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Search 69,459 Camino Questions

LIVE from the Camino Renamed this thread many times

Nanc

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Frances (Sept 2016)
SDC/ Finesterre/ Muxia (2016)
Began with Tears, then, When do you know you're done?
part of me knows this is the physical challenge after 10 days on the Camino. Part of me knows that the mental third is beginning already. AND that no one can predict or decide for me. But batting ideas around would help

I had rare L4-5 disc twinges in the 2 months before I left, but it handled 15 miles with loaded pack so I thought it was ok.
3 days ago it acted up and I made the ego-deflating decision to transport my bag (self care over pride). That helped but did not cure.
Today I coughed so hard ( from bronchitis secondary to sinus infection) that I vomited and blew my back out. After 20 km I could walk only 0.5 km before having to lie down and stretch my back.
I hitched the last 5 km into Belarado, saw a Medico. I THINK she merely said (in Spanish) you're doing the Camino, rest , ibuprofen.
I'M NOT DONE but the back is bad

So do i lose a day and stay in Belarado? Do I try a short stage 15 km to keep moving and the back warm? Do i jump to Burgos for a day or 2?
Thanks for any view point
Nanc
 
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Its really looks like your body is telling you rest. No one can advise you on what to do but rest is a very good healer.
On my CF I caught up with a women who could hardly walk, I offered assistance but it wasn't taken up. I did suggest that she stop and rest at the Albergue just down the road, but was answered with "I have to continue". On hearing this I mentioned that without rest her camino could very well be over, she didn't take any notice. I heard a few days later that she was in hospital and her camino with truly over.

Whatever you do listen to your body not your ego.

I hope all works out well

Buen Camino.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Dear Nanc
So sorry to hear of your plight.

Your body is definitely saying 'Rest!' Savour your imposed rest day and see how you are the next morning. If your back - and more concernedly bronchitis - is still impacting, consider going ahead to Burgos. It gives you more options. Others on the Forum will know where medical treatment is available there.

Only you can know what you're feeling physically. The urge to continue on your Way is strong and compulsive but you need to really consider the impact. I walked on with what turned out to be a foot fracture and was very, very lucky not to incur further significant damage. Recovery was long and I'm only just back to distance backpacking a year later.

When you truly look at your proposed names for this thread 'Tears' and 'When do you know you're done?' you know that you need to rest at least for a while.

You're definitely NOT done with the Camino and, more importantly, it is not done with you. Rest, eat, hydrate, explore your options and seek medical assistance.

It's not the Camino that you hoped for but it's the Camino all the same.

Take good care.
 
@Nanc Listen to your body! Enjoy a zero day or two on the Camino. Take in some of the local flavor if you decide to rest. Think about why you chose to walk, don't let a destination or a schedule detract from your journey, be open to the journey and where it leads you (“the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”). I would go with a couple of light days when you begin on your way again. It will give yourself a boost of confidence, and allow you back to acclimate to your pack if you decide to carry it.

Sounds like you have nursed this issue before, but the vitamin I and ice may help get it back under control. A couple of things to consider: have you been stretching, is your pack adjusted correctly, are you walking with good posture, are you lifting with your legs when you put your pack on?

"My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."


Excerpt from Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson
 
So do i lose a day and stay in Belarado? Do I try a short stage 15 km to keep moving and the back warm? Do i jump to Burgos for a day or 2?
Thanks for any view point
Nanc

I just wanted to say I am really sorry to hear your back is hurting so but I can't advise you: only YOU know how you feel, how much pain etc. Listen to your body, don't try to push it. The Camino isn't going anywhere.
Wishing you well very soon.
 
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As someone who had to give up their camino a few years back I know the tough decision you are facing. I rested the few days but sadly it didn't help. I talked to a number of pilgrims who had various injuries and it seems we were told the same thing about resting for a few days and then being good to continue. Once you take a bus you see a whole other side to the camino and the different situations pilgrims are in and how they decide to handle them.

