back of you leg is 'tight', then it will stress the heel as it will be less flexible. walk slow and try to keep upright posture - turning your head down and leaning forward stresses the back and all the way to the heels. an upright gait allows the body to flow naturally as the limbs pivit. just don't miss a stone or rut and trip! also, you can get repetitive tendenititis. try doing small exercises like; stranding up straight and with one foot on its toes, rotate in 10 circles one way, then 10 the next. with both feet flat, pivit to outside edges, then roll into inside edges. back and forth 20 times. it uses 'other' tendons and muscles. you have 28 bones in your foot and something like 100 muscles and tendons. good luck. hopefully, no swelling, right?

 

[smj6]

A belated thank you for your suggestions & I'm sorry for my belated reply. Thank you @Cayou for the suggested exercises which I've added to ones I already try to do each day.
Thanks to my Aarn rucksack (Thanks @Kanga for your recommendation), & my Pacer Poles (thanks @dougfitz for constantly exhorting us to use poles correctly) & the video images in my head of how the Pacer Pole inventor walks very upright with her poles, I think I'm walking reasonable straight. But it was a good comment which I will continue to bear in mind.

 

[smj6]

In the end, I didn't find a podiatrist in Logroño.
I stayed at the first albergue (thinking mistakenly that it was the municipal one which could help with podiatrist info). Not only did they not have any info, but I also discovered (much much later) that only about 12 of their 68 beds were taken by pilgrims. When I returned much later I discovered the place packed full of young African males who clearly couldn’t afford anything else. That night I ‘booby trapped’ my little cubicle with my walking poles in case my rucksack went walkabout (my passport, cards & money are kept on my body when I sleep). It's called Albergue Santiago Apostal.

I've strapped my heel with better support & I'm continuing in my way. Part of the problem, a few days ago was also due to food poisoning from the previous night. So I was limping along in pain but also feeling VERY nauseous.

 

[PJ Mattocks]

How are you smj6? More pain than normal? Is help to hand? PM