billbennettoz
Veteran Poster
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances 2013
Camino Portuguese 2014
Via di Francesco 2015
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Hi Pieces, I think a doctor will just tell me I'm mad contemplating an 800km walk with a dodgy knee. So it's best not to ask him.. :lol:Pieces said:ask the doctor...
Thank you for this advice. Yes, from what I can gather, there is no right or wrong way to do the camino - it's about overcoming foolish pride and stubbornness. That's what can really cause you injury...lindseh said:I got tendonitis after a week on the Camino, and stopped for 3 nights in Logrono and took a bus to the next town because I physically could not walk. After that I walked straight through to Santiago, but with much pain and difficulty.
The beauty of the Camino is its flexibility - I trust you'll find a way.
Buen camino,
Lindsey
All very sage advice Tincatinker. Thank you. I have five weeks before I go, so I'm going to build strength in the muscles around my knee, and increase my yoga practice.Tincatinker said:Would have thought that a medical practitioner or a sports physiotherapist would be the safer addressee for this question than this forum. The response will be yes, no, and probably.
Much will depend on the cause and nature of your injury, the impact on it of protracted exercise and load-bearing over variable and occasionally unstable terrain and what measures, such as support bandaging, you are planning to take to alleviate any additional damage that walking the Camino might cause.
Many walk with, and through, considerable pain but you should have a clear understanding of the nature of your impairment and the consequences of walking with it before you begin.
That said I wish you a comfortable if not pain free Camino.
billbennettoz said:Hi Pieces, I think a doctor will just tell me I'm mad contemplating an 800km walk with a dodgy knee. So it's best not to ask him.. :lol:Pieces said:ask the doctor...
It's sensible advice - and from Kiwi-family too. Thank you.jpflavin1 said:See a doctor. You have 5 weeks. It could be something simple, corrected by a strengthening exercise.
billbennettoz said:Hi Pieces, I think a doctor will just tell me I'm mad contemplating an 800km walk with a dodgy knee. So it's best not to ask him.. :lol:Pieces said:ask the doctor...
Hi Pieces - one of the things I believe I will learn on the camino is how to face fear. Fear of carrying too much in my pack, fear of not getting a place to sleep, fear of bed bugs, fear of not planning ahead, and fear of not finishing because of injury...Pieces said:maybe you will permanently damage your knee maybe you won't, you just have to wait and see don't you...
Thanks fortview - I'm with you. I don't want a doctor telling me not to do it, because I wouldn't listen to him/her anyway! I'm actually doing a 28km walk this weekend with full load backpack, up and down some serious hills, so I'll see how I go.fortview said:This might sound irresponsible but I would NOT see a Dr ! Why? Because I think he'd be duty-bound to say don't do it, after all in this litigatious society we live in , you could sue him if he said you were fine to walk 800kms and your knee got worse :roll: !
I'm with Pieces, newfydoc, jpflavin and anyone else who recommends seeing a doctor or other medical professional. To suggest that you shouldn't is odd, and the reasons offered so far are just quite strange.Pieces said:ask the doctor...
Thank you DougF. The reason I raised it here is because I read somewhere else in this forum of a pilgrim who had walked most of the camino with an injury. I was curious if that was common practice.dougfitz said:I'm with Pieces, newfydoc, jpflavin and anyone else who recommends seeing a doctor or other medical professional. To suggest that you shouldn't is odd, and the reasons offered so far are just quite strange.Pieces said:ask the doctor...
What you want is your doctor's advice on the very questions you asked us to advise you on without the benefit of being able to see what might be causing your knee problem. A doctor would at least be able to examine the knee and form a professional opinion, something clearly we cannot.
You might also speak to your doctor or a physio on the best way to prevent or minimise doing any more damage, pain management options and seek their advice on what signs might indicate you should seek professional medical treatment when you are on the Camino.
OK for keeping the image with you, but you might be better off by not imitating the feat :wink:billbennettoz said:...I was in India last year and I saw a cripple doing a pilgrimage to the Ganges, for an important holy event. He was on crutches, bare-footed, and he was moving swiftly. It was incredible, and I'll keep that image with me...
