Anyone out that just can't run?

Chari_Jan

I started running last year in May and still can't get passed shin splints!! I feel like I have tried everything!!! I went to a running store and was fitted for shoes, I have shortened my stride, I have paid close attention to my landing to make sure I am landing on my midfoot and not my heel, I have stretched before and after and massaged before and after. Nothing makes it better!!! I took a month off running to fully let them heal and after 2 days of easy going....they are back with vengeance! I have ran slow, fast and done intervals to no avail! I love running and want so badly to be able to run. I'm so sad and angry that I CAN'T run!

Has anyone else had this experience? Did you get passed it? If so, please tell me how.

Thanks in advance,

Deperate to run

ThickMcRunFast

what surface are you running on? Hard deck treadmills or concrete can make shin splints worse. Trails are easier.

Chari_Jan

It doesn't matter what surface I run on. I have ran on all of those.

DrMAvDPhD

Me. My legs are different lengths and a lot of running gives me severe hip, knee, and back pain. Not everyone is meant to run and there are other ways to exercise (and arguably, ones that are easier on your body). Try an elliptical or a bike.

I will say, for the first time in my life, I am able to complete sprints for HIIT. I accomplished this by switching to Vibrams that basically elimante heal striking, which seems to have taken care of a lot of my problems. Not brave or desperate enough to try distance though, I'll stick to biking and dancing for my cardio.

Chari_Jan

Maybe I will try Vibrams as well. That's awesome that you can do HIIT.

I get my cardio right now from the stairmaster and bike but I so love to run. It so depressing that I can't do it without extreme pain.

baldzach

How long does it take (time/distance) before they start to hurt? I imagine you could run from your car to the store in a rainstorm, probably, without your shins hurting too bad. Does it take a mile? a half mile? 5 minutes? 10 minutes?

Chari_Jan

Within the first 2 minutes they are hurting. A sprint causes sharp stabbing pains in my shins...so I could do it but not pain free. It feels like my bones are going to snap...not a good feeling.

stormforce99

I havent had that problem much, I do sometimes get some joint or muscle pain but most times I run throught it and after a few minutes it sorts itself out.

Perhaps looking at something like glucosamine for bones and joint lubrication, and try run on a treadmill or grass.

Sorry I cant be more helpful ! I kmow your disappointed not being able to run. What about a cross trainer ? Similar to running but no impact ?

Chari_Jan

The cross trainer just bores me to death! Maybe if I close my eyes and pretend I'm running thru some beautiful trails with little bridges that cross over babbling brooks it wouldn't be so bad. LOL

I love running trails or just around the park. It doesn't feel like work that way.

RambyPandy

When I run it makes my teeth/gums hurt! I know it's so weird. Other exercise doesn't do that... just running.

Chari_Jan

That is odd. Very odd in deed. Things that make you go hmmmm.

LadyKop

I have a bad knee so running is out of the question.

DrMAvDPhD

When I run it makes my teeth/gums hurt! I know it's so weird. Other exercise doesn't do that... just running.

Hmm. Do you grind your teeth while you run? I find myself doing that on my motorcycle.

Chari_Jan

I have a bad knee so running is out of the question.

Sorry to hear that. I can totally understand not being able to run due to bad knees, hips or ankles but shin splints!! Come on now! LOL

MinnieInMaine

The only other treatment I can think of is to use compression sleeves for your lower legs. Not sure if you're already doing this but I also make sure that my feet land under me if that makes sense. That and landing more on the ball of my foot helps keep my stride short.

Have you talked to a physical therapist or a doctor that specializes in sports medicine about it?

ItsCasey

I have gone through some brief running phases in my life that mostly resulted in plantar fasciitis, ankle, knee, and hip injuries. I spent thousands of dollars on shoes, orthotics, orthopedic specialists, etc. Nothing helped, and I was very close to requiring foot surgery. So I don't run, other than occasional hill sprint sessions when I'm feeling particularly ballsy. I don't think it's necessary. There are other ways to get a cardiovascular workout, if that's your thing (and it's not mine, at all).

A lot of people run because they love it. More power to them. But I think most people run because they think it's the magic bullet for fat loss, and it just isn't. So if running is painful for you and not enjoyable, don't feel pressured to do it.

RambyPandy

When I run it makes my teeth/gums hurt! I know it's so weird. Other exercise doesn't do that... just running.

Hmm. Do you grind your teeth while you run? I find myself doing that on my motorcycle.

Nope... even when I was a kid this happened. It feels like it's going my gums are going to burst. Maybe it's a blood pressure issue... I don't know, I guess I am a weirdo! LOL

VitVit18

I can run... now... I just hate it though. I did have a knee injury a few years ago that made it incredibly painful to run, but since I started weight training it's gotten a whole lot better. But I've since discovered that running isn't my thing. I despise the run and cut it down to as short as possible to just warm up.

robooth101

I second compression sleeves. When I trained for my first marathon, my shins were always so tender, the slightest brush against them would cause me excruciating pain. The second time around, I used compression sleeves and had no problems. Mine are by Zensah, I think. Picked them up at my local running store.

