Author: nomadicbecs

Physiotherapy: finding a path to recovery on the road

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When I left Canada in October 2014 for my round-the-world trip, I was on a recovery path from a six month old injury that had caused sciatica. Although sciatica is the kind of issue that never really goes away, I was determined to put it behind me and not just because of my travel plans. Being active is a big part of who I am and I wasn’t about to give that up. I had been working with an excellent physiotherapist in Toronto and I left home with an arsenal of exercises that were intended to bring me back to full recovery. Unfortunately, the path to recovery is never smooth and my journey around the world led me to look beyond physiotherapy to find a complete solution. It’s been two years since my original injury and I’m still working on getting back to my best self but I’ve come a long way and it’s been an interesting ride.

A month into my travels I did the Everest base camp trek in Nepal. I’d cleared this idea with my GP and physiotherapist before leaving Canada and they assured me that it was definitely within my reach as long as I wasn’t carrying a heavy load on my back. The trek was harder than I expected and I struggled particularly with the altitude. My sciatica was pretty manageable on the way up but the knee on my injured side got very stressed on the way down. It was pretty badly swollen by the end but I didn’t feel like there was any serious damage so I self prescribed rest and TLC.

After another week in Nepal, I limped into Pakistan to visit with a good friend. My sciatica was acting up and my knee still hurt. Upon seeing my limp, my friend immediately asked me to join her in physiotherapy. The timing of this offer was perfect. The techniques that were applied were pretty different from my experience in Canada. In Toronto, I was mostly given stretches and strengthening exercises whereas in Pakistan, the focus was on electrotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound and spinal traction. Although I was initially skeptical about the different approaches, it really helped. After ten days in Pakistan, I was barely limping anymore!

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Meditating through the pain in India.

My next stop was a yoga ashram in India. Embarking on three hours of daily yoga was great for improving my flexibility but it also really caused my sciatic nerve to flare up. I was pushing myself at an accelerated pace but I was still careful about my limits. I eventually had to reduce my yoga attendance by half and spend my down time curled up on my back to ease the nerve aggravation. I was also back to limping around- it didn’t help that the ashram was hilly! The net result of this was that once my nerve calmed down my knee and sciatica were markedly improved. I was so impressed with my progress that I continued to carry my yoga mat with me throughout the rest of my trip. This kept me inspired to stretch as daily as possible. After a few more months of stretching, my persistence paid off and I started to feel back to normal.

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Morning yoga on the beach in Thailand

When I arrived in New Zealand in April 2015, I felt really good about day to day activities but still found that my knee and sciatica would flare up at times from things like stairs and salsa dancing. Luckily I found a great job in health insurance that enabled me to afford extra care and I was happy to invest in my health. I tried a number of things: physiotherapy, osteopathy, massage therapy and personal training. Although all of these helped in some way, I was happiest with my decision to hire a personal trainer. I found a trainer who was very knowledgeable about building core strength and helping me with my form. This was exactly what I needed and he got me doing squats and deadlifts again which I was so grateful for. I really missed that!

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Yoga on a chilly morning in New Zealand

My Kiwi trainer gave me two workout routines that I could use on the road and I did my best to fit them in around beach time in the South Pacific. I eventually got a little too confident and added in some skipping which gave me a seriously tight calf muscle in my problem leg. When I arrived in Rarotonga, my calf was so tight that I was limping around and stretching was not helping. I looked into sports massage on the island and found myself a gem. He talked a big game of curing people who flew in from around the world to see him, of being chased by the All Blacks to join their support team full time and of being able to solve problems that no other physiotherapist, doctor, osteopath or massage therapist could solve. He also claimed to only have divine training! Although I can’t say that I believed all his claims, I decided to give him a try and he came through. He gave me an excellent massage that got to the source of my problem at the time and did wonders for my tight calf muscle.

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Finding a quiet place to workout in Fiji

Now that I’m back in Toronto, I’ve been delighted to see my old physiotherapist and massage therapist again. I’m not at 100% yet and I’m going to keep looking for the right solution to get me there. Next on my to-do list is picking a new gym and new yoga studio in Toronto. I’m really looking forward to getting back to doing all the things I love.

