I'm supposed to be going to Siem Reap later this week to look at the temples over a 5 day period, but I've just injured my foot!

It's a re-injury from a few years ago where I pulled some tendons in my foot, and at the moment I'm resting it and have it on ice. At best I'm "limping" around and can't do much walking.

How accessible are the temples? If I organise for a driver to take me from one temple to another, is there a lot of walking involved once you arrive at each temple? Normally, I would love to explore areas, and love taking photos, so it's a massive disappoint, but this is my only chance to visit Siem Reap for probably the next 4 years, at least, so if it can be done I'll give it a go.

Any tips or advice?

Thanks

Yes, there is a lot of walking. Even if you weren't limping, you'd need a car and driver. Your driver can drop you offer as close to the entrances as possible, but you'll still need to walk a lot. Make sure you have closed-toed shoes with good support.

Is there anything besides icing it that was helpful last time? ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory?

Hi Simone - I did a similar thing to myself this year and then headed off to Lao - I still tried to do as much walking as possible - usually we walk everywhere but at the end of the day I was exhausted and in a lot of pain. Probably made it ten times worse. Now having been to Angkor a few years back - if I had wanted to do that this year it would have been a really big problem. There is a lot of walking as Kathie says - and a lot of steep steps and all of it on hard and often uneven stone. You would still need a driver of some sort to get you out to the temples but even if he drops you at one gate and picks you up on the other side its still a lot.

If you want to go you will still get to see a lovely lot and its so great but you will need to review how much you do. Take a tube or 2 of voltaren gel or similar and good strong shoes - even if its hot it will still make it easier. I've just seen someone about my foot and was told to wear shoes with a firm back, sole and with no twist (when you try to ring them out) but with toes that can bend back a bit (like not hard as in the steel cap type) - you should also have either lace ups or ones that hold firm to your ankle with a strap. You could also get the foot strapped before you go - that makes a huge difference - really huge. They strap under the arch and around the base of the foot with a tape that will stay on for some time (so long as you aren't allergic to the tape)

Best of luck to you but remember you will do a lot more harm if your not careful.

Simone I forgot to say - the thing that kept me going was having foot massage at every opportunity. For a couple of hours after each one I could dance around the place! They are cheap and readily available in Siem Reap. The first one can be a bit of agony but it gets better. It might just get you through.

i would still go...load up on pain pills while there...

i hurt my back while there but i managed to get around....

just go slow and plan to rest frequently....some places can be just drive bys, but the main places you will want to walk a bit...

entrance to angkor itself is not too bad....you can stay on one level, but it is a decent walk..

how about ace bandages too...

YOU NEED AN A/C CAR AND DRIVER...

the hotel can arrange that....about $20-30 per day for guide and same for driver....well worth it hurt or not...

Thanks Kathie, Mary and rhkkmk for your advice - its really appreciated and given me food for thought.

I'm afraid I cant have ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatories as I'm allergic to them, but the gel sounds good - I just went out and got one that doesnt contain ibuprofen, but is more like a tiger balm - thanks!

I think given that there is so much walking to do, I'm not sure I want to make my ankle worse. Last time I injured it, it took me months to get over and I don;t want to be in that position again. When I got better I did 2 weeks in Russia (in winter!) and was hobbling round on crutches in the snow! It was reallly hard, but didn't spoil my holiday either...

I may now also have the chance to go in Feb - but only for 3 days instead of 5. I ideally wanted 5 days to take my time, and see some of the temples away from the tourist trail (if thats possible), but really, if my ankle is better by Feb, I would probably get to see more in 3 days, then 5 days of limping around.

I think I'll rest up for the next few days, and mull over it

Thanks again for your advice!

Sorry to hear about your injury.
If nothing else, you can drive by some of the temples, and see the grandeur of the temples from outside. Just a thought...since you are there already.

Have you been on the Ton le Sap river cruise? Not much walking there...you do have to get in/out of boats.