It was a tough decision and I had to decide what my goal was. Ultimately I decided my goal was to stay healthy and be able to come back and walk the camino another time. I had no desire to continue towards Santiago if I wasn't going to be walking and instead travelled to Barcelona and then Madrid for an early flight home. I made the best of my situation and discovered hop on and off bus tours in both cities, got a bit of sightseeing in that I wouldn't have done otherwise, and had a lot of time to meditate on my situation.

Was my goal to walk to Santiago even if it caused me a permanent injury? I still walked more of the camino then pilgrims who choose to walk the 100 km to get the compostela. I realized the journey was my goal and not the destination. I know the destination is the goal of a pilgrimage but the destination will still be there when I am ready to reach it.

In saying this I am returning in a couple of weeks and starting in SJPP again because now my husband is coming with me. The first time I was with our daughter. We are going to Burgos where our daughter ended up after walking a few days by herself and I was hoping to continue walking with her. Next year the three of us are hoping to walk from Burgos to Santiago.

I live in BC so I know how far you traveled to get to the camino but it is possible to return another time.

I hope you don't have to stop your camino and can continue after some recovery time but if you have to stop you will still have many memories to bring home.
 
I'm sorry to hear this. I suggest resting the rest of the day in Belorado. Tomorrow morning (or the next if you feel up to it), make a reservation somewhere nice in Burgos, take a bus/taxi to Burgos. Enjoy the sights gently for a day or 2 there, see another doctor if appropriate, and then make your decision about what to do next.

Your camino has veered from its original plan, and then from Plan B as well. There will be a Plan C - we just don't know what it is yet!
 
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Oh boy, not easy, @Nanc. I'm sorry to hear it. But there's gold in there somewhere.
The Camino really can erode stubborn ego at times like this--when that I wants to to one thing but the body insists otherwise. It can lead to a place of painful surrender--but eventually a wonderful contentment and ease with whatever's happening.

I know for myself that once on the road it's sometime hard to remember that the journey is as important as the destination--that it is the destination. But it is, and enforced rest is a chance to settle into that. And, heck...you're in Spain...and a very nice part of it too. So as much as you very understandably might want to press on, lingering definitely has its benefits.

As others have so nicely said--rest is not losing a day, and it may save you from further problems. And the bronchitits is as much as a concern as the back...

If it were me, I'd find a comfortable place (i.e. a pension, CR or hotel with a tub) to rest for a day or so, and then see. If things improve, then a slow walk onward and maybe another rest day in Burgos
(;)Perhaps with an extra rest day en route to explore the fabulous paleontology at Atapuerca--which is definitely worth NOT walking past!).

If the body doesn't improve at all? Yeah, I'd be busing to Burgos to get medical care.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Oh, Nanc I'm sorry to hear this as I had the same problem last year. Only you truly know how your body feels and whether a day or two of rest will allow you to continue walking or continue your pilgrimage by some other means of transport. Don't push so hard that your body quits and forces you to go home.

I know what I would do in the same situation; I hope you are wiser than I.

Mike
 
Sorry to hear that you have been injured.:( You may want to look for a massage therapist or an osteopath to help with the pain and healing. Rest up, don't push through the pain and heed the doctor's advice.
Take care.
 
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Not a medical expert but did a 20 km training followed by 23 km with 900 climb ..... too much too soon Result: occurrence of old back problem. Stupidly thought I could "walk it out". Third day lasted 3 km. Medical advice then no walking for 3 weeks then slow flat 5 km walks.
My suggestion therefore give it a a good rest and then short days. Buen camino
 
I think you should rest now and if not feeling better later rest some more. Peg got knocked down medically twice for a total of 3 rest periods totaling 8 days. Most of those rest days proved interesting.

For more practicable advice use some of the rest time to talk to the clinic so you can find out what you owe them and pay them right there and then. Believe me, it is really nasty paying from the US. You may not think it would be but SACYL (Castile's health service) does not take credit cards and the US laws requires a name attached to bank transfers.
 
If you haven't understood the advice, I would recommend getting yourself to see an English speaking doctor. I know that there is one working in the emergency department at the hospital in Burgos, because she treated my wife earlier this year.

