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Hi fellow pilgrims,
My DH (59 yo) and I (58 yo)hope to walk the El Camino Frances in the coming year. In 2012, we walked from Sarria to Santiago and enjoyed it tremendously. However during that walk, I developed a Morton's neuroma in my left foot, which is scaring of a nerve between the toes. Since then, I have some issues walking when the nerve gets irritated. I would love to hear about pilgrims who have chronic foot problems and how they managed.
My husband would like to start walking from SJPP. I'm concerned about that stage since it seems one of the most difficult ones. If my foot were to become too painful to walk 10-15 Km/day, I would like to find out if it's possible for me to walk part of the day, then take a taxi or a bus to a town ahead where we'll spend the night. Where would I find information about alternative transportation? I might also consider taxing my pack to reduce the weight on my foot. Is there taxi service in most of the towns?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Emilia
Regarding the chronic pain related to Morton's Neuroma, choose hiking boots/shoes with a wide toe box, see a reliable podiatrist for assessment and to perhaps fit you for some orthotics to insert the shoes you wear. If any of your shoes cause pain when you wear them, then ideally stop wearing them as they will only continue to irritate your foot. I speak from experience, and for me, a trip to the podiatrist, wide toe box hiking boots and orthotics provided immense relief.Hi fellow pilgrims,
My DH (59 yo) and I (58 yo)hope to walk the El Camino Frances in the coming year. In 2012, we walked from Sarria to Santiago and enjoyed it tremendously. However during that walk, I developed a Morton's neuroma in my left foot, which is scaring of a nerve between the toes. Since then, I have some issues walking when the nerve gets irritated. I would love to hear about pilgrims who have chronic foot problems and how they managed.
My husband would like to start walking from SJPP. I'm concerned about that stage since it seems one of the most difficult ones. If my foot were to become too painful to walk 10-15 Km/day, I would like to find out if it's possible for me to walk part of the day, then take a taxi or a bus to a town ahead where we'll spend the night. Where would I find information about alternative transportation? I might also consider taxing my pack to reduce the weight on my foot. Is there taxi service in most of the towns?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Emilia
Ibuprofen and "take the pain."who have chronic foot problems and how they managed
I have a Mortons neuroma/metatarsal issue on my left foot and walked from Loen to Santiago in 2011 and from St. Jean to Santiago in 2015. It is doable. While training, I tested a variety of metatarsal pads and inserts to see if they would help and which were best. Then I found New Balance supportive cushioning insoles (IUAS3810) specifically with metatarsal support and I have used these in all my shoes since. This worked for me, and I also used trekking poles for uphills and downhills. I averaged 10 - 15 miles per day. Hope this helps.Hi fellow pilgrims,
My DH (59 yo) and I (58 yo)hope to walk the El Camino Frances in the coming year. In 2012, we walked from Sarria to Santiago and enjoyed it tremendously. However during that walk, I developed a Morton's neuroma in my left foot, which is scaring of a nerve between the toes. Since then, I have some issues walking when the nerve gets irritated. I would love to hear about pilgrims who have chronic foot problems and how they managed.
My husband would like to start walking from SJPP. I'm concerned about that stage since it seems one of the most difficult ones. If my foot were to become too painful to walk 10-15 Km/day, I would like to find out if it's possible for me to walk part of the day, then take a taxi or a bus to a town ahead where we'll spend the night. Where would I find information about alternative transportation? I might also consider taxing my pack to reduce the weight on my foot. Is there taxi service in most of the towns?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Emilia
I have Morton's Neuroma in both feet (but the left is much worse), and walked from SJPdP to Finesterre in Autumn 2016 (38 walking days).I developed a Morton's neuroma in my left foot, which is scaring of a nerve between the toes. Since then, I have some issues walking when the nerve gets irritated. I would love to hear about pilgrims who have chronic foot problems and how they managed.
