Heal Spurs and Micro Tears and more Oh my !

[Iriebabel]

Well fellow pilgrims As some of you know shortly after returning home from my first camino in April/May I arrived home and quickly came down with a horrible bout of the flu . I unfortunately lost my voice for six months... hmm that’s a long story but suffice it to say I had some long standing injuries and mystery ailments from my 21 years in the military. Chronic Lyrangitic is one of them. But don’t feel sorry for me just yet. If you have read my post camino journey you know I am not one to give up easily or wallow too long in self pity.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...cyborg-turtle-with-post-camino-summary.57400/

Shortly after the start of the flu I was given a full dose of strong steroid treatment then I noticed that my right foot, feeling jealousy from all the attention that my left knee “aka cyborg turtle” received during the camino Frances. Ugggg tut-tut-taaaa- queue the dramatic music .... a heel spur ....800km I get home and now this. Aaah hum yes I’m greatful because it could have been much worse i could have drowned in my own drool (come on that was a good flu joke )

Xrays, custom orthotics, prodded, probed (stop laughing) and another strong set of steroids I am doing my best staying off my feet I am now back to my sedentary, half-humanly state. I attempt to see the doctor again with massive failure having my appointment cancelled 2 times. Months go by ..my youth flashed before my eyes ...I realized not only am I getting older by the minute but really I must do something aggressive. So I physically hobble to the doctor’s office to complain. All who have dealt with the VA be aware this is not an easy feet ...hahah get the pun....feet lol. I meant feat. Don’t stop me now I am on a roll ...

Short story..yes I got an appointment 27 November ..urrrrg I got a cortisone injection ....warning...given exercises to do at home..offered physical therapy.
Long story ... 2 days go by pain 3, 4, 10, 15, 20 , 30, PAIN. PAIN UNBEARABLE now af course it didn't work ...am I surprised? No, not really ... oh did I mention its 7 January and I still havent seen the physical therapist oh...hmmm forget I mentioned it because they seem to have forgotten it too.

FAST FORWARD: Week before Christmas went to my doctor first then she sent me 1 hr away to the emergency room.....remember folks it’s my right foot. .Me on crutches, can’t walk ...live alone no one to drive me.

FLASHBACK: The week before I walked 10 miles no pack. Why because I was tired of staying home...feet hurt but I stretched and felt ok.decided to give it a go. But mistake number 1. walked in their custom orthotics ..yeah they are in the trash, ..big huge gigantic mistake .., now mistake number 2 was walking on trail concrete. See my picture bellow with the rosy Florida sun burn cheeks NOTE TO SELF...stick to the Superfeet insoles and sunscreen .

Now back to the emergency room. More Xrays poking and prodding....a surprisingly short and pleasant experience in the Emergency room, the Podiatrist on call said...you have several Microtears in your arch, you have unusually high arches they are really tight and you should not have been given that cortisone injection (Shocker!) , Invest in Birkenstock’s or other shoes with high arches, we will wait for the cortisone to wear off and give you a Plasma injection using your own blood in February.....that’ some mad scientist stuff about spinning my own blood and extracting the Plasma can they really do that? ). booo...hahah-haha. yes apparantely they can. further instructions include sticking to the Superfeet insoles. Whew! Well thank goodness for that! ...oh and by the way ...do these other stretches 10X per-day and ice bottle rolls etc etc.....

Yes I’m still on crutches and I cannot train but I’m NOT sweating it because I AM AND WILL BE walking the Del Norte In March 2019 might even add in the piece in the bigenning from St Jean to Irun and the piece in the end to Ferrol to Santiago . So you see you don’t need to feel sorry for me just yet. My neighbor made me a new patch and my backpack will have the forum patch on it so I hope to see you. Just look for the Jamaican girl with the fancy metalbrace on the left leg. Dancing up and down the hills of Spain to the of whatever is on my playlist including Chopin, Queen, Green Day, Boston, old soul, new soul, new rock, Reggae , etc...Etc....and a few audio books thrown in for good measure . if you see me...don’t stare. just join me.. And yes I actually dance thru the pain. At at night I may look like Frankenstein hooked up to my electrical Stim unit (TENS) but hey thats life...it works for me.