I also agree with @Rick of Rick and Peg's advice. If you do seek treatment, make sure you pay at the time. You will need cash, and don't expect it to be simple. For us it involved insisting at the emergency reception desk then been escorted to see two more people in order to make the payment. While there might have been changes, the general experience that forum members report when they haven't paid is a litany of bureaucratic obstacles to arrange bank transfers, which are themselves one of the most expensive ways to move money, at least here in Australia.
 
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No such thing as losing a day. The Camino is what it is, and even if you have to catch a flight back home, Santiago will still be there in the future, or you don't have to ever get there, or you can bus/train ahead.

What will not work is forcing your body. Did you get any medication for back pain in the past? If so, try to get it again. If not ask the farmacist for something better then Ibuprofen: my cocktail is voltaren at night and cyclobenzaprin (a muscle relaxant), and Ibu during the day. And a stomach protector if your stomach is more tender than mine.

Also, back in the day I was in Belorado there was an albergue with a swimming pool. Cuatro cantones I believe. Good for your back I'm sure. And I hear temps are super high at the moment. Just jump in unmentionables and a T and ask to stay for a couple of days.

And by all means, send your gear ahead for a few days.

Your Camino, this time, may be about teaching you to let go of plans. Or not. I don't know. But I doubt it's about reinforcing that what you have planned is how it will be, for the better, or the worst.

Take care of yourself, nothing else matters, as long as you can get to the airport to catch your flight back home.
 
@Nanc I'm really sorry to hear you've got this double-whammy of back trouble and bronchitis. I'll just repeat what everyone else is saying and advise rest, and perhaps think about a bus to Burgos where you might find English-speaking medical assistance. Either way, if your lungs are not 100% I would suggest avoiding the hill just past Villafranca Montes de Oca - it's steep and you need plenty of puff! Going straight to Burgos and then resting there for a day or three could be the best option, if you can find somewhere comfortable to stay. And then starting off with (much) shorter days until you're sure your body is handling everything better. And you won't be losing any time, as others have said. Think of it as gaining time to recover your strength (and to experience a little more of these beautiful towns and cities!)

Whatever you decide - buen Camino and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
 
@Nanc ,as with the many others I can share your anguish.

I pulled some muscles in early May and did 30 km the next day to Estella-Lizara. Then (sort of) rested for four days, then two days walking then two days rest and two more days walking before being ambulanced 30 km back to Burgos as I could not walk at all. The English speaking doctor at Burgos simply also said Ibuprofen and rest, and now go.

In the end it was three months active rest so the muscles did not seize up. And I was able to do some limited day trips as part of that recovery. And now am looking forward to returning to Estella next season to finish the job I started.

I give you my history, yours will be different, to give some idea of what might lie ahead for you.

Kia kaha (be brave, be strong, have courage)
 
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Really sorry to hear about your troubles Nanc. I walked injured myself, and understand it can require some tough decisions at times.

First of all, it probably won't get better by itself. Though as others have said, rest up!
Second, I would suggest you need some professional advice, before trying to start your Camino again.

That advice will be available in Burgos. So why not jump forward there, and use the couple of days you have gained to get your self 'fixed up'?

I'm obviously not a medical professional, but having had similar problems, I would be trying:

  1. A really good physio. The ones in Spain are great and not expensive. (30-40e) I visited 3 or 4 during my first Camino. My Hotel in Leon found me one, after I explained I didn't just want a 'massage' but a really good Physio. They can give advice on meds, strapping, stretches etc.
  2. Then as Doug suggested, maybe a first port of call should be the Hospital, you might need x rays etc. Depending on what they say, I'd probably still see the Physio anyway. I just have great faith in Physios for this type of thing.

After those checks, then you'll be in a position to make any tough decisions required. I wouldn't try walking any more till you get that medical advice.

I wouldn't be giving up just yet though ;)
 
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I had to give up my first Camino in 2009 (in Logrono) due to injury before I even started it. It was hard but because of that with less consequences to date. Since then I have walked some more Caminos and am grateful to a doctor in Logrono hospital for her wise words that Camino was and will be here for many years.

This year a friend of mine got injured (heel) on CF due to too many 40km+ stages at the very beginning. I told her to stay put for a week or so and rest but she wouldn't listen. Two months after return she is still limping!!!

