Anyone out that just can't run?

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2

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  • BamaBreezeNSaltAire
    BamaBreezeNSaltAire Posts: 966 Member
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    Have you tried compression sleeves? They seem to really help!!!
  • Chari_Jan
    Chari_Jan Posts: 161 Member
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    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
    MrsPixelbark Posts: 175 Member
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    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
    BSchoberg Posts: 712 Member
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    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
    nturner612 Posts: 710 Member
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    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
    Chari_Jan Posts: 161 Member
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    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:
  • mathjulz
    mathjulz Posts: 5,514 Member
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    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
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
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    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
    michellelemorgan Posts: 184 Member
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    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
    SpecialSundae Posts: 795 Member
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    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!
  • gleechick609
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    I have to be honest, shin splints are the devil and they can last anywhere from a month to a year to fully heal. Mine lasted close to 4 months before the muscles in my calves became stronger.

    I saw a doctor and sports therapist on my shin splints and they told me what the lady at my running store told me for free. Rest, Ice, Elevation.

    I used to freeze bathroom size dixie cups half way with water and tear the unused portion of the cup off (so the ice was showing). Then I would massage the ice on my shins. Very cold but helped a lot!

    Grrrr. Hope you figure out whats wrong! Would hate to see you not run because of it! :(
  • blu_meanie_ca
    blu_meanie_ca Posts: 352 Member
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    I have sciatic nerve damage, and have a degree of paralysis to both of my legs and feet. Running, jumping, and certain other movements require a balance and use of body that I just don't have any more. But, I found exercises I can modify, and am currently working my butt off anyways.
  • marianneread
    marianneread Posts: 21 Member
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    I can't run because of my knee. Everything I've been told/read says that walking a mile will burn just as many calories as running it because you go the same distance, it just takes longer. It is frustrating when you are impatient and want to run, but it's much easier on the joints. I also do other other cardio (elliptical, bike, aerobics, zubma) and strength training. I would like to run, but just can't. It's not worth causing long-term damage.
  • jeffrodgers1
    jeffrodgers1 Posts: 991 Member
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    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

    Had shin splints for a long time.... I tried minimal, I tried physiotherapy, I tried Active Release Therapy, shoes, forefoot etc etc.

    Then I started to train other complimentary muscles.

    I worked my core muscles which brought my hips into alignment and then I started a couple of other exercises which seemed to help and have continued them along the way. (The hip bone's connected to the thigh bone... the thigh bone's connected to the knee bone... the knee bone's connected to the... Ok enough singing... they are all interconnected :) )

    Exercise one -> Everyone knows this one... Single leg calf raises. Get yourself a piece of 2 x 6 about 2 feet long. Place your toes on the 2 x 6 and do calf raises. Start with 10 calf raises twice daily. Increase the number when you feel able. I do about 100 of these suckers several times per week.

    Exercise two -> Stand on your heels...crunch your toes up like you are making a fist. Now walk 30 steps on your heels and don't allow your toes to relax (keep them in a "fist"). Do this twice a day. I do about 60 steps this way twice a day (and yeah I get some funny looks)

    Just for $#itz and giggles... Get a bucket of little army men (the little green guys).... Spill them on the floor and practice picking them up with your toes.

    These exercises strengthen the muscles in your shins and calves and may help correct the muscle imbalance that causes some people to have shin splints.

    Hope it works for you.
  • Chari_Jan
    Chari_Jan Posts: 161 Member
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    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

    Had shin splints for a long time.... I tried minimal, I tried physiotherapy, I tried Active Release Therapy, shoes, forefoot etc etc.

    Then I started to train other complimentary muscles.

    I worked my core muscles which brought my hips into alignment and then I started a couple of other exercises which seemed to help and have continued them along the way. (The hip bone's connected to the thigh bone... the thigh bone's connected to the knee bone... the knee bone's connected to the... Ok enough singing... they are all interconnected :) )

    Exercise one -> Everyone knows this one... Single leg calf raises. Get yourself a piece of 2 x 6 about 2 feet long. Place your toes on the 2 x 6 and do calf raises. Start with 10 calf raises twice daily. Increase the number when you feel able. I do about 100 of these suckers several times per week.

    Exercise two -> Stand on your heels...crunch your toes up like you are making a fist. Now walk 30 steps on your heels and don't allow your toes to relax (keep them in a "fist"). Do this twice a day. I do about 60 steps this way twice a day (and yeah I get some funny looks)

    Just for $#itz and giggles... Get a bucket of little army men (the little green guys).... Spill them on the floor and practice picking them up with your toes.

    These exercises strengthen the muscles in your shins and calves and may help correct the muscle imbalance that causes some people to have shin splints.

    Hope it works for you.

    Fantastic advice!!! I love it! I also do heavy lifting and have a day focused on calves and of course the usual squats, lunges and deadlifts. I love the army men thing! I'm gonna try all of these! Thank you! :flowerforyou:
  • Chari_Jan
    Chari_Jan Posts: 161 Member
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    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.

    Just ordered the same brand of compression sleeves. Thank you. :flowerforyou:
  • Rage_Phish
    Rage_Phish Posts: 1,508 Member
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    I cant. Multiple knee injuries and severe shin splints. my knees are often sore even after using an eliptical
  • brandyosu
    brandyosu Posts: 257 Member
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    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

    This hasn't happened to me in quite a while and I don't really remember what activity cause it (I was just a kid - so a LOOOONG time ago) but I remember my gums hurting and the sensation that my teeth were about to all fall out.

    And to the OP...I have no advice although the post with the shin/calf exercises sounds like they may be onto something. I WANT to be a runner even though I actually hate running. And not because I think it is the magic weight loss bullet - I weight train and do other cardio exercises that I actually enjoy - more because I think it would be amazing to have the sense of accomplishment attached to completing a race at some speed other than walking. I had grand plans for last year to be *the* year, but then trained myself into an actue case of plantar fasciitis. Unfortunately, everything that has been recommended so far has not worked but I was just fitted last week for custom inserts for both my athletic shoes and work shoes. Praying that works...although I may try out some of those exercises suggested. The one with the Army men sounds a lot like something I've heard is being done for football players with PF at the local university.
  • Doodlewhopper
    Doodlewhopper Posts: 1,018 Member
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    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.

    Running 5 miles when youve never run more than 3 can cause shin splints & other injuries.

    Remember to avoid the terrible toos - too much, too long, too fast. The rule of thumb is only increase distance 10%. (ie 3 miles = 3.3 miles)
  • fit4lifeUcan2
    fit4lifeUcan2 Posts: 1,458 Member
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    I wish I could run. I get a couple of blocks and just about fall on my face. Get foot drop due to MS and end up tripping. So I just walk as fast as I can. My husband used to walk faster than me and leave me in his dust. Now I out walk him, look back and yell come on old man can't you keep up? Lol I do dream that I can run though.. does that count? LOL