lincasanova

Thanks, julia_t

chapla

lincasanova-I'm sorry for your accident too.Which hospital did they take you to,public or private?
Some years ago, I fell down a hotel flight of stairs-wooden,thank goodness, in Santiago.It was Good Friday and I wanted to see one more procession.I didn't realize I had broken my wrist until I stood up! The owner rushed me to the public hospital because she said it was better. The three orthopedic surgeons pulled in all directions to set my wrist and did a great job-it was called a skater's break. When I came back to the States, the doctor said they did super and all he did was change the cast to a lighter one-they still used the old fashioned plaster of paris type-and extended the cast past my elbow.
When I tried to file with my insurance company they refused to pay because I had not got the treatment approved while in Spain!I was not in any condition to make the call at midnight!The hospital in Spain told me to forget about paying it!

IMDonehere

Sorry to hear about your misadventure. Did the give you an honorary Compostela?

rialtogrl

I broke my shoulder in Galicia in June - the first (and hopefully last) broken bone I will ever have to endure in this lifetime. I am grateful it was not a head injury because it easily could have been. Very glad to hear you made it to the end and I hope you are on the mend.

Good thing it wasn't your foot so you can do more Camino Walking!

lincasanova

I was first taken to a private hospital, transferred form gurney and then the questions about insurance began. The bar owner had not given enough direct insurance company information so I was asked to use my own insurance or credit card which I refused.

After much to-do I finally just told them to either fix my head or take me to the public hospital where I have a Spanish insurance card via my husband. I was not interested in putting cat scans and tests on my CC to claim later to anyone so off we went: Transfer back to ambulance gurney and off we went.

I put a written complaint against them later the next day. I was furious.

I was given the authentic Compostela since I had walked much more than 100 km. all told from my last trip when I didn´t request the Compostela. ( The line was so long I didn't have the energy or desire to even get it at that point that year). At the bottom they also allow you to dedicate it to someone, so I dedicated it to my cousin's son.

Thank you for the good wishes. I don't want my accident to overshadow the wonderful Camino experience, but at least you can see you will be well taken care of should something happen along the way!

Rialtogirl, I was following your broken shoulder situation on FB. I'm glad to see you are still roaming and grape-hopping!

IMDonehere

Congratulations on the hard earned Compostela and heal quickly.

lincasanova

Thank you! I'm trying to see when to go do a few more kms.. was thinking the Fall seems like a better time to go to avoid the heat, but with all the rain I've seen these weeks up there, I'm not sure I would prefer that over the sun. We shall see. I think a couple friends have become convinced this is doable and no great feat if portioned out in a gentle fashion.

I will never be an avid walker, doing 100's of kms.. but a week here and there and maybe another 100 km. walk is definitely on the radar in the very near future.

Physical therapy is certainly a challenge. My heart goes out to those who are constantly and chronically suffering deep pain on a daily basis. It certainly would put one in a grumpy mood. Mine is intermittent.. but annoying and debilitating. I will give it another week, but if I don't start to see a lot more improvement I will be very worried.

cruiseluv

Hi Lin,

When I saw you being wheeled into that ambulance I was hoping you wouldn't notice the shock in my face, but obviously you did. I think it was seeing your lovely hair covered in blood that impacted me the most! You have no idea how much I berated myself for not continuing walking with you thinking the accident would not have happened if I had.You're a very strong person, I was so impressed that under the circumstances you could maintain a conversation with the EMT guys about what hospital to go to, insurance issues, etc. And then , when you came back by cab and join us for dinner, wow! Other than the cast in your arm nobody could have told you had been through such an ordeal a few hours before. You're the poster child for the saying "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade".

I'm very happy to hear that you're already planning another walk. Although during/ right after the walk I said I didnt have another Camino in me I'm turning around on that and the Camino is beckoning. My friends also want to go back. Its difficult to let go of the Camino.

Hang in there with physical therapy, be patient. I've had broken ankle and surgery of both shoulders and the recovery was also a bit brutal but amazingly it all goes away eventually.

lincasanova

I know, cruiseluv.. about on a long, hot day saying "no way am I doing this again!!".. but as you see... it is something in you.. isn't it?

Thank goodness you were all there to have dinner with. I couldn't WAIT to get to that wonderful little hotel and see you guys.

Maybe I wouldn't have fallen if I had been with more people. You were all there ahead of time, and probably sat at the same tables.. and didn't fall backwards over anything so.. who knows? This was just very very bad luck.

Maybe having my cousin's son's picture in my pocket kept me from having an even worse fall.. I told her he was my guardian angel because, as you know, I could very easily not be writing this had the head trauma been in a different place or harder or whatever.

I am hanging in with the therapy.. time will tell. I trust everyone knows what they are doing. We shall see if this is 100% correctable.

In the meantime, anyone thinking of doing the Camino.. have a wonderful time planning. Don't stress. Enjoy the company you will meet on the way.. YOUR way.. or THE WAY.

annhig

lin - when I went on holiday about 10 days ago you were just on the precipice, and I come home to find that you did almost literally fall over it! you poor thing. I so hope that the therapy goes well, and doesn't tarnish your memory of a wonderful camino.

Thank you for taking the time to post about your adventures, cast and all, it's been quite a trip! [oops, sorry about the pun].

lincasanova

thanks, Annhig. Writing from Bogota where we are dealing with the AF strike trying to get home.LOL

annhig

goodness Lin, you do get about!

Good luck with the trip home.