Listen to your body and rest, Nanc!
Take care :)
 
Thank you all. My head talks to me that to do 13 km would get me ahead and keep body warm and be just under the radar
Even as i write that i can see it is my head and if i'm trying to stay under the radar it means i know my back is not ready
I got permission to stay 2 nights ( but even saying that the compulsion as walkabout_meri says is strong)
I appreciate all the experience shared. And yes, part of the lesson is to truly make it the journey. My medically trained mind tends to be goal oriented and it appears a lot of my anticipated "acceptance" was really talk. Now to walk the talk.
I have decided to stay in Belarado ( at the albergue with a pool!) and bus to Burgos tomorrow. The bronchitis does not seem to be clearing with mucin treatment or fluids.
I tried to pay at the Medico yesterday. She refused and since she never touched me i don't know if its a freebie or will hit me later
For those who paid up front how much should i have available?
Thanks nanc
 
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Thank you all. My head talks to me that to do 13 km would get me ahead and keep body warm and be just under the radar
Even as i write that i can see it is my head and if i'm trying to stay under the radar it means i know my back is not ready
I got prermission to stay 2 nights ( but even saying that the compulsion as walkabout_meri says is strong)
I appreciate all the experience shared. And yes, part of the kesson is to truly make it the journey. My medically trained mind tends to be goal oriented and it appears a lot of my anticipated "acceptance" was really talk. Now to walk the talk.
I have decided to stay in Belarado ( at the albergue with a pool!) and bus to Burgos tomorrow. The bronchitis does not seem to be clearing with mucin treatment or fluids.
I tried to oay at the Medico yesterday. She refused and since she never touched me i dont know if its a freebie or will hit me later
For those who paid up front how much should i have available?
Thanks nanc

Good choices Nanc. Well done. Fix the body first. Then think about continuing ;)
If you lose a bit of time getting well, and have to bus ahead again. So be it.
Take care of yourself....
 
Began with Tears, then, When do you know you're done?
part of me knows this is the physical challenge after 10 days on the Camino. Part of me knows that the mental third is beginning already. AND that no one can predict or decide for me. But batting ideas around would help

I had rare L4-5 disc twinges in the 2 months before I left, but it handled 15 miles with loaded pack so I thought it was ok.
3 days ago it acted up and I made the ego-deflating decision to transport my bag (self care over pride). That helped but did not cure.
Today I coughed so hard ( from bronchitis secondary to sinus infection) that I vomited and blew my back out. After 20 km I could walk only 0.5 km before having to lie down and stretch my back.
I hitched the last 5 km into Belarado, saw a Medico. I THINK she merely said (in Spanish) you're doing the Camino, rest , ibuprofen.
I'M NOT DONE but the back is bad

So do i lose a day and stay in Belarado? Do I try a short stage 15 km to keep moving and the back warm? Do i jump to Burgos for a day or 2?
Thanks for any view point
Nanc
So so sorry to hear about your injury and glad you are going to Burgos.
Personally I would not see a physio until you have a proper diagnosis for your back, although you are aware of what the problem is already
Rest but avoid sitting as much as poss as sitting will aggravate the problem.Lie flat or move around slowly standing up whenever possible.
You will most probably need muscle relaxants for the back muscles and antibiotics for your chest infection .
Please let us know how you get on as we are all hopeful that you will be able to continue your camino (with transported bags!) Annette
 
For those who paid up front how much should i have available?
The bill sent to us for two visits averaged 83 euros a visit. Having an extra 100 on top of what you normally carry should do the trick. Otherwise a trip to the ATM and a return to the clinic. Each of Peg's visits was only a short talk with the doctor and did not include any tests or medicines (other than being given prescriptions.)
 
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Good decision Nanc, I know it was a tough one. Good luck with your recovery.
 
