Shin splints!

lrobson555

Hi all!

I have been suffering with shin splints for a good few months now and I just cannot shake them

I know how I got them, it was from upping my running too quickly.
The doctor said to get some rest and ice them, and also to get spongy insoles. Well the insoles haven't made much difference, the icing works for short periods but it's impossible to rest because I don't have a car, so I have to walk everywhere.

I'm now getting to the point where I'm getting extremely frustrated because I can often barely walk, let alone run and it has severely hindered my exercise. I've had to give up on the 30 Day Shred as the jumping jacks, butt kicks and jump rope hurt too much. I've also had to quit the C25K.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of them?

Thanks,

Laura xx

gashinshotan

Lol there was a huge thread about this yesterday....

unsuspectingfish

I haven't had any since I started barefoot running. You could try out some minimalist shoes to start (Nike Frees, New Balance Minimus, etc.) and then go from there.

CavewomanCoby

I've struggled with shin splints forever! The first step was new shoes - I know you have insoles but are you running in proper running shoes? I went to a specialty store (they watched me do a lap of the store) for mine, and it really made a difference.

I used to ice them when I got home and also as odd as it sounds, prior to running I would rub tiger balm, or Deep Heat into them. It would smell AWFUL but it really eased them up and I was able to run much better.

That's all I got Good luck! x (oh and feel free to add me!)

lrobson555

Lol there was a huge thread about this yesterday....

Oh sorry! Will go on a hunt now

TheGlen

I haven't had any since I started barefoot running. You could try out some minimalist shoes to start (Nike Frees, New Balance Minimus, etc.) and then go from there.

Here are the shoes I wear for running:



http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-KSO-Mens.htm

I don't run marathons or anything, but all my ankle, knee and back pain went away.

Play_outside

Be cautious about the barefoot running-it's not a miracle solution. Like all things, it works for some and doesn't work for others. It does NOT work for me. I had to see a chiropractor and massage therapist for my shin splints when they were really bad, and I also had to take a bit of time off work You may have to consider that as well. Mine were very bad and I could barely walk. This time, I am fine, but I'm totally paranoid of getting them again! Hugs to you, they suck bigtime.

KavemanKarg

Shin splints is a catch all term, there can be many different reasons that all present the same.

If you have $50 and are determined to run without pain you should likely see a registered athletic therapist and find the root cause.

Whether you run barefoot of with shoes, you should avoid your doctor's advice of foamy spongy insoles. This is likely not going to help much with shin splints.

And as noted above, my shins act up when I barefoot, but not in shoes. And I am a fan of barefoot.

Like any running injury, often the real fix is what we runners hate to do. Take time off until the symptoms are gone, then return slowly back to our previous levels, Stay there a week or two and slowly build up from there.

Three times I have been told I would never run again, and three times I have started running again simply doing the above paragraph and a little bit of running rehab work like yoga and running stretches and a few exercises from an athletic therapist.