Hi Ian - thank you for your wise advice. Particularly the feet up and the red wine!sagalouts said:Hi Bill you could be in danger of leaving your best on the training walks.
its been said before but the best way to walk the camino is to start like an old man and you will finish like a young one. oh and while walking I elevate my legs for 1/2 hour every night just before enjoying a glass of red wine-works for me
Ian
Olivares said:A problem of plantar fascitis I had before embarking on The Camino (painful, painful heel trouble) DISSAPEARED after I started doing a series of hamstring and calf exercises.
waveprof said:If "facing fears" is one of your reasons for going, then why are you so utterly afraid of asking a doctor and potentially ignoring his advice? So what if he tells you not to go? You can still go. But at least he can give you more specifics on what to look for, what potential (long term) negatives could happen, what you can do to lessen the impact, what you might be able to do to strengthen the leg in advance etc etc etc.
Pain is more nuanced than that, I think. Take arthritis, for example. The pain almost never goes away, but walking through it does not cause any further damage. Muscle pain is normally associated with strenuous exercise, and will go away with time, so it is possible to walk through it. Tendonitis may not get worse, or may get worse, if you walk through it. Various braces can keep knees and ankles from being damaged further. When the cause of the pain is known, then a reasonable decision can be made about walking through it.something is wrong and one show never push it, or attempt to "walk through it."
Laliibeans said:..... so any good stretches you can recommend would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Sonia, thank you for this advice. Since posting originally, I have been doing yoga exercises to strengthen those muscles you mentioned, and it must have helped because I'm not now getting the knee pain. That said, I did a vigorous training hike yesterday (I leave in less than 10 days now!) and got some twinges last night. I remember from my running days how to tape my knee, so if needs be I'll do that. But I think the best thing I can do is just take it easy on the Camino, and not try and push it.TravellingSonn said:Hi Bill,
I'm heading off to complete the Le Puy route in 7 weeks time. I too have a pre-existing knee injury called patello femoral pain syndrome. I'm currently seeing a physiotherapist who has shown me how to tape my knee correctly. He believes (for my particular issue) taping provides better support than a knee brace. On top of that, I'm doing exercises to strengthen my quad and butt muscles. I also take anti inflammatory tablets. I would HIGHLY recommend you see a physio before you head off.
Good luck!
Buen camino
Sonia
Thank you very much for your advice. Having done 10 Caminos, you obviously speak from extraordinary experience.methodist.pilgrim.98 said:I noticed you did 29km, that is 13km more than I do each day so I wonder if you might start by walking a little less further.
I am certain you know this but it worth reiterating. Get the weight in your pack down as much as possible.
Knees and legs were made for walking, it is the weight on our back that causes the problem.
Another effect of ibuprofen is anti-coagulation. I was prescribed 1,000mg twice a day. I blew my nose, and set off bleeding that did not stop for a half-hour! I take 600mg up to three times a day, and watch for things that might start bleeding. Food and water with the ibuprofen pills will help with stomach upset, which actually can be a perforated stomach lining. "Ranger candy" and "vitamin I" allow me to walk, but should be used with caution.see how much ibuprofen I can take this year without upsetting my stomach
Pieces said:(I actually felt sea sick when walking after the last time i went for treatment, having had the ankle, the hip, 2 joints of the spine, 4 ribs and a shoulder blade put back in to place du to this injury, total disorientation walking straight again as result...)
If ibuprofen could solve that problem, there would be a lot fewer broken hearts walking the Camino.the problem wasn't my lover back
I could get my backpack down to about 7 kgs, except that I want to take my camera, iPad and phone, with the associated chargers, and of course power adapters. That puts nearly 2kgs onto the weight. But 9 kgs seems to be ok for me (albeit my body weight is about 77 kgs) but you're right - I do need to keep the mileage down each day.
Hi Methodist Pilgrim - the 9kg doesn't include water or food. So I'm probably looking at 11 kgs min on those days when I need to stock up on food and water.methodist.pilgrim.98 said:Bill, I love photography but I take a modern compact because weight is an issue. Its part of the compromise I have to make to be able to go pilgrimage
I knew the camera would come up when I saw your photo.
I don't want to reopen the whole technology debate, but when I am on Camino I want to leave behind my love of the Internet and the many creative things I do with the computer. An iPod= weight=potential knee trouble.I take a small, lightweight, basic mobile phone so my wife can keep in touch, but 2kg of stuff when you have a dodgy knee? Have you included food and water in the 9kg? I litre of water = 1kg.
Secretaries and administrative assistants as well as porters and guides?Will use a staff.
I'm a filmmaker Falcon, so I'll have my entourage... 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)falcon269 said:Secretaries and administrative assistants as well as porters and guides?Will use a staff.
Or a stave...
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