Is it shin splints?

justjenn1977

So I had this bout last winter when I started trying to jog... Intense intense pain in the front of my shins... So I took a LONG time off (maybe too long but it was so bad that after a ninety second run I couldn't walk for two weeks without a severe limp)... Got new shoes (I over pronate... Brand is brooks addiction... Very solid shoes and I feel Sooooo good walking in them) got a good bra (figured that the jiggling couldn't help the issue) worked on my walking stride and really being careful to not over pronate... Stretched...

Today I decided to restart c25k...because I WANT to run... I see people out jogging and am nearly overcome with the thought that I want to do that! I want to do a biathlon (I'm a great biker... Not so good at swimming) I want to do a 5k... (more actually... But I can start with 5) I really really want to feel the wind in my hair!


I digress... Today I tried to jog... Stretched... Using the c25k ap... Halfway through the first jog my shin is on fire... I pushed through.. Did the walk... Got to the second jog... Nearly fell over by the end of the second sixty seconds.... Decided to just finish the loop trail walking and stretched the front of my shin... And slowly hobbled to the turn around... Rested on the bench and stretched again... Finally the pain eased and I was able to walk to the end (1.8 miles) without limping (nearly) but then later we went to hike (humpback rocks 1.6 miles out and back and my fit bit calls it 68 floors) and we also walked about 2 miles downtown... No pain..

This pain only occurs when jogging... In the front of my shin... Towards the inside... it runs vertically up and down my shin... When it gets really bad it affects my ankle.. It is more my right leg than left (although when I pushed through it in the winter it was bilateral)... It feels like burning and squeezing... Almost like the pins and needles sensation that you get when your foot falls asleep but hot... When it hurts there is increased warmth to the touch (compared to the other leg) and decreased sensation in the dependant extremity (esp in the toes)... Stretching was painful and didn't seem to help the pain.... Although the rest and elevation while I was sitting on the bench helped... The warmth fades when the pain does...

I have recent bloodwork that shows my electrolytes are within normal limits (potassium, sodium, etc) I thought it could maybe be a buildup of lactic acid (but half life is very short and by the time I'm not in pain you it probably wouldn't still be elevated).. I'm sufficiently hydrated (I drink between 2 and 6 litres depending on heat and exertion etc... I drink to thirst)...


So my question (long story short) is this shin splints? Should I just push through? Should I listen to my dad and "stop trying to run fat *kitten*)? What else can I do? I want to run!

melbatoast917

I separated my patellar tendon from my tibia running 60 pounds ago. Take it easy and try some low-impact exercise til you lose more. Just my experience. Good luck - don't give up!

melbatoast917

And by the way, the pain your are describing sousa eerily familiar. Get some X-rays.

justjenn1977

I separated my patellar tendon from my tibia running 60 pounds ago. Take it easy and try some low-impact exercise til you lose more. Just my experience. Good luck - don't give up!

I did some research and I don't think this is it... the pain is much lower than the patellar tendon... and I have no involvement in the knee... also I have had issues with ligament injury in the past... this pain is different than that... the pain isn't constant... it is ONLY when I run....

I was reminded that before when I ran I started with 15 second bursts... and had worked my way up to 60-90 seconds when the pain started and got so bad that I had to stop... so when I started this time I thought I could go with the c25k ap... and just start with 60 seconds....so I think I need to go back to 15-20 seconds... and work up again slowly!


I also had someone recommend l- argenine and beta alanine... I am going to do some research...

126siany

It doesn't sound like shin splints. I had shin splints once and I literally fell right over onto the gym floor--it hurt that much and i happened to be in an aerobics class--it was this incredible sharp, stabbing pain and it continued any time I had weight on the leg. And I was thin and in great shape when that happened! Took about 6 weeks to heal, too.

Something is really wrong though and I think you should be getting it checked by a doctor.

chubtofit

Many people when they start running experience shin splints (myself included). I took a week off from running and made sure that I iced the area and also did some shin stretches (which there aren't many) - just look up shin stretches online. If you are prone to them then when you start back running you will have to make sure you really warm up the legs.

Also, another treatment that a friend suggested...get a rolling pin and roll it up and down your shins. Applying just enough pressure to give you kind of a massage (along the same lines as using a foam roller for other parts). The rolling pin also works well as a foot massager (just make sure you keep it separate from the one you use in the kitchen).

They should eventually go away but if they don't...go see a doctor and also I would get a foot and gait analysis done. You may need orthotics or different shoes.