Began with Tears, then, When do you know you're done?
part of me knows this is the physical challenge after 10 days on the Camino. Part of me knows that the mental third is beginning already. AND that no one can predict or decide for me. But batting ideas around would help

I had rare L4-5 disc twinges in the 2 months before I left, but it handled 15 miles with loaded pack so I thought it was ok.
3 days ago it acted up and I made the ego-deflating decision to transport my bag (self care over pride). That helped but did not cure.
Today I coughed so hard ( from bronchitis secondary to sinus infection) that I vomited and blew my back out. After 20 km I could walk only 0.5 km before having to lie down and stretch my back.
I hitched the last 5 km into Belarado, saw a Medico. I THINK she merely said (in Spanish) you're doing the Camino, rest , ibuprofen.
I'M NOT DONE but the back is bad

So do i lose a day and stay in Belarado? Do I try a short stage 15 km to keep moving and the back warm? Do i jump to Burgos for a day or 2?
Thanks for any view point
Nanc
Hi Nanc, I have your back. When training for a charity walk recently there were days when a wrong move or sudden whatever threw it out. Some days I walked a crooked mile or two before it sorted itself out. My Dr prescribed the equivalent of 2 Aleve ( 700mg Naprosin) twice a day, stretching, and walking with no extra weight (read no pack and no handbag on the upper body). I would think that your bronchitis and sinus are more of a reason to take a break. You know your back will get better quickly but your respiratory issues can get much worse. If it was me, I would bus to a town where I could get a restful hotel room, rest well and do some short walks sightseeing. Let your body heal itself but keep your back and hamstrings stretched out thru the shorter walks. If you know the elephant yoga pose that will give a quick stretch for your back before starting the walks around town. Burgos sounds great .. Lots to see there. Take care. Buen Camino
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Thank you all. My head talks to me that to do 13 km would get me ahead and keep body warm and be just under the radar
Even as i write that i can see it is my head and if i'm trying to stay under the radar it means i know my back is not ready
I got permission to stay 2 nights ( but even saying that the compulsion as walkabout_meri says is strong)
I appreciate all the experience shared. And yes, part of the lesson is to truly make it the journey. My medically trained mind tends to be goal oriented and it appears a lot of my anticipated "acceptance" was really talk. Now to walk the talk.
I have decided to stay in Belarado ( at the albergue with a pool!) and bus to Burgos tomorrow. The bronchitis does not seem to be clearing with mucin treatment or fluids.
I tried to pay at the Medico yesterday. She refused and since she never touched me i don't know if its a freebie or will hit me later
For those who paid up front how much should i have available?
Thanks nanc

Hi, Nanc, I'm late to this thread but you've gotten good advice and it seems like it confirmed what you already knew but were hoping to avoid. I know that instinct, too, having had to stop in Caceres one year on the Vdlp. I felt silly at the rush of tears and frustration, but knew that I really had no choice. And I only had one ailment to deal with! So you must be working through a lot of emotions now. But give it time.

About the payment -- I have found that some of the little "atencion primaria" (small town doctor's offices) simply have no method for charging money or for collecting it. I remember going to a doctor's office in the town of Cistierna on the Vadiniense for help with a tick in my back. When I offered to pay at the end, I got a tongue in cheek sermon from the doctor, who asked me if she looked like a cashier in the Corte Inglés. (and she included a few pointed remarks about my own country's health care system :().

But in the big cities, it is a totally different set-up. Years ago, my son walked the camino and had to visit a doctor in Leon. We got a bill from Leon months later, and it was an expensive chore to get it paid. For us in the US, electronic transfers are a cash cow for the banks, whereas in Spain they are the normal way to painlessly transfer money. So it's great advice to bring cash and to find out how to pay the bill when you're there. Good luck with this, it will be an adventure of a different sort -- and I hope you can enjoy Burgos a bit.
 
I have decided to stay in Belarado ( at the albergue with a pool!) and bus to Burgos tomorrow.
There is a great clinic in Burgos called Ultreia. It's on the way into the old city if you were coming along the road route vs the newer river route. Click HERE to see a map. Their website is http://www.ultreiaburgos.com/hello!.html. My wife and I both went for a little relief and Sara was extremely professional and we walked out later feeling much better than when we went in!

I really hope a little down time and good vibes will get you back on your feet but if not, please remember that it was never a contest to be won or lost and having the wisdom to know you can back again later can be your best friend and advisor in all of this.

