KJFSophie
My Way, With Joy !
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
I've walked a few in the past, and the plan was to walk the Camino Portugues this September....ahhhhh the best laid plans have been tossed aside. As life would have it, with 5 weeks out to my departure, I ended up at the ER with excruciating abdominal pain to be handed a diagnosis of Acute Diverticulitis. I was put on several antibiotics and told to restrict my diet, no exercise for 2 weeks, no straining or lifting and to stay out of the sun ( photosensitivity with medications ). " Surely you're not going on your trip with that?! " But I thought otherwise, feeling that if I listened to doctors orders, I'd be good to go. And as life would have it ( again ), on the final day of my antibiotics treatment and resting period, I was at the ER yet again. I woke from a night's sleep and could not stand. I had excruciating pain in my right leg and could not bear weight. After another week of doctor appointments, Xray, MRI's Orthopedic Specialists, I've been diagnosed with a 'mass' in my knee, resulting in a grand effusion, and sharp pain in the entire leg, along with a minor tear in the terminal end of my glute. "WHAT?" " That's the end of your planned trip..."
How can you let go of something that's you've poured your heart into planning for a year? I couldn't. While surgery is the recommendation to remove and put diagnostic clarification of the mass, it would take 3 weeks to schedule and restrict flying for 6-8 weeks after surgery. I threw that option out and sought out to investigate every single other possibility I could find. I've been fitted with a walking knee brace ( and initially crutches ) , have physical therapy every other day, have chiropractic care every other day, have home exercises twice a day, massages with Arnica twice a day for healing tissues, basic ibuprofen for pain/swelling, and the prayers of dozens of friends.
Hell bent on going and with some improvement in the past week, I'm working on every possible modification I can think of. I've had to switch out my hikers for runners with much less weight to lift , fitted with innersoles that add stability and support. I've had to open up the seams of my hiking shorts and capris and sew in spandex to accommodate my knee brace. I've had to hunt down medical notes to present to TSA for my brace and walking stick and oversized gel topical prescriptions.
And finally, I had to make peace with the fact that I'll not be walking a carefree, painfree, 20-28K/day camino. I've had to make peace with sending my pack ahead and acknowledging that I might need to jump on a bus or use a taxi at times and that my days will be long with many stops.
I'm walking the "Camino Modificatione" in 13 days...and I'm at peace with that. See you on the trail ! Bom Caminho
How can you let go of something that's you've poured your heart into planning for a year? I couldn't. While surgery is the recommendation to remove and put diagnostic clarification of the mass, it would take 3 weeks to schedule and restrict flying for 6-8 weeks after surgery. I threw that option out and sought out to investigate every single other possibility I could find. I've been fitted with a walking knee brace ( and initially crutches ) , have physical therapy every other day, have chiropractic care every other day, have home exercises twice a day, massages with Arnica twice a day for healing tissues, basic ibuprofen for pain/swelling, and the prayers of dozens of friends.
Hell bent on going and with some improvement in the past week, I'm working on every possible modification I can think of. I've had to switch out my hikers for runners with much less weight to lift , fitted with innersoles that add stability and support. I've had to open up the seams of my hiking shorts and capris and sew in spandex to accommodate my knee brace. I've had to hunt down medical notes to present to TSA for my brace and walking stick and oversized gel topical prescriptions.
And finally, I had to make peace with the fact that I'll not be walking a carefree, painfree, 20-28K/day camino. I've had to make peace with sending my pack ahead and acknowledging that I might need to jump on a bus or use a taxi at times and that my days will be long with many stops.
I'm walking the "Camino Modificatione" in 13 days...and I'm at peace with that. See you on the trail ! Bom Caminho
