Shin splints - Page 2 - Beginners

stemaka

19/03/2007 at 22:51

I had shinsplints last november december after comming back to running after 6 months lay off.Unfortunatley the shoes i was using weren't really running shoes,just cheap trainers.So that coupled with doing too much to soon on pavements resulted in my shinsplints.
I was so fed up of them not going away that i stopped running altogether and concentrated on cycling for 3 or 4 months.Now i have come back to running and just starting off gradually with a decent pair of running shoes and touch wood i feel great and no shinsplints any more.I will now gradually carry on increasing my training and should hopefully now get more off road running in too.

charlie chuck

20/03/2007 at 09:12

Hi Everyone

Just noticed this thread. Not sure if i have shin splints but the pain i am feeling is like constant cramp in my left shin like a dull ache and the shin itself feels bruised and abit swollen its not too painful just more annoying! Could this be the development of them?. I have only just come back into running since being off for months and if im honest done too much straight away.

Any help and advice? i would be very gratefull

C x

Shimmy shimmy

17/04/2007 at 14:25

Yep, that sounds like shin splints, I get them too, I shall try the advice posted here, sounds good. Its also good to hear that some people have managed to sort of cure them.

Fred Murray

20/04/2007 at 15:16

i knew i had flat. And started running as you probley guessed i started getting at lot of pain in my shins so i bought a decent pair of running shoes. Still i was getting a lot of pain so did some research into flat feet and found that orthotic inserts would help me. I have had them for just over a week now. And had a little run yeasterday less than a mile, my shins dont hurt at all i dont get that horrible tight feeling i did before even walking at a pace feels better
my advice would be if you think you have shin splints or flat feet
check this site out
http://www.drfoot.co.uk/

Jamie Grant

01/06/2007 at 18:11

Hi, i don't know if anyone can help me
ive just spent a good while reading the majority of the posts on this thread and this tuesday, 5 days away ive got a football scholarship trial, and about a week ago i started to get pains down the bone of my shins, they pain isn't ridiculous or anything, but i just want to know if i would behable to play in this game ?

Any help would be great thank you

Shimmy shimmy

03/06/2007 at 08:29

Hi Jamie,
it will probably hurt but i dont think you will do any damage by playing. (dont quote me on this though as Im not a medical person)

Follow the advice on the thread and take a visit to a physio to get it checked out to get a proper diagnosis. They will also be able to give you advice on sorting out the problem.

Hope it goes well.

Jamie Grant

04/06/2007 at 15:29

thanks alot himpy

Shimmy shimmy

04/06/2007 at 15:31

No worries, good luck for tomorrow :-)

Savvo

10/08/2007 at 14:34

Hi,

I suffered from shin splints after starting running after no serious sustained exercising for several years.

I found that my shoes were not adequate and a new pair was purchased with professional help from a running shop.

More importantly, I found that I was running to quick at the outset of each run and the impact was too much for my shins.

By running at an initial slower pace for first 15 mins I was fine afterwards

Shimmy shimmy

10/08/2007 at 14:37

That is very true, I went out for a 3 mile fast run last Thursday and boy did I pay for it the next day. The pain is only just starting to go. It really does pay to slow down a bit to keep the dreaded splints away.

spinkletoes

10/08/2007 at 15:07

Help!
I've been running on an off for the last 6/7 years and I'm training for the Great North Run (will be my second) and been doing OK but over the last few days I've been plagued by what I think are shin splints. Pain on the outside edge of my shins particularly right leg.

So - decided my shoes were worn out and bought a new pair. No dice. Pain even worse. The pain goes afterwards (about 5 mins later).

Here are the facts:

I'm fat (call it overweight, call it big but let's call a spade a spade) nay, obese. I am an experienced runner (albeit at snail's pace). I have flat feet (wearing nike equalon at the moment). I have not upped my mileage. And I'm miffed about this.

Could it be shin splints? Compartment syndrome?

Anyone who could shed light on this?

Many ta's.

Shimmy shimmy

10/08/2007 at 15:28

Hmm, have a look here

http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/site/?pageID=2&submenu=22&article=122

The classic shin splint pain is in the bottom part of the shins on the inside.

May be best to see a physio to get a diagnosis and treatment.

Good luck with the run.