I'm sending the good vibes and hoping for the best,
Jordon
 
@Nanc I'm sorry for your troubles. After working so hard to get this "right", it's got to be disappointing to have come to this point. Add a little anger at a body that is not behaving as you have come to expect it to, and the future looks a bit grim. The good news is that nothing you have described is permanent. You can take care of your body, regain your health, and either continue or come back later. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
 
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Getting to Burgos is the best advice. There, you can obtain better medical assistance. You also have access to a wide range of pharmacies, including homeopathic places. They will carry everything you need to treat your bronchitis. Make sure you tell the hospital doctor about that, the chest thing.

You might ask the hospital doctor for an antibiotic. My doctor generally prescribes a 10-day course of 500 mg Ciprofloxin (Cipro), twice a day, for my annual bouts of bronchitis.

That, plus a cough syrup that the pharmacist can give you to help keep the chest clear are usually all you need. If you have head and sinus involvement, try either Ricola or Halls lozenges. Both brands are usually available in supermarkets. They have the added advantage of being easily used while you walk. Because they work as well as they usually do, especially when you are outdoors, do obtain tissues...you will need them...;)

BTW, the centro de saluds across Spain are famous / infamous for doling out Paracetamol (Tylenol) for everything from a headache to a traumatic amputation. I have even encountered them handing the stuff out for serious infections resulting from an deep insect bite. Fortunately, I always carry several courses of two or three prescribed antibiotics, and was able to give one of them to the other pilgrim who was relieved of her serious infection within 3-days. We also lanced the serious pus-filled infection site using sterile technique, albeit in the field...but I digress...everything worked out well.

Do as many others have suggested. REST and recuperate. You will love Burgos. It is worthy of a separate non-Camino tourist visit. So, that is a bonus. You can relax and enjoy yourself while you improve your health and knowledge of Spanish history. El Cid is entombed in the Burgos Cathedral, itself a world-class edifice and well worth the visit.

Only when you feel better should you sally forth, continuing towards Santiago. Relax, he will still be there when you finally arrive. Santiago will wait for you...

The others have done an excellent job of offering constructive advice. I am late to the thread.

But, I do hope this helps.:)
 
Yes, the referrals are all helpful. Thank you N
 
How nice that you are staying somewhere with a pool. The perfect thing for your back. See, the camino provides!

I also stayed in Burgos and discovered the Hotel Via Gotica. It is very close to the bus station, has a great view towards the cathedral and the price was quite reasonable especially for the location. When I first got off the bus I walked around the block once and thought all the hotels would be too expensive and then finally asked the price at this one because I couldn't walk anymore. I wasn't travelling with any electronics so really had to wing it - I didn't know the route into Burgos and I was trying to keep an eye out for my daughter walking in - afterwards I discovered the pilgrims I saw walking were probably also coming from the bus depot.

I went to a doctor in santo domingo and then had x-rays and then back to the doctor and it was probably no more than 1 hour total. Luckily my daughter was with me and I had cash because they wanted payment up front. Payment was made thru a direct deposit to their bank account which meant my daughter had to walk to the bank and deposit the money into the account number they gave her. Not sure how payment would have been made if she wasn't with me because I was barely walking at this point. I believe it was around 80 euros but this was just over 3 years ago. I was impressed with the fast service and they used google translate on their tablet to communicate which worked very well. I think I was in a modern doctor's office because if it was a hospital it was nothing like the hospitals where I live.
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Glad you found Cuatro Cantones and its pool. Make good use of it and get better soon.
 