Pain is power my friends. And there will always be pain in your life wheather physical or emotional. Myself and the Cyborg turtle are focused on the task ahead. Planning and mitigating....with no specific plan . Expect pain and there will be no pain, expect difficulty and there will be no difficulty. Plan and have no plans. And just Be (in the moment) because I already am .

Moral: Don’t let anyone tell you can’t not even yourself!

Thanks Camino friends and Forum members I am with you @davebugg
Buen Camino in 2019 and see you all soon.
More to come in the next couple months ....lists and preferences and hopefully a fully functioning blog since I have nothing better to do with my time. Lol. Can’t walk......Write!
All others Keep walking ...one foot in front of the other

Update Addition: Help with the pain (no commercial affiliation recommend you see a medical professional)) :

.

 

[Jomas]

Hi Iriebabel. Your style in writing overshadows the unpleasant situation you are experiencing ....... you wrote "do not bring sorrow for me" and so I will do it but I advise you to do your programs well. Yes, here you have to do a program because it's your future. If it will not be in March 2019 it will be at another time. I'm sure.
Happy New Year

 

[Iriebabel]

Hi Iriebabel. Your style in writing overshadows the unpleasant situation you are experiencing ....... you wrote "do not bring sorrow for me" and so I will do it but I advise you to do your programs well. Yes, here you have to do a program because it's your future. If it will not be in March 2019 it will be at another time. I'm sure.
Happy New Year

. oh yes thank you Happy 2019 to you too ! It will definately be in March 2019 Tickets are bought...it might be a slow start but it will have a Wonderful middle and a fantastic Finish! ..... planning will involve shorter days and mitigation is key...motto is always. slow down but Don’t stop!

 

[Former member 49149]

Lovely to see you bouncing back, Iriebabel. Wishing you all the best as you prepare for your next shot.

 

[Iriebabel]

Lovely to see you bouncing back, Iriebabel. Wishing you all the best as you prepare for your next shot.

Thank you ! My plan is to bounce along the coastal alternatives without falling off the cliff

 

[willydp]

Happy New Year Iriebabel.
Nice to read about your "misery" written in such a way... that I can conclude that you are a very optimistic person!
Keep up the good spirit
Carpe Diem
Buen Camino

 

[Iriebabel]

Happy New Year Iriebabel.
Nice to read about your "misery" written in such a way... that I can conclude that you are a very optimistic person!
Keep up the good spirit
Carpe Diem
Buen Camino

Thanks @willydp Happy New Year to you! The sun will always rise tomorrow even if I am blind and cannot see it sometimes I can always feel it on my face..

I’m trying to convince my self that “misery” is my truoblemake great aunt who makes that unwanted vist evey once in a while and I am ashamed that I am happy and elated when she leaves.

 

[willydp]

You can avoid your aunt, but not what you are experiencing now
I hope you will be in a better health very soon so you can start your Camino.

 

[Iriebabel]

You can avoid your aunt, but not what you are experiencing now
I hope you will be in a better health very soon so you can start your Camino.