The South Pacific: beyond the beautiful beaches

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After backpacking for over a year, the novelty of lying out on a beach in the sun has worn off. The sun burns too quickly this far south anyway and after spending so much time in hot sunny countries, I no longer need to put in effort to tan. When I planned to do some South Pacific island hopping in Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa and the Cook Islands, I didn’t really take this into account and as the trip approached I started to wonder what I’d do with seven weeks of beach time. I needn’t have worried though – there has been plenty to keep me occupied and entertained!

In Vanuatu, I spent lazy days in Port Vila eating the French pastries, lounging in the shade at resorts, swimming in the ocean, reading in the dorm and coddling a beer during happy hour over sunset. I also meandered through a beautiful tropical garden and played in a waterfall with plenty of splash pools (the number one rated attraction in Port Vila). I ventured out of the downtown to a few different resorts and gathered fresh veggies at the market for shared dinners with my fellow hostel mates. I took the opportunity to try kava which is a muddy looking concoction that locals prefer to drink instead of alcohol. (Popular in certain areas of the South Pacific.) It was definitely a different experience from anything I’ve tried before and has a particularly mellow effect. It’s definitely stronger in Vanuatu then Fiji though – I was still dizzy the next morning!

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The tropical garden near Port Vila.

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The peaceful beach in Port Vila.

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The number one tourist attraction in Port Vila is a great way to cool off!

In Fiji, I spent more time doing typical tourist island hopping. Here I found amazing snorkeling and some of the most beautiful beaches that I’ve ever seen. I spent a few afternoons reading in hammocks and dipping in and out of pools. The resorts were all pretty empty here, as with the other islands, since this time of year is off season so hammocks were easy to snag where available. I hiked around a few islands and did as much snorkeling as I could while trying not to burn my back to a crisp. I was lucky enough to see a young turtle and many reef sharks in the water as well as myriad colorful fish and coral. Fiji is postcard perfect and the coconuts are plentiful!

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The beach on Mana island is postcard perfect!

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View from the top of Mana island.

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Snorkeling in Fiji. Those are my flippers!

In Samoa, the fales (beach huts) were literally on the water’s edge and falling asleep with the cool breeze and the sounds of lapping waves was a real treat. It made lying on the beach in the heat of the day seem particularly unnecessary so after making fast friends with a few other backpackers, we rented scooters to explore. We swam in a gorgeous waterfall, got sprayed by natural blowholes, explored a lava tube cave, marveled at the lava ruined churches and lazed around in an ocean trench (a pool deep down in a hole that is filled by the ocean’s tides). We also made a point of trying all the local beers as they use German purity laws in Samoa. We were treated to a few fiafia shows of local dancing and fire stick twirling and we even danced at the local disco on Friday night. We also celebrated Chinese New Year by lighting and releasing lanterns. Sadly I let our first one catch fire and I’m still trying not to think about how much bad luck I’ve brought upon myself.

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Sleeping on the beach in Samoa.

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To Sua trench in Samoa.

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The failed Chinese lantern. I take full responsibility.

Currently in the Cook Islands, I’ve taken a slightly different tactic. Although the beaches are quite beautiful in Rarotonga, I feel like I want to be more than just a tourist here. I was quickly inspired to volunteer at the local vet clinic after I rented a scooter for easy accessibility around the island and stumbled upon the local veterinary clinic. Things are pretty easy to find here as the main road takes you right around the island in less than an hour. The Esther Honey Foundation Veterinary Clinic has been quite happy to have my help in walking dogs, playing with and bathing puppies and helping with the washing, but the pleasure has been all mine. The clinic is run by caring individuals and services are provided in return for donations. (Please take a minute to check out their website.) I’ve been cooking most of my meals at my hostel and enjoying occasional delicious fresh fish sandwiches. I also took the opportunity to hike to “the needle” high up in the centre of the island. The evenings have been filled with card playing and beach bonfires. I don’t think backpackers ever get tired of playing cards! I’ve got another week left here and I’ve got a few more plans up my sleeve: a brewery tour, a local dance fitness class (I’m expecting socacise meets hula) and more!

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Sunday drive around the island on Raro!

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Who doesn't want to volunteer to bathe these puppies?

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View of "the needle" that I hiked.

End note: Given the time of year, I’ve been watching the cyclone movements in the area as I travel around. I was very sorry to hear about Fiji’s recent cyclone hit a few weeks after I left that caused some serious destruction and more than a few deaths. I’m sorry for their losses and I wish them a speedy recovery. Save the Children and the Australian Red Cross are some of the organizations providing aid if you’d like to donate.