chair in the middle of a tiny little church
in Valenca, Portugal.
I really need to get back to see my podiatrist. I have a corn on my left foot that has hit the point where I am about ready to self-amputate. The callouses are building up as well. And "hot foot" is back again and really need to get that dealt with as well.
I dubbed my condition "hot foot" some time ago. I first began to experience it when cycling. It usually hit after about 17 to 19 miles on the bike. The only way I can describe it is a burning numbing pain toward to front of my left foot, quite severe too. It also hits when I hike, somewhere in the 4 to 6 mile range, sometimes sooner. Once it makes its presence know, the only relief (short-lived though it is) is to take off the boot and massage my foot so I can finish getting to where I am going.
I never experience this problem any other time, just when cycling or hiking. No one I talked to even had a clue as to what I was talking about. Even a doctor friend seemed puzzled by the symptoms.
Turns out Karin had the same problem. At last misery had company. On various hikes, we be forced to take some brief stops, even if just to wiggle around our toes and for a few moments, get the weight off of our feet.
It got a little better when I started hiking with my new Asolo boots, with them, hot foot didn't kick in quite so hard and I was able to go about 8 miles before experiencing any symptoms. Better but not good enough. I decided I needed to see a podiatrist before I headed out on the Camino.
Turns out I had a neuroma which is an inflammed nerve at the bottom of the foot, where the toes and foot connect. That burning numb sensation is typical nerve pain! Karin had neuritis which her doctor treated with injections. My doctor instead prescribed an gel orthotic to help take pressure off of the nerve. But by then, I had pretty much stopping hiking and was focusing on packing for my move. I did try them out on a few short walks that I did on my own and they seemed to work. Then I dropped that can of nails on my foot and broke my right little toe and pretty much stopped walking after that (can't go far in bedroom slippers)!
That little toe stayed swollen for quite some time. I broke it sometime in April and wasn't able to get anything on my foot other than moccasins and loafers. The week before Camino, I decided to see if I could get my foot into my boots. I stuffed the orthotic inside and gave it a try. Left foot was fine, right foot no. The orthotic took up space needed for my swollen toe! Since the left foot was the "hot foot" I figured at least I had the orthotic on the foot that needed it. I found out soon on Camino that it wouldn't work. Having just one orthotic threw everything off. I stopped wearing it after our first day's short walk from Valenca to Tui. I chose to leave both of them at the refugio in Redondela, along with some other things I really didn't need.
So I really don't know if those orthotics would have worked or not had I been able to use them. Now that I'm doing a lot of hiking again, I've got to go back to the doctor and get done what needs to be done so I don't experience that raging pain every time I hike.
When planning a Camino there's so much to do before you take your first step. But it's your feet that will get you to Santiago. So please, take care of them!
Despite a still swollen little toe and the neuroma, I had absolutely no foot problems on Camino. I did have an excellent pair of boots and they kept my feet warm, safe and dry! But I did pay careful attention to advice given by other pilgrims in their books or online. So while I was forced to leave a lot of things at home, I did bring an arsenal of foot care items - just about all of which helped me make it to Santiago.
My podiatrist took care of my corn and callouses before the Camino. So barring a still someone swollen little toe, I started off with happy and healthy feet. On the Camino, I put a nice big piece of moleskin on the balls of my feet, slipped my gel pad over my corn, then massaged my feet with a nice slippery foot cream. Then on with the thick wool socks and my boots and I was ready to go! In the evening, I would again cream and massage my feet. I also took my boots off every chance I got so my feet could "breath."
Having one Camino under my belt, I'm much better about daily foot care than I ever was. I used to think a pedicure every few weeks was enough, it's not. I walk and hike a lot more now than ever before and the care I give my feet has increased proportionately.
I always cream my feet, morning and night, and give them a good massage a couple of times a week and always after a hike or very long walk. I always wear my gel corn pad and never hike without putting moleskin on the balls of my feet.
Also, there's still nothing like a good pedicure every now and again!
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