So true so true. I will update everyone after my procedure 4 Feb. all will be well I’m very optimistic

 

[ksam]

Love your story!! I'm still waiting to go and visit my orthopedic doc post Camino! I had a month of PT prior to my last Camino and would come home black and blue. It took two rounds before they finally got my inserts right . Then I had to try and be a compliant patient. So I never did walk on the treadmill set at an incline. I walked the Primitivo instead . And it was all good! Nice to know I'm not the only one doing "crazy" stuff

 

[Iriebabel]

Love your story!! I'm still waiting to go and visit my orthopedic doc post Camino! I had a month of PT prior to my last Camino and would come home black and blue. It took two rounds before they finally got my inserts right . Then I had to try and be a compliant patient. So I never did walk on the treadmill set at an incline. I walked the Primitivo instead . And it was all good! Nice to know I'm not the only one doing "crazy" stuff

Hahah thanks .. its not crazy it’s what works for us. It is good to know you survived the Primitivo ksam and I hope you get to see the Ortho eventually and get some relief. Sometimes we know our bodies better and we must try to push on at the very least slowly until the issue is resolved. Quitting is not an option.

When I got to the ER it was nice to know that I was right about my Superfeet insoles and I quickly threw away the other ones. I should have trusted my instincts. I just ordered the Orange Superfeet insoles from Amazon. They are softer than the green ones but built for higher impact, long distance and higher arches..so I will try those after I get my Plasma injection. Good luck to us both !

 

[Keith Camino]

View attachment 50515Well fellow pilgrims As some of you know shortly after returning home from my first camino in April/May I arrived home and quickly came down with a horrible bout of the flu . I unfortunately lost my voice for six months... hmm that’s a long story but suffice it to say I had some long standing injuries and mystery ailments from my 21 years in the military. Chronic Lyrangitic is one of them. But don’t feel sorry for me just yet. If you have read my post camino journey you know I am not one to give up easily or wallow too long in self pity.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...cyborg-turtle-with-post-camino-summary.57400/

Shortly after the start of the flu I was given a full dose of strong steroid treatment then I noticed that my right foot, feeling jealousy from all the attention that my left knee “aka cyborg turtle” received during the camino Frances. Ugggg tut-tut-taaaa- queue the dramatic music .... a heel spur ....800km I get home and now this. Aaah hum yes I’m greatful because it could have been much worse i could have drowned in my own drool (come on that was a good flu joke )

Xrays, custom orthotics, prodded, probed (stop laughing) and another strong set of steroids I am doing my best staying off my feet I am now back to my sedentary, half-humanly state. I attempt to see the doctor again with massive failure having my appointment cancelled 2 times. Months go by ..my youth flashed before my eyes ...I realized not only am I getting older by the minute but really I must do something aggressive. So I physically hobble to the doctor’s office to complain. All who have dealt with the VA be aware this is not an easy feet ...hahah get the pun....feet lol. I meant feat. Don’t stop me now I am on a roll ...

Short story..yes I got an appointment 27 November ..urrrrg I got a cortisone injection ....warning...given exercises to do at home..offered physical therapy.
Long story ... 2 days go by pain 3, 4, 10, 15, 20 , 30, PAIN. PAIN UNBEARABLE now af course it didn't work ...am I surprised? No, not really ... oh did I mention its 7 January and I still havent seen the physical therapist oh...hmmm forget I mentioned it because they seem to have forgotten it too.

FAST FORWARD: Week before Christmas went to my doctor first then she sent me 1 hr away to the emergency room.....remember folks it’s my right foot. .Me on crutches, can’t walk ...live alone no one to drive me.

FLASHBACK: The week before I walked 10 miles no pack. Why because I was tired of staying home...feet hurt but I stretched and felt ok.decided to give it a go. But mistake number 1. walked in their custom orthotics ..yeah they are in the trash, ..big huge gigantic mistake .., now mistake number 2 was walking on trail concrete. See my picture bellow with the rosy Florida sun burn cheeks NOTE TO SELF...stick to the Superfeet insoles and sunscreen .

Now back to the emergency room. More Xrays poking and prodding....a surprisingly short and pleasant experience in the Emergency room, the Podiatrist on call said...you have several Microtears in your arch, you have unusually high arches they are really tight and you should not have been given that cortisone injection (Shocker!) , Invest in Birkenstock’s or other shoes with high arches, we will wait for the cortisone to wear off and give you a Plasma injection using your own blood in February.....that’ some mad scientist stuff about spinning my own blood and extracting the Plasma can they really do that? ). booo...hahah-haha. yes apparantely they can. further instructions include sticking to the Superfeet insoles. Whew! Well thank goodness for that! ...oh and by the way ...do these other stretches 10X per-day and ice bottle rolls etc etc.....