Toomuchtoodo

10/08/2007 at 16:34

Lucy, best I can suggest, is the classic rest 'em, elevate your legs, ice them for 10 mins twice a day and take ibuprofen if you can (if not rub gel into the area). If your worried about losing fitness, try the eliptical trainer at the gym - yes not the same, but will keep you going whilst it heals. Your new shoes haven't got a chance until the pain goes away. Ankle strengthening exercises will help as it sounds like your straining the area.

Good luck, you got some time before the GNR yet, you'd be better off slightly unfitter and in one piece than with a damaged ankle by the time the run come's around.

spinkletoes

10/08/2007 at 17:49

Thanks for the advice. You're right, my ankles are appalling (I hate walking down slopes, my ankles 'turns over' sometimes too). I'll look up some strengthening exercises and check the FLM website.

Cheers - it's great to have such a wealth of experience to hand!!

Thanks again.

spinkletoes

10/08/2007 at 18:24

Well, I looked at the FLM website which was very useful indeed and since my shin pain stops after exercise and feels more of a 'burning' sensation it's more likely to be compartment syndrome. But I didn't like the solution of surgery though!!

Will have a couple of days rest, take some ibruprofen and try some ankle exercises. I'm determined to do the GNR though and will crawl on my knees if necessary...

Bellaboo

11/05/2009 at 10:08

Hi guys - first posting so be kind! I'm a novice runner training for my first half marathon at Freckleton on 21 June. I'm following a published training schedule and managing (more or less) to stick to it and I've just done my first couple of ten milers, in under 2 hours so it seems to be going ok. I think I might be developing shin splints though as the pain (fairly mild at the mo) seems to correlate to everything that's been described upthread. I'll happily take any advice and treatment advised but what I want to know is......if I rest now and get back into training slowly, building up my miles again, is it likely that I'll be fit enough to do a decent time in June?

I intend to do it even if (as someone said earlier on) I have to crawl around on my knees but a decent time would be nice!

NirvanaBliss

17/05/2009 at 00:08

I started running, jogging walking etc in Feb 09, i have had stints of shin splits, worse pain i thought i ever had i think. I am doing the 5k Race for Life on 21st June, and since the Shin Splints, that race seems further and further away.

The amount of pain i am having i got into taking ibrufen before training, even walking to and from work i would have the ibrufen gel, but i now have stomach problems, which have put me on a stop, why i am adding this here, if because the pain that Shin splints cause, ends up getting so bad, that its possible to get addicted to ibrufen, if you get to that stage, stop running, rest the injury.

Because there is nothing worse than Shin Splints when you have Stomach problems from taking too many ibrufen treatments to stop the pain.

I am resting my shins again, so training as more or less stopped, which i am gutted about, i have 5 weeks before i do the Race for Life, i shall do that race, but i guess i won't be coming first!

Edited: 17/05/2009 at 00:09

blackjak

20/08/2009 at 19:49

I've had shin splints for about 3 years now, i've had endless physio visits, podiatrists new running shoes you name it. but nothing seems to help.

I've set up a website its www.shins-splints.co.uk

I'll be charting hopeful recovery, and how and if I ever manage to get rid of them. If anyone feels like contributing to the site please feel free just register and I'll set you up as a contributor

Dan Pine

27/02/2012 at 02:36

Although rest, ice, foam rollers, massage, anti-inflammatory meds, leg sleeves, and insoles can be helpful in reducing the pain and suffering caused by shin splints, all of these things treat only the symptoms, leaving the underlying cause unaddressed. This is why so many runners and athletes in various sports suffer from chronic shin splints for years.

I ran track as an high school athlete and developed shin splints during my last two seasons largely as the result of some dangerous training techniques. As a college soccer (football) and basketball player I couldn't afford to be slowed down by shin splints and went in search of a solution to this problem.

The main cause of shin splints is an imbalance in strength between the soleus/gastrocnemius group and the tibialis anterior. This causes the muscle fascia to literally be torn away from the bone. I found a very simple, yet unorthodox exercise that was completely effective at eliminating my shin splints and I went my entire college career without shin splints. To this day I continue to use this exercise and have never had shin splints again.

I made a simple video a couple of years ago showing this exercise on how to prevent shin splints because it's kind of difficult to explain. Easier just to show you.

Hope this helps you all out. Let me know how it goes.

Cheers!

Prevent Shin Splints with One Exercise

Luke Elliott

28/02/2012 at 12:55

What about when it's a pain on the outside of the shin? feels quite swollen after running but will gradually get worse if i keep running

Had it in my left shin/calf for a few months and now it's gone I've started running again and it's in my right side

I have no idea what it is?