Shin splints

[Tuckerman]

Ok I started running like 9 weeks ago and I have great shoes for me but I still have shin splints so my question is will shin splints just go away if I continue to run with the pain? BTW hurts like a muther fucker.

[runethechamp]

No it will not.

[Vinman]

it really depends on what is causing the shin pain. "Shin splints" is a catch all term used to descride many types of shin pain.

For example
Posterior tibialis muscle strain/tendonitis
Anterior tibialis muscle strain/tendonitis
stress fracture
tibial periostitis
exertional compartment syndrome

just to name a few. So without knowing which one of these is your problem it is impossible how to tell you to treat it and if it will just go away on its own or not. Many people pass this off as "ahh its just shin splints" when in fact lower leg pain can be a very complex injury to diagnose correctly. Just treating the symptoms usually doesn't do the trick. You have to get to the cause to the pain and treat it accordingly weather that be poor mechanics, poor foot wear, muscle weakness/imbalance, doing too much too soon or too fast, terrain choices, and the list goes on.

My advise to you would be
1. reduce your miles
2. reduce your speed
3. stretch your calves and achillies very well
4. ice after workouts
5. get an evaluation by a Certified Athletic Trainer or Physcial Therapist
6. make sure your shoes really are great for you. Meaning make sure the type of show you have is correct for your foot type.
7. If all else fails get the opinion of an Orthopedic Surgeon

Hope some of this helps.

[Tuckerman]

Thanks ^ I only do 4 miles every other day at about a 7.5 min pace.

[Tuckerman]

No it will not.

That sux

[runethechamp]

I didn't mean to be that short in my first post, but that was my experience. I'll add the following to Vinman's advice:

- Run on a dirt trail or something that's not all flat and hard. From what I learned, shin splints could happen when you get the exact same motion over and over again and some muscle or tendon is just a little bit too tight. So yeah, stretch AFTER your workouts.
- I was wearing a neoprene sleeve over my calf for everyday activities after I had a nasty case of shin splints after running too much too soon. I think the extra heat helped on increased blood flow and healing. But if you work out, ice afterwards to reduce swelling.

I don't remember how long it took me to get well, but it was probably a couple of months or so. And then I stopped running entirely for that time.

[Grange]

I had shin splint when I played soccer. I was able to "run through" them and the pain went away once the season started. Fast forward about 8 years when I decided to get serious about fitness again.

I was running between 3 and 4 miles a day depending on the route when I started to get shin splints. At first it was no big deal, but after a month or so they got worse. It got so bad that once I finished the run I couldn't walk without tremendous pain for about a half hour. I was icing my shins everynight. A intern doctor from my gym said I may be developing hairline fractures. I had to quit running my normal routes.

I figured the big difference between my ability to "run through" the shin splints in soccur was because after the preseason training I moved to running on grass rather than concrete or asphalt. So I started trail running. the shin splints didn't return and I got a much better workout with trail running.

[Powder Seeker]

[QUOTE=runethechamp]- Run on a dirt trail or something that's not sll flat and hard. QUOTE]

I ran track in school and when our shin's started jurting this is what are coaches would reccommend. Running on grass or something softer than concrete will help.

[Viva]

I highly recommend any advice proffered by Tim Noakes, a competitive runner and excercise physiologist.

Looky-look

edit- just checked, it's available in the U.S.

[chaka]

Vinman is right... getting an accurate diagnosis is the way to go. One thing I find to help for many shin-area pains due to running is a certain stretch this endurance runner taught me..

while standing keep your foot flat on the ground. curl your toes up trying to concentrate on keeping the bed of your foot connected to the ground. Hold for a few seconds relax, repeat. If you do this right you can feel some of the muscles on the shin get isolated and stretched.

Good luck!

[Tuckerman]

All good stuff. I ran yesterday and felt fine but hurt today. So my next question is how can you tell between injury and soreness?

[laseranimal]

advil is your friend, also one of the best things I've found for them is take a small dixie cup and put water in it, throw it in the freezer once it freezes peel back the paper and use the ice to rub up and down your shins it feels great and really does wonders for the inflamation

[Grange]

advil is your friend, also one of the best things I've found for them is take a small dixie cup and put water in it, throw it in the freezer once it freezes peel back the paper and use the ice to rub up and down your shins it feels great and really does wonders for the inflamation

With the exception of feeling great I second lasenanimal. This techniques works better and faster than a bag of ice.

[dipstik]

Work through soreness, not pain. Take a few days off and the pain will fade. It's coming from you not being in shape/ not having had a lot of excercise for awhile. I always get em at the start of training for ski season