How Sesamoidits Isn’t Going to Keep Me From Surfing & Travelling

I’ve had a hard run lately and I feel it’s time I share.

For the past two years I have been constantly struggling with injury. I haven’t previously shared this because I refused to accept that my life my life of travelling, surfing and adventure could be coming to an end. In addition to this, I even started believing I was a hypochondriac because no one could fix me or figure out what was wrong!

So where and when did it begin? It all began two years ago on the Camino de Santiago… A walk that has been the most challenging yet rewarding experience of my life to date.

How could something I hold so close to me and plan to do again the start of my problems?

Another lesser known fact about my pilgrimage – hidden by a giant grin on my face as I crossed Spain – was that I sprained my ankle pretty badly 200km into my 800km. It happened around 20km from the nearest big town so I trekked on and somehow made it through the searing heat. As I checked into my albergue and removed my boot I wasn’t shocked to find my ankle and foot to be double in size. Not good!

But the thing you need to know about the Camino is that it is addictive and always provides. And that day was no exception. Using my best Spanish, I managed to get my hands on intensely strong pain killers so I could continue my pilgrimage relatively pain free.

For a week I walked in a daze, often found by other pilgrims having my own mini rave on mountain tops. During this week, I also became a highly skilled baton twirler. Eventually (around 8 days later), I had gotten used to the sprain and my body adapted so I stopped taking the pills. Sigh. Westward I continued.

I was averaged at least 40km a day all the way into Santiago de Compostela. Just 4 weeks after beginning my pilgrimage in France – I’m nuts I know.

Although I finished the Camino on a massive high, I was in bad shape and could barely walk due to intense shin splints which developed just 22km from the end of the walk.

But determined to continue my world explorations, I pushed on to SE Asia where I spent several months dancing till dawn and hiking, swimming and surfing all day long.

After a few months in Asia I returned to Australia to replenish my bank accounts and touch base with family and friends after spending 18 months on the road. It was then that I finally decided it was time to sort out my ankle properly.

Since the sprain, I had had continual niggling pain in my foot as if a ligament was tearing as well as shin splints if I walked for more than 30 minutes. Not to mention my horrific balance from a weakened ankle!

I tried everything. After a year of physio, specialists and doctors, the pain in my foot persisted until it finally exploded (not literally) but it was bad!

I sacked the latest specialist and went to a leading Sports Physician who straight away realised the root of the problem wasn’t an ankle issue and that I HAD MEDIAL SESAMOIDITIS!

What the hell is sesamoiditis and how do you get it?

Due to the natural anatomy of my foot, where my big toe drops lower than the rest of my other toes due to hypermobile joints, a tiny peanut shaped bone – my medial sesamoid (you have two at the base of your big toe) – has been taking the whole load of my body every step I take.

Why is it so bad?

Because my condition was never picked up, as everyone previously had been focussing on my ankle, my medial sesamoid bone is now degraded and will apparently never heal 100% (usually it apparently is only a 3-6 week recovery time with crutches and orthotics).

For several months now I have not been able to walk without pain. Not only that, but my feet are going to be imprisoned for life! I’ve been told I can never walk around barefoot again! Ever!

In addition to this, I currently cannot carry a load on my back if ever again. Naturally, when you are bombarded with “NO, NEVER AGAIN’s” you hold a few things to yourself… So technically I’m still allowed to surf; even if I have to wear proper shoes to the water’s edge…

Mind you, I physically can’t surf at the moment, as every time I pop up or try anything on the face of a wave I get stabbing pain in my foot – worse than the pain of walking across Spain on a sprained ankle!

Saying this, with selective footwear and various orthotics the pain and condition should be able to be managed – so I should be able to do most things (except walk barefoot).

On top of this, I have been hit by every cold and flu in Sydney as I commute to Sydney every day for work just to pay for all my specialists and treatments while trying to save money to continue to travel and surf the globe. I also tore a tendon in my right index finger! How? Not exactly sure…

Despite everything I am determined to defeat all the other NO’s! I WILL continue to travel and I WILL NOT STOP surfing and living life to its fullest potential.

Do you travel with an injury or illness?

I’d love to hear your story in the comments below as it will be so inspirational for me to continue fighting this and pursue my dreams.