Began with Tears, then, When do you know you're done?
part of me knows this is the physical challenge after 10 days on the Camino. Part of me knows that the mental third is beginning already. AND that no one can predict or decide for me. But batting ideas around would help

I had rare L4-5 disc twinges in the 2 months before I left, but it handled 15 miles with loaded pack so I thought it was ok.
3 days ago it acted up and I made the ego-deflating decision to transport my bag (self care over pride). That helped but did not cure.
Today I coughed so hard ( from bronchitis secondary to sinus infection) that I vomited and blew my back out. After 20 km I could walk only 0.5 km before having to lie down and stretch my back.
I hitched the last 5 km into Belarado, saw a Medico. I THINK she merely said (in Spanish) you're doing the Camino, rest , ibuprofen.
I'M NOT DONE but the back is bad

So do i lose a day and stay in Belarado? Do I try a short stage 15 km to keep moving and the back warm? Do i jump to Burgos for a day or 2?
Thanks for any view point
Nanc

Do what your body tells you, i did. And, I've still to finish my Camino. (i got as far as The hospital in Burgos and had to go home to Ireland, ....High Blood Pressure) Good Luck, i know how you must be feeling right now.
 
ALIVE AND WELL (almost)
Amazing what a difference another 24 hours in Belorado made. Went to sleep the second night and thought no change. But in the a.m. felt some what better.
Got into Burgos and spent an hour and a half at reception at Centro Salud (amazing with as many peregrinos, they weren't certain what to do with me or paperwork) but $74e and great exam by non-english speaking Dr (iTranslate, common words, gestures and a bit of my Spanish) she confirmed the rattling lungs and prescribed antibiotics.
I feel more normal energy wise already but have chosen to do 2 - 20km days to allow popped rib cartilage and lungs to heal more. Again hard to be moderate but I am learning
I am just riding the back through as it is doing ok with portage of the back pack

I realized I had forgotten the lesson I learned in my training, that just because I can make my body do something doesn't mean I should!
Grateful for your suggesstions and support
Weather is supposed to cool off the rest of the week
Nanc
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Good to hear that there has been an improvement in your health. mindful of your wanting/needing to do shorter days, it might be worth considering staying at San Bol albergue. it only has beds for 12 pilgrims but it is an unforgettable experience to spend a night there. I believe it is possible to telephone ahead to reserve a place. It might be especially good for your chest infection because they have wonderful underfloor heating. Buen Camino!
 
I learned on my first Camino in 2013, that there are days to be brave and days to be smart. It is good when you recognize the difference and make the correct choice.:eek:

Frequently, I used this self-coined axiom when confronted by the very late winter during the end of April and into May (we had snow at Cruz de Ferro). While I usually applied this rule for weather or road / senda conditions, and as I age, I have come to apply it to most every aspect of life, on Camino or not.

Sometimes, a rest day (or a nap) is the best advice...;)

I sincerely hope the remainder of your Camino goes without added drama.:)
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
It is good to hear you are feeling somewhat better. I hope you continue to improve.

Buen Camino.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Yes your support and wisdom are wings under my feet. Ribs sore, but carrying full pack the 20 km today (2/3 done and feeling ok!
I was summaring the stages i created and realized that, somehow, at the beginning of my physical crash, I had done a 39km day. No wonder my body took its only way out!!

And t2andreo I am taking your self-coined phrase to my heart. Well said!
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Very best wishes Nanc and I am so sorry your back is hurting you. I have watched your posts and, as my Camino begins tomorrow, I realise that we cannot know what lies ahead of us but as the will to keep going is very strong, I hope to listen to my body when it says "enough for today" ... Easier said than done! Buen Camino!! Xx
 
@Nanc Great to see you are managing the Camino challenges.... Keep walking.
Are you wearing the Hoka Bondi? How is that holding up?
 
@Nanc -- I do hope you continue to improve. Just remember that the physical stress is cumulative. So even if the current problems resolve themselves, your body is still wearing down. Several weeks after my shinsplints got better I developed significant tendonitis in my foot. Instead of striding confidently into Santiago, I limped slowly. So much for pride, eh? And three months after returning, my foot is still bandaged, I'm still on anti-inflammatories, and still applying heat twice a day. So...... Keep listening to your body as you heal.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Are you wearing the Hoka Bondi? How is that holding up?[/QUOTE]

I did not take the Hoka Bondi 4 W
It turns out my foot is truly a 2E and the wide just isnt wide enough.
I think all the previous measurers including REI. Just put me in their nearest size
I ended up with a Brooks that had deep enough tread. Rigid enough foot support for my orthotic needs. Doing well with my current foot care. No blisters

