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What do shin splints feel like?

graham_m_dunngraham_m_dunn
in General Training Discussions

I've had some pain in one leg on the shin, near the top, on the last two short runs I've done, sharp for the first hundred feet or so, then fades to a dull ache that  flares up each time I land on that leg.

I'm going to take a rest from running for the next couple days and see how things go this weekend.

Any other advice?

Thanks,

Graham

Comments

  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    When I had shin splints, it was significant pain with EVERY step and I felt it all up and down the medial shin. Pain was with walking, not just running.

    If your pain is lateral, you may have the same tightness issue many of us develop. Tight calf muscles leading to tightening of the anterior shin muscles.The cause is inadequate stretching leading to spasm and tightness. Large amounts of massage and stretching of the calf muscles and foot. Foam rolling. Trigger point ball work. Loosening up the back of the lower leg helps relieve the tightness in front.

    Let us know if this doesn't answer your question.
  • graham_m_dunngraham_m_dunn

    Thanks for the info! 

    To clarify, the pain is very localized on the shin, more or less at the widest part of the calf. I can feel it when I walk, but say a pain level of 1, that shoots up to 5 or 6 when I start to run on it.

    So that's promising, I'll try lots of work with the tennis ball / foam roller on the calf and see how it feels.

    Thanks again!

  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    http://members.endurancenation.us/Community/Forums/tabid/101/aft/4712/afnp/66297/Default.aspx

    Take a peek at this recent thread and see if means anything to you.
  • Leigh BoyleLeigh Boyle
    @ Graham- if you find that digging and stretching are giving you no relief and the pain is spot specific on the bone (meaning you can point right to it)...might be worth an x-ray to see if there is a stress fracture in there. image

    shin splints are caused by the back of the leg and ankle joint stiffening up so like Michele said...attack on all fronts. At home it should be daily roller/tennis ball work and if you have any massage peeps that you know, would be a good idea to get in and see them to help start off the process. always ice after! about 10 minutes is fine.
  • gregp909gregp909
    Thanks for all the comments on this thread. . .I am having a similar issue on my left medial shin. Here are some of the things I have read recently too:

    What is the treatment for shin splints?

    Use the following general treatment guidelines if you are diagnosed with shin splints. It is important to note that the treatment of a stress fracture is not the same, and persistent shin pain should be evaluated by your doctor before you begin treatment.

    •Apply ice packs or perform ice massage for up to 20 minutes, three times a day.

    •