UKH

Shin splints have flared up in one leg just one! Raging I was going well too, can this parish of wisdom help? 

Currently doing RICE but still in discomfort after a few test runs 

In reply to Pullhard:

Rest. Then build up mileage and/or intensity closely. Shin splints f*cked my athletics career, even after surgery, so I’m talking from experience. Interesting that it’s only in one leg. 

In reply to Pullhard:

Shin splints... often a very broad term covering a multitude of injuries.. stress fractures, muscles and tendon problems, compartment syndrome..  etc.. you'll get good or better advice if you can describe the pain, when it comes on etc.. mileage, footwear and so forth. 

In reply to Pullhard:

Fellow sufferer here; Second Yanis’s advice.

But you may want to start to look at your running style if this is a recurring problem. I’m attempting to run with a marginally wider stance....

not making a blind bit of difference mind.

In reply to Wimlands:

That is so so difficult isn't it. The best advice, that I think did help, was to concentrate an upright stance (correct forward pelvic drop) and correct my arm swing which was also a crossing a little to be more back and forth. Looking at my feet and knees running along a white line on the road for 30 second intervals was a disaster.

Not that I am the most co-ordinated runner whatever the coach nags me to do

In reply to Pullhard: start with the basics - stretching your calves, are your shoes worn out, are you trying to run through it when very tired from training.

I cannot even imagine how you'd try to widen your stance.  How do you know it's wrong?

In reply to SouthernSteve:

Very difficult indeed. But I’ve got to try something...ongoing for 4 years.

thanks for the advice about running upright.

In reply to wbo:

Hi,

I got someone to look closely at my running style and to video it from behind.

it showed that my left leg crossed over and landed across my body whereas my right leg landed in a straight line just off the centre line.

so as Southern Steve said i’m trying to run along white lines landing either side rather than crossing it.

In reply to Pullhard:

I second the advice to rest. I had it once when I was young (about 17). I took a good few months off completely (I think about a year but it was a long time ago now!) and then got back running very gradually. For about 4 or 5 years I ran only for fitness and enjoyment but played a lot of hockey and was fine. Then I started to run competitively and train properly again and I was fine (well, I got other injuries as you do with running but not shin splints). With the benefit of hindsight I think it was taking a sensible period of time off running completely and letting it heal properly that was the key. If it is shin splints in one of its various forms and you try to run through it and don't let it heal properly I'd be surprised if doesn't get worse. It's not nice. I wish you luck.

As an aside, can you cycle with it? I never tried so this is a guess but if you can then you might be able to maintain base fitness and stay sane while letting it heal.

In reply to jpicksley:

I've had issues with it, and was advised that swimming was the best sport for it because it's basically zero impact.

In reply to Pullhard:

It can be anything, stress fracture, muscle issue, tendonitis. See a physio and you may need a scan, an early stress fracture probably wont show on an xray.

In reply to Pullhard:

avoid hard surfaces and run on the fells  - varied terrain and softer surfaces should help if you ease into it(assuming you are not already fell running)

In reply to Pullhard:

I have had problems with them for years. I have lately found zero drop shoes and various things to do with my hip position and strength have improved things, but I've never truly solved the issue

The short answer is there is no short answer. Find a good running physio and once you  find that he doesn't have the right answer for you then find another!

It is somewhat nice to read so many others on this thread have had similar experiences to mine.

Good luck!

In reply to all:

I strongly advise you to see a Doc first, who might refer you for an X-ray or to a physiotherapist, I know the NHS is an unwieldy tool sometimes, but get an expert opinion first and take steps from there. Keep off the internet, see the Doc.

In reply to energico:

Good morning all, in response to a thumbs down, which might have been a slip of the thumb, please ignore it as the person who might have done it may not a medical professional. I re-iterate my post of 19:42 yesterday: I strongly advise you to see a Doc first, who might refer you for an X-ray or to a physiotherapist, I know the NHS is an unwieldy tool sometimes, but get an expert opinion first and take steps from there. Keep off the internet, see the Doc.

In reply to energico:

That was me...

Have to say that i’ve certainly got some good advice on shin splints on this forum. ( thank you Southern Steve )

Better than i’ve got off a GP. And as you probably know X rays miss fractures...

not saying don’t go to your GP but i’d suggest a physio specialising in running might be a first port of call.

In reply to energico:

I would go to a sports physio first, every time, forget the doc. To have a chance at diagnosis they'd potentially need a minimum of 30mins for background, training history and examination. Doctors just don't have the time or expertise. 

Xrays often miss small fractures. Ultrasound can miss tisue damage. Some injuries in especially complex areas like the lower leg are tough to diagnose. 

Ukc advice; Whilst you have to treat advice cautiously there won't be a climbing or running ailment that hasn't been encountered before. A person might not physically self treat but they could easily do some self elimination and stop doing something that causes more damage, whilst waiting for an appointment. 

As the saying goes, don't knock free advice, you aren't forced to act on it. 

In reply to dh73:

This works for me. Just a couple of K on the roads leaves me in a lot of pain that I can only assume is shin splints as it rund down the front of both of my shin bones but 10k off road is fine. Even off road on hard packed trails is fine. I assume its because of the varying angles to the terrain. My for hits the floor differently every time but on a flat road / pavement it's consistent, probably consistently bad for too. 

In reply to Dax H:I'd have thought that it suggests you're getting beat up by greater impact forces but maybe not? Have you checked the cushioning in your shoes forefoot? Or maybe you're changing gait to prevent heel.impact.

Point is it's hard to say - what people need varies so much.  What shoes is the OP wearing, and are they right for him?  Does he have a specific biomechanical weakness?

I doubt a GP will have much useful to say.  Maybe a sports physio.  

In reply to wbo:

Yes I have thought this, at 19 stone there is a conciderable impact force, I Deffinatly think it's aggravated by the concistency of flat pavements though. 

This is why I started my post with, "this works for me" referring to running off road rather than on metalled surfaces.