shin splints?

I didn't have the full-blow shin splits. Just the crazy burning ache up the front of my legs when walking. Like charlie horses.

I started doing a stretching exercise before I began my walks/runs. Pointed my toes down the stairs (stood at top and held onto bannister). Rolled my foot around, clockwise and counterclockwise for 3 minutes each. Would wait about 5 minutes and then go walking. I haven't had a problem since.

I used to get these all the time. Make sure your shoes are not too worn, and wrap your shins with an ace bandage to keep the muscles from moving. They should go away. pretty fast!

Shin splints are usually caused by heel pounding when walking or running. You can reduce or stop them by making sure you land midfoot and wear properly fitted shoes for the sport you are doing. Exercises to strengthen your shins are to sit with your feet flat on the floor and raise your toes up and down, stand with just your toes on a step and raise yourself up and down or sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front and pull your toes toward you (not actually pulling with your hands, just flexing the muscles).

If you already have them it's best to back off for a couple days and let it heal. Unless you've done major damage and have stress fractures then the pain is just the same as any other over worked muscle and just needs a rest.

http://beta.active.com/running/articles/shin-splints-101-treatment-and-prevention-tips

I usually take 3 ibuprofen 30 minutes before I go do anything that may affect or cause mine to hurt.

Not a good idea. Masking the pain isn't stopping the problem and can allow you to carry on doing damage when you should be stopping.

It's not an all the time thing. I should have said sometimes I take...usually I find that once my legs are warmed up they go away.