Regarding the chronic pain related to Morton's Neuroma, choose hiking boots/shoes with a wide toe box, see a reliable podiatrist for assessment and to perhaps fit you for some orthotics to insert the shoes you wear. If any of your shoes cause pain when you wear them, then ideally stop wearing them as they will only continue to irritate your foot. I speak from experience, and for me, a trip to the podiatrist, wide toe box hiking boots and orthotics provided immense relief.[/QUOTE
We met a woman on our last Camino who showed us how to tie our boots, which already had wide toe boxes, in order to optimize toe room but keep the boots nice and snug on hills, especially downhill. I wish I could explain here. Basically the laces weren't cross-crossed for the first couple of rows but then were snug around the ankles and double tied to hold the laces tight. It was so helpful and we showed the technique to many other pilgrims along the way.
Good luck and Buen Camino!
I totally forgot the lacingWe met a woman on our last Camino who showed us how to tie our boots, which already had wide toe boxes, in order to optimize toe room but keep the boots nice and snug on hills, especially downhill. I wish I could explain here.
I manage plantars faciitis. It hasn't stopped me from walking. I'm able to stay ahead of it with lots of stretching, massage, compression/taping, and good shoes/insoles.
But I have used both taxi and pack service for a few days in Galicia when I got terribly ill after an emergency tooth extraction (yes, big camino fun-times) but I wanted my partner to keep walking our stages. It was very easy. When I first figured out I could no longer manage walking, we were already 2 hours in. I was able to arrange a taxi at a bar, no problem. I rode with a pack transport guy the next 2 days, arranged at the albergues.
You will have no problem figuring this out on a day-to-day basis on the Camino Frances.
@jagushemi I can so sympathise with the foot problem. I had Morton's neuroma caused by years of wearing shoes that had too narrow a toe box for my wide and small feet. Podiatrist did all sorts of fancy taping and packing of my feet followed by extremely expensive orthotics all of which had no effect whatsoever. So in 2015 I consulted Dr Google (absolutely not recommended) and discovered Topo shoes. Got myself a pair and found that walking the camino in them completely cured the plantar fasciitis I also had as well as keeping the Morton's neuroma at completely managable levels. My feet did and still do go numb but rarely painfully and nowhere near to the point where I had to stop walking.
Also I laced my shoes by the Altra method and that helped as well.
https://www.altrarunning.com/blog/running-tips/run-technique/lacing-technique/. Plus I used elastic laces and I think they helped as well.
On returning from the camino I found that I had to keep wearing Topo or rather the Altra shoes that I now wear if doing anything that involves walking because my feet no longer cope in anything else. But that's OK because if it means my feet aren't complaining then I don't mind looking like a little hobbit almost regardless of the occassion.
My advice on this forum is rarely specific but in this case I would like to suggest that you try a pair of Altra Lone Peak 3.0 https://www.altrarunning.com/women/lone-peak-30 and give them a good test to see if they suit your feet and can improve your foot problems.
All the very best for a very buen camino for you and your husband.
Me too. No therapy, drug, or insoles does more than reduce the problem. You will just have to suck it up and walk! Sorry I cannot be more optimistic about it.My toes are numb, but when I walk significant distances, my foot becomes painful.
Hi fellow pilgrims,
My DH (59 yo) and I (58 yo)hope to walk the El Camino Frances in the coming year. In 2012, we walked from Sarria to Santiago and enjoyed it tremendously. However during that walk, I developed a Morton's neuroma in my left foot, which is scaring of a nerve between the toes. Since then, I have some issues walking when the nerve gets irritated. I would love to hear about pilgrims who have chronic foot problems and how they managed.
My husband would like to start walking from SJPP. I'm concerned about that stage since it seems one of the most difficult ones. If my foot were to become too painful to walk 10-15 Km/day, I would like to find out if it's possible for me to walk part of the day, then take a taxi or a bus to a town ahead where we'll spend the night. Where would I find information about alternative transportation? I might also consider taxing my pack to reduce the weight on my foot. Is there taxi service in most of the towns?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Emilia
Absolutely agree with all that! I developed Morton's neuroma weeks before departing for Camino in 2015. Cortisone injection was effective in reducing but not eliminating pain, as was tweaking of orthotics. Residual pain was manageable and became my Camino mantra - I have nerve pain but I am still able to walk and walk it through.Regarding the chronic pain related to Morton's Neuroma, choose hiking boots/shoes with a wide toe box, see a reliable podiatrist for assessment and to perhaps fit you for some orthotics to insert the shoes you wear. If any of your shoes cause pain when you wear them, then ideally stop wearing them as they will only continue to irritate your foot. I speak from experience, and for me, a trip to the podiatrist, wide toe box hiking boots and orthotics provided immense relief.