Yes I’m still on crutches and I cannot train but I’m NOT sweating it because I AM AND WILL BE walking the Del Norte In March 2019 might even add in the piece in the bigenning from St Jean to Irun and the piece in the end to Ferrol to Santiago . So you see you don’t need to feel sorry for me just yet. My neighbor made me a new patch and my backpack will have the forum patch on it so I hope to see you. Just look for the Jamaican girl with the fancy metalbrace on the left leg. Dancing up and down the hills of Spain to the of whatever is on my playlist including Chopin, Queen, Green Day, Boston, old soul, new soul, new rock, Reggae , etc...Etc....and a few audio books thrown in for good measure . if you see me...don’t stare. just join me.. And yes I actually dance thru the pain. At at night I may look like Frankenstein hooked up to my electrical Stim unit (TENS) but hey thats life...it works for me.

Pain is power my friends. And there will always be pain in your life wheather physical or emotional. Myself and the Cyborg turtle are focused on the task ahead. Planning and mitigating....with no specific plan . Expect pain and there will be no pain, expect difficulty and there will be no difficulty. Plan and have no plans. And just Be (in the moment) because I already am .

Moral: Don’t let anyone tell you can’t not even yourself!

Thanks Camino friends and Forum members I am with you @davebugg
Buen Camino in 2019 and see you all soon.
More to come in the next couple months ....lists and preferences and hopefully a fully functioning blog since I have nothing better to do with my time. Lol. Can’t walk......Write!
All others Keep walking ...one foot in front of the other

Update Addition: Help with the pain (no commercial affiliation recommend you see a medical professional)) :

.

How do we get those lovely CDN patches?

 

[Iriebabel]

How do we get those lovely CDN patches?

My neighbor made them for me. I designed what I wanted...she does embroidery as a hobby. Go to your local tailor or t-shirt shop that does embroidery. Show them a picture of what you want. They can usually do it in a day...should not cost too much. But if you are very nice...I can have my neighbor make a couple extra... PM my inbox

 

[naplesdon]

I suffer from neuropathy in my right foot. It goes from severe to acceptable. I have been walking various Caminos for 5 years dealing with this condition. You will be just fine.
Welcome to the President's bone spur club, it doesn't seem affect anything but critical thinking.

 

[Iriebabel]

I suffer from neuropathy in my right foot. It goes from severe to acceptable. I have been walking various Caminos for 5 years dealing with this condition. You will be just fine.
Welcome to the President's bone spur club, it doesn't seem affect anything but critical thinking.

Hahahahah thanks @biarritzdon you are right. It may slow us down but will never stop us! I will tell you how this mad scientist plasma injection thing works out..

 

[Keith Camino]

My neighbor made them for me. I designed what I wanted...she does embroidery as a hobby. Go to your local tailor or t-shirt shop that does embroidery. Show them a picture of what you want. They can usually do it in a day...should not cost too much. But if you are very nice...I can have my neighbor make a couple extra... PM my inbox

You guys did a nice job

 

[Iriebabel]

You guys did a nice job

Hahah I am just the under paid designer. She did all the work

 

[tricia Williams]

So true so true. I will update everyone after my procedure 4 Feb. all will be well I’m very optimistic

Good luck with the procedure Iriebabel. I love your writing and appreciate your encouragement and wisdom.

 

[Iriebabel]

Good luck with the procedure Iriebabel. I love your writing and appreciate your encouragement and wisdom.

You are too kind. I will keep you updated and let you know when I get my blog up and running. Good luck to you too..I know you will be fine you have the will of all your camino friends behind you.