And, Seabird, thank you for the warning, reminder
Nanc
 
Began with Tears, then, When do you know you're done?
part of me knows this is the physical challenge after 10 days on the Camino. Part of me knows that the mental third is beginning already. AND that no one can predict or decide for me. But batting ideas around would help

I had rare L4-5 disc twinges in the 2 months before I left, but it handled 15 miles with loaded pack so I thought it was ok.
3 days ago it acted up and I made the ego-deflating decision to transport my bag (self care over pride). That helped but did not cure.
Today I coughed so hard ( from bronchitis secondary to sinus infection) that I vomited and blew my back out. After 20 km I could walk only 0.5 km before having to lie down and stretch my back.
I hitched the last 5 km into Belarado, saw a Medico. I THINK she merely said (in Spanish) you're doing the Camino, rest , ibuprofen.
I'M NOT DONE but the back is bad

So do i lose a day and stay in Belarado? Do I try a short stage 15 km to keep moving and the back warm? Do i jump to Burgos for a day or 2?
Thanks for any view point
Nanc
It sounds like you need to take a few days to rest. Also, there is nothing wrong with having your bags transported. I have bad knees but plan to walk the Camino next summer with my daughter and I will be transporting my bags. You need to do what is best for you! May God bless you and help you make the best decisions for you.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
Transport luggage-passengers.
From airports to SJPP
Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles
Thank you Debra. I did take the advice here. 6 days after, my rib cartilage has healed. My back is handling longer distances. And the cough is minimal. Life is good
So glad to hear that! Take it easy. Remember--this is your Camino and as I see it, there is no wrong or right way to walk it. Just do your best. May God bless you!
 
Good going, @Nanc! I'm so glad to know things have improved--and that you've taken on @Seabird's advice.;)
Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor--as Tom said so well!
Where are you now? I hope the meseta has been good for the soul as well as for the body.....
Buen camino and ultreia!
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
I am currently in Puenta de Villarente outside of Leon. Had the first of moderate rains that started out pleasantly warm, but I did find my muscles stiffening up as the day went by. Now I am settled in, finishing lentil soup and hot tea, and having my clothes dried.
I have been fortunate to have spent the last 4 days in the company of Alex Walker. We found our speeds and attitude compatible and he is a pleasant room mate. Apparently our man hates the rain, so he is 2 towns back deciding what he wants to do. He has been a treasure of wisdom, history, humor and intellect.
Life is good thanks to you all
Nanc
Alex suggested changing my name to Nancy Walker since I kept up with him!
AND I heard from him a way to put my compostela in my brother's name to clear his "sins" . It seems appropriate as I carry my brother's ashes with me and his was a pained soul
 
Great to hear @Nanc, thanks! And how wonderful you met with Alex
And yes--many of us have walked for a loved one who has passed. It only deepens the walk.
Buen Camino and ultreia
 
M
Began with Tears, then, When do you know you're done?
part of me knows this is the physical challenge after 10 days on the Camino. Part of me knows that the mental third is beginning already. AND that no one can predict or decide for me. But batting ideas around would help

I had rare L4-5 disc twinges in the 2 months before I left, but it handled 15 miles with loaded pack so I thought it was ok.
3 days ago it acted up and I made the ego-deflating decision to transport my bag (self care over pride). That helped but did not cure.
Today I coughed so hard ( from bronchitis secondary to sinus infection) that I vomited and blew my back out. After 20 km I could walk only 0.5 km before having to lie down and stretch my back.
I hitched the last 5 km into Belarado, saw a Medico. I THINK she merely said (in Spanish) you're doing the Camino, rest , ibuprofen.
I'M NOT DONE but the back is bad

So do i lose a day and stay in Belarado? Do I try a short stage 15 km to keep moving and the back warm? Do i jump to Burgos for a day or 2?
Thanks for any view point
Nanc
My plan is every 5/6 days to have a rest day and stay two nights in one place, in this way I can process what's gone before and allow my body to relax. There's an added bonus as I can have a few drinks and stay up late knowing that I'm not walking the next day. Rest days are very precious to me.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

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