Shin Splints?

[Narrock]

Dana, I started running again 3 weeks ago after a long hiatus. I've been running 2.5 miles a day 6 days a week. I stretch for about 10 minutes before I start, then I do a 2 minute brisk-walk warmup and a 2-3 minute cool down. Today was the start of my fourth week running, and I got a pain in my left shin half-way through my course and the pain was so bad I had to walk/limp the rest of the way back home. I just bought a brand new pair of expensive New Balance running shoes with very good arch support. They're extremely light too.

I eat good (bananas, yogurt, Myoplex shakes, cottage cheese, salad, chicken, etc.) and take multivitamins, other vitamins, and a couple supplements. I know not to run on the balls of my feet... but to run heel-to-toe. I don't know if this is a shin splint or what, but it hurts like hell and now my left calf is tight as hell too. WTH is going on?

[Phlegm]

Go to the doctor before it gets worse

[Narrock]

I can't afford a doctor with no insurance atm...

[liquidstayce]

RICER BABY!!
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and Referral to an appropriate professional for an accurate diagnosis. You know the drill. Could be shin splint but could also be a fracture. How bad does it hurt. Were you doing any speed work, uphill running, or running on concrete? If it isnt that bad you could try heat prior to running and then ice after along some advil.

[Xaiveir]

Cut if off and quit whining!

Actually on a serious note its probably either a muscle pull/strain or just your legs getting use to the new shoes. Did you "break in " the new shoes before running in them?

Alot of the time if there is still stiffness in new shoes it can cause some muscle/foot pain. Take a day or two off and see how it feels.

If the pain doesnt subside you probably do have a shin splint, one thing you can get is a neaprene (spelling?) shin wrap. Its basically wet suit type material that will wrap around your shin, keeping the muscles warm and loose.

[liquidstayce]

Couple questions before I can give a real answer ( this is dana btw)

-How long have you not been running?

-When during a run does the pain begin, same time roughly?

First off - let it heal for a couple days 3 or four. Before you run any sort of distance on it you need to do a week prep running ( this goes for IT bands injuries and shin splints) walk couple min to warm up - then do intervals , jog 2 min walk 2 min, add a min every time but keep the walk the same for the entire jog so you end up doing 10 min and 2 min walk. THis is mainly for any one who hasn't run in a while a good plan to get back to it-- when you run and you haven't been running for a while, shin splints and IT band injuries are the most common - and both are very painful and canbe pain in the ass injuries... REst Ice and compression is good advice from stacy too.

[Narrock]

RICER BABY!!
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, and Referral to an appropriate professional for an accurate diagnosis. You know the drill. Could be shin splint but could also be a fracture. How bad does it hurt. Were you doing any speed work, uphill running, or running on concrete? If it isnt that bad you could try heat prior to running and then ice after along some advil.

Yeah, it's running on concrete with a couple hills... not intense hills though, just mild ones. No speed work, no hardcore sprinting.

[Harrison]

Also, try taping up your legs fairly tight...obviously don't cut off circulation...

I found that to work when I ran track...(my trainer did it for me, and it was great)

[Narrock]

Taping my legs? Hmmm...

[Almegest Victory]

Stress fractures are a pain. I'm no health expert or anything close, but I know that when I used to run track back when I was younger, I'd leave with my shins killing me. I took some advil and a bath in Epsom Salt....It works wonders. (P.S. 1mi time in 4th grade was 6:45)

[Tadpole]

5:30 mile here. Isn't that great, need to get it below 5.

[Narrock]

When I ran again today it started hurting like hell again. I don't know what the hell is going on. I'm not even pushing myself yet... just slow jogging then brisk walking then jogging again, etc.

[Mop]

shin spints can take up to 4 months to heal = (

[Narrock]

Damn.