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The worst friends of the pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago

Before starting the Camino de Santiago, we must take into account various ailments that we may have during the journey and thus avoid uncomfortable situations that prevent us from enjoying our adventure

Lesiones en el Camino de Santiago - Jovanmandic/iStock

Lesiones en el Camino de Santiago - Jovanmandic/iStock

Once we have decided to embark on the adventure of starting the Camino de Santiago, we must think that our feet are one of the most important things that we will have to take care of while we walk the Camino. When we begin to prepare our trip, the most common thing is to think about the route we will travel, calculate the luggage, the backpack that we will carry and everything that we will put inside.

However, we forget one of the most important things: the feet. We must take care of our feet before and after each stage as blisters, abrasions or even tendinitis could appear, so we cannot continue our Way properly and enjoy the experience as it deserves.

Along with the ailments or physical problems that we may have in our feet, it is also worth paying attention to other types of ills that we must take into account to avoid uncomfortable situations.

Most common ailments on the Camino de Santiago

Blisters or chafing are one of the most frequent ills that pilgrims will encounter when traveling the Camino de Santiago. They can appear due to excessive humidity inside the boot, caused by perspiration or continuous friction between the socks, the foot and the boot.

Therefore, try not to wear new shoes when starting the route. Choose a suitable and comfortable footwear for you. Starting the Camino de Santiago wearing new footwear is one of the most common mistakes among pilgrims with little experience.

It is recommended that we carry a first-aid kit with everything we need in our backpack in case we get blisters or scratches. In the event that any appear to us, we can drain the liquid with a needle, gauze and avoid its appearance with petroleum jelly.

  • Muscle overload and tendinitis

Muscle overload can lead to ailments in your legs and back, such as tendonitis, fractures or fasciitis. These overloads are produced by the prolonged repetition of a movement of a specific muscle.

If you want to avoid these annoyances, it is best to balance your backpack, take short breaks or massage your back and legs once you arrive at your hostel or accommodation, so you will feel like new.

As we mentioned before, tendinitis arises from a certain effort or overload. In the case of tendons, you can suffer tendinitis whether you walk, bike, horse or in a wheelchair; therefore it is best to take precautions.

If you begin to notice pain, it is best to slow down and choose to take analgesics or anti-inflammatories to relieve the pain.

  • Possible falls

Whether you are going to start the journey on foot or by bicycle, you must pay close attention to the terrain. If you are going to do it on foot, observe the shortcuts because the ground can change at any time. Did you know that most of the falls in the ascents or descents happen due to a mistake of the pilgrim?

If, on the other hand, you go by bicycle, pay more attention. Before starting the adventure, check your bicycle so that there is no problem while you travel the Camino.

  • Dizziness and heat stroke

There are people who are more prone to dizziness than others, however, fatigue dizziness can be due to the physical condition of the person, the pace at which they make the trip, not hydrating, heat stroke or a poor diet.

To avoid fatigue dizziness, hydrate yourself, eat the right diet, a rhythm that your body can support and rest as much as you need.

During hot months, keep in mind to take the necessary precautions not to suffer heat stroke from physical effort or the weather. Bring sun protection, water, fine clothing and sunglasses to counteract the Camino in the sun. Try to hydrate often as otherwise you could become dehydrated and lead to heat stroke.

  • Stings

Insect bites are one of the most annoying subjects. Mosquito or other insect bites will cause very uncomfortable inflammations.

To prevent bites, carry an anti-mosquito lotion or a lotion for clothes in your backpack, this way you will ensure that insects do not approach you. If you have already been bitten and you notice serious swelling, it is better to go to the nearest pharmacy or doctor.

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