Chari_Jan

I have gone through some brief running phases in my life that mostly resulted in plantar fasciitis, ankle, knee, and hip injuries. I spent thousands of dollars on shoes, orthotics, orthopedic specialists, etc. Nothing helped, and I was very close to requiring foot surgery. So I don't run, other than occasional hill sprint sessions when I'm feeling particularly ballsy. I don't think it's necessary. There are other ways to get a cardiovascular workout, if that's your thing (and it's not mine, at all).

A lot of people run because they love it. More power to them. But I think most people run because they think it's the magic bullet for fat loss, and it just isn't. So if running is painful for you and not enjoyable, don't feel pressured to do it.

I enjoy running. It's the whole mind game of beating yourself and pushing yourself farther than you ever thought you could. The feeling of triumph at the finish line or that 5th mile when you've only ran 3 miles before. It's a high you get that you just can't get from anything else. I get my cardio from other sources right now but it's just not satisfying like running.

ejwme

Within the first 2 minutes they are hurting. A sprint causes sharp stabbing pains in my shins...so I could do it but not pain free. It feels like my bones are going to snap...not a good feeling.

The compression socks were the only thing I thought of not on your list... but the above quote threw up a red flag - If you've done yourself enough damage trying to run through the pain, you might actually have stress fractures in your shins. I'd get to a sports med doctor pronto. Nothing should ever hurt that much, that consistently, for that long.

If you've really played with your form and you know without a doubt that heel striking is not your issue, vibrams (while awesome) might not do much for you. But if you've got a Good Form Running clinic near you, and you haven't tried them, an analysis by them might be worth the effort.

BamaBreezeNSaltAire

Have you tried compression sleeves? They seem to really help!!!

Chari_Jan

I second compression sleeves. When I trained for my first marathon, my shins were always so tender, the slightest brush against them would cause me excruciating pain. The second time around, I used compression sleeves and had no problems. Mine are by Zensah, I think. Picked them up at my local running store.

That is exactly how mine feel. I haven't tried compression sleeves because the guy at the running store I go to said that they were a waste of money. I will certainly try them. Thanks! :flowerforyou:

MrsPixelbark

Have you tried Aqua Jogging?

I know it sounds rather bizarre, I thought it was strange at first- I'm an avid jogger, so when my Mum signed the pair of us up to an Aqua Jog class I thought it'd be similar. It's MUCH harder than jogging outside, but leaves you with the good jogging feeling- and it shouldn't cause shin splints due to being really low impact.

BSchoberg

I can run - I chose not to. LOL

BUT - shin splints? Check your stride... make sure you are landing on the center of your foot - not the heel. Heel strike can have a huge impact on shin pain/shin splints.

... edited to add: derr - you said you'd checked your stride.

nturner612

my shins were hurting sooo bad. as well as my calves. a friend told me to stretch and i mean REALLy REALLY RELALY stretch and i was able to run 3 miles today pain free! i was just stretchin like not really stretching, but once i took a good 5minutes and stretch they still hurt teh first few times...but its all good now. try it. but fist make sure that the pain uhave now is completly gone. )

Chari_Jan

Within the first 2 minutes they are hurting. A sprint causes sharp stabbing pains in my shins...so I could do it but not pain free. It feels like my bones are going to snap...not a good feeling.

The compression socks were the only thing I thought of not on your list... but the above quote threw up a red flag - If you've done yourself enough damage trying to run through the pain, you might actually have stress fractures in your shins. I'd get to a sports med doctor pronto. Nothing should ever hurt that much, that consistently, for that long.

If you've really played with your form and you know without a doubt that heel striking is not your issue, vibrams (while awesome) might not do much for you. But if you've got a Good Form Running clinic near you, and you haven't tried them, an analysis by them might be worth the effort.

Thinking I had stress fractures was the reason I took a month off. I will look for a Good Form Running clinic and consult with a sports med doc.

Thank you for your suggestions. :flowerforyou:

Lleldiranne

Have you checked with a sports medicine specialist? Not just a regular doctor or GP, but someone who specifically works with athletes and other people who are trying to exercise but having injury/pain issues. There might be something that the rest of us, and even regular doctors, might not be considering. Some physical therapy may also help. If you love running, then it might be worth it to investigate.

Edit: oops we posted at the same time, you just said you have consulted a sports medicine do. Sorry I can't add any more.

alpine1994

I got them pretty badly when I first started running. I would just run until the pain was too much to handle. I also got a stress fracture in my foot at the beginning. They just kind of went away over time. I don't really know how long it took, because one day I noticed that my shins didn't hurt anymore. Maybe you just have to strengthen your legs a little bit? I don't want to give you bad advice and make you hurt yourself further but that was my experience. Hopefully you can find a way to get rid of it!

michellelemorgan

Try running on your forefoot. I had serious issues with my knees. I also have high arches.. I had to get fitted for shoes and buy a high arch insole. I also now run on my forefoot and those things combined solved my issue.

SpecialSundae

I can't run at all. Well... in terms of the cardiovascular effort I'm fine, but I have chondromalacia patellae in both knees and within 30 seconds they are agony.

There are lots of other types of cardio I can do that won't cause me injury, so I'll stick to them!