Don’t ignore your foot problems and get knowledge of the issue that arising to your beautiful feet.bestfootcare.webnode.com
Not quite so, depending on which joint.untreatable
I also have plantar fibroma. Very painful toe burning on one foot. Besides grin and bear it I have found that Kuru shoes have provided some relief.I have plantar fibromas on both feet...big lumps of scar tissue on my arches, a fairly rare condition. I had them before the camino, but they don't bother me, except my arches are super stiff in the morning. I have a stiff metatarsal bone in my left big toe, which causes me to supinate on my left foot, causing pain and calluses. My left foot is wider than my right and left ankle is less flexible and prone to injury. We each have our bag of issues to carry--mine included a very large foot care medical bag just in case, which I did not need, but other pilgrims did!
I have paid my first of several visits to the podiatrist to be sure I am ok for my upcoming camino on the Portugese Way.
I walked the whole Frances with no problems, no blisters. My feet got very muscular and larger!
My solutions:
~Wide toe box and lightweight boots, one and one half size larger than feet (men's boots)
~Lacing technique and lambswool in the boots,
~two pairs socks ( silk liners),
~Aertrex orthotics with metatarsal pad support (best remedy of all) The insoles and shoe size and shape are critical!
~foot massage,
~I will bring sports tape this time in case....
If you are concerned about starting at Saint Jean Pied de Port, and getting to Roncevalles has some difficult downhill terrain, why not start in Pamplona? Urban center, plenty of taxis, supports, resources for the start of your camino until you feel more confident.
All the best,
and godspeed on your Camino!
Watch having your toe joints frozen. Has the number 2&3 toes left foot done. Problems arise when you bump into something. The toes can’t bend and take the full force of the hit. Different doc cut the tendons on toe #4, works better. I had hammer toes, for lack of a more medical term.Not quite so, depending on which joint.
I have implants in both my big toe joints. Works great, as long as I keep walking. If I have a few days where I cannot walk, the scar tissue starts acting up. Remedy: a good long walk
Smaller joints can be fused.
Bravo and thanks for advice. Realise it's an individual experience but it's good to know your shin splints pre-Camino were not Camino-ending...Almost finished Camino #3 with chronic foot issues. Achilles Tendonitis and shin splints before starting and picked up knee problems the last few days.
#1 ibruprofen under doctors advice re dosage etc.
Then various tapes and elastic supports.
Cortisone shots before i leave home.
Lots of stretching
Icing.
And trips to physios along the way.
I.e. if you want walk, you'll find ways to manage it
Bravo and thanks for advice. Realise it's an individual experience but it's good to know your shin splints pre-Camino were not Camino-ending...
They can be....
On advice from our Physio we carried a foam roller and use it every day...[/QUOTE
Good advice,,,will pack with spiky ball and nifty compression calf sleeves
Another ingenious Pigrim.I suffer from metatarsal pain (ball of the foot), starting at about 10K. I got orthotics for my Altra Lone Peak shoes and part way into the day, I switch to my Chaco sandals. I mostly end up wearing the sandals. I stopped regularly and elevated my feet while resting. I ordered some metatarsal pads from Hapad and super-glued them onto the beds of my sandals (they are self-adhesive, but super glue makes them really stick). The pads are placed *below* the balls of the feet; between the ball of the foot and the arch. This raises the ball of your foot a bit, which makes your toes bend down instead of collapsing, which causes the pain.
I didn't always walk pain-free, but managed 20-25 (occasionally 30) kilometers a day.
ref how to get him to come with yo. First thing is to turn your mobile off, look him in the face and say something like "hey do you fancy doing the Camino with me next year"When I went to the podiatrist (the best in town) for orthotics after my Camino, he was jealous and told me that the Camino is on his "Bucket List." Now the question is how to get him to come with me next time!!
Watch having your toe joints frozen
Can you post a photo of your roller please? And where did you get it?They can be....
On advice from our Physio we carried a foam roller and use it every day...
Thank youBought from our Physio, but easy to find online I think.
See it here in use.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/holy-hell-shin-splints.55303/#post-619246
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