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Injury - in Oviedo now

nancymcintosh

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
May 1, 2023
My husband and I were hiking the Camino Norte, until my knee started to give me some pain. I just keep hiking for about 5 days with Ibuprofen every 6 hours. Until I couldn’t put any pressure on the foot at all. We made our way to Oviedo from Llanes, but not sure where to go from here for help. If anybody knows of a clinic that will take walk-ins please let me know. I have Googled clinics, but they seem to be for specific problems, and I don’t want to go to a hospital if I can help it.
June 11, 2024
We will be staying here until I can get some kind of help.
Thank you,

Nancy & Doug McIntosh
 
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
Your first resort is the nearest Centro de Salud, search that on Godgle. They may refer you to a hospital. You should definitely contact your travel/health insurers. They may have preferred providers. They will certainly want to be on notice of a potential claim.

Health care in Spain is provided to an excellent standard. Take advantage and get yourself sorted
 
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I have Googled clinics, but they seem to be for specific problems, and I don’t want to go to a hospital if I can help it.
Knees are complex joints, and properly diagnosing what is happening won't necessarily be a simple task. I think you should reconsider getting to a hospital emergency department. They are likely to have access to a range of diagnostic services that might not be readily available in health centres.
 
Last edited:
Knees are complex joints, and properly diagnosing what is happening won't necessarily be a simple task. I think you should reconsider getting to a hospital emergency department. They are likely to have access to a range of diagnostic services that might not be readily available in health centres.
Thank you for your advice. My husband was thinking along that same line. I think we will make our way to the hospital. I hadn’t thought to advise my health care provider back home. Will get that done today.
6/12/24 The hardest part is not being on the trail, seeing our friends hike on.
Sincerely,
Nancy & Doug
 
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
It is always disappointing and a worry when we find ourselves injured while walking a Camino. I am sorry to hear this has happened to you.
A month ago on my Camino I injured my knee on a steep downhill, luckily only one day before finishing in Santiago. I was fortunate that it was not too painful although I still worried, and it resolved itself in about ten days; your knee trouble sounds worse.
On a positive note, resting in beautiful Oviedo while you have your knee looked at by a professional is a plus.
 
My husband and I were hiking the Camino Norte, until my knee started to give me some pain. I just keep hiking for about 5 days with Ibuprofen every 6 hours. Until I couldn’t put any pressure on the foot at all. We made our way to Oviedo from Llanes, but not sure where to go from here for help. If anybody knows of a clinic that will take walk-ins please let me know. I have Googled clinics, but they seem to be for specific problems, and I don’t want to go to a hospital if I can help it.
June 11, 2024
We will be staying here until I can get some kind of help.
Thank you,

Nancy & Doug McIntosh
Very sorry to hear of your injury.
I have been to hospital in Spain twice while walking a Camino and found them excellent. They take special attention to pilgrims.
 
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.
My partner, on March 28th, had a fall in Tui, Spain, thought she had an ankle sprain, went to a public hospital in Pontevedra and was diagnosed with a complicated fracture. It was a public hospital, long 4 hours wait in emergency, full consult, X-rays, realignment, cast. We later at home got a bill for 480 Euros. It was money well spent as we received excellent care. I fully understand your anxiety; you are in Spain for pleasure, fun, interest and you have this realization how totally screwed you are with an injury. We had to go home NOW; money, pain time, disruption. If you do not have travel insurance, check your credit cards for coverage or other insurance that may provide a foreign travel medical/evacuation benefit. Good luck!!!
 
If you are using travel insurance:
I saw a fantastic tip from someone with an injury. She splurged on a nice hotel for her recovery, knowing the travel insurance would cover it. She was happy to have access to ice and food. (It wasn't fancy like the Ritz, but you get the idea.)

I hope it's nothing serious and you can get back on the camino soon.
 
A previous experience with Spanish Hospital EDs.
With a serious cardio health warning on an Apple Watch we went first to Centro de Salud in Burgos. Because it was cardio they referred us on to the ED in the Hospital. When we got to the ED all they wanted to know was who referred us to the ED, and made a very big song & dance about it. When we finally explained what happened they gave the person a complete top to tail examination that took a few hours and discharged him with an all clear (all covered with an EU Health Insurance Card).
My point is that getting into an ED in Spain is possibly not the same as in other countries.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
I am on Primativo- saw a doctor at clinic in Oviedo the other day- she was excellent and it was like $70. Euro. I went to the hospital first and that was a nightmare as my health card is on my phone and they looked at me like I was crazy. Finally a nurse handed me a paper with the name of this clinic on it. Took a 5 minute taxi ride for $5 euro and was taken care of - I am from the US. I was amazed.
 
Nancy, I hope that you know more now and have had someone look at your knee. I've unfortunately been in the same situation (Vía de la Plata 2011). How I made it to the emergency department of a public hospital in Zamora I will never know.
Outcome: spontaneous fracture of my tibial plateau on the right and pelvic fractures on the left secondary to undiagnosed osteoporosis.

I hope that your outcome is better than mine but I look on the bright side, the following summer (after 9 months of rehab 3 of which in a wheelchair) I was back on the Camino walking.

Let us know how you are.
 
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