STOP PRESS - MY LAST SENSATIONAL WEEK ON THE CAMINO

At last the true story can be told as I have arrived home and have spoken with my family.
On a regular walk to Castett Aloure  feeling great I decided to stop for my usual mid day snack at the side of the path. At this stage of my Camino walk due to an easier terrain and my much better fitness the walking had become easier. Having my snack, some salad, bread and yogurt I stretched or twisted. When I got up to continue I realised I had hurt my back but had no worries. Arrived in Castett Aloure,checked in , showered, and later on went out to dinner in the local restaurant with other pilgrims. Off to bed and the usual good nights sleep. Next morning- in trouble- severe back pain and pain down my  right leg. I barely made it to breakfast. A new friend Miriam that I had met a few days before advised that I should travel to Lectoure and not to where I had planned, because Lectoure would have a Doctor, pharmacy etc. But how to get there was a problem. Miriam suggested that failing  another solution that I would hitch. She wrote out a notice in French to hand to any driver to explain my situation. However, enter the Mayor of Castett Aloure and he drove me to Lectoure.

Got a Gite reserved for me in  the Tourist Office and was I lucky in the choice even though I had great difficuly in getting to it even though it eas only about 200 metres away. So I had luch first of Maigrit of Canard, veg and frites washed down with a carafe of red wine.

I was joined later by Monika from Hamburgh a friend I had met a few days before. She joined me for a coffee,a chat and a laugh- yes I was still able to laugh through the pain.
I was joined later my Miriam who was walking with her mother and she helped me to my Gite. There I met my angel Veronique who drove me to the Doctor, drove me to the Phamacy and looked after me for 6 days. She rearranged her gite for me so that I could have my meals at my bed, with my own table chair etc. A nurse came every morning to give me an injection in my bum. Veronique seeing that I wasnt improving got the Doctor to come and visit me in the Gite again . He write out a report to the effect that I should be repatriated home. This was faxed to VHI who were responsible for getting me home. More later about VHI.
Eventually, a Taxi to Toulouse Airport, wheelchaired to plane to Paris, the wheelchaired to plane to Dublin. First Class, wheelchaired to exit, and I couldnt believe it, Lifeline Ambulance waiting to bring me home.
Home, still in pain, but my own bed and my own recliner- luxury.

ONE WEEK AFTER ARRIVING HOME
Got my own Doctor to visit  me on Monday - I had arrived home on Saturday 9th. October. He prescribed stronger painkillers and ordered an MRI scan which I got on Wednesday in Vista, the local Primary Care Centre just around the corner from where I live. It is so close that I could have walked to it, if I was able to walk, which I still cant.
The MRI scan swowed problems in two disks and I'm waiting for an appointment with a Spine Specialist in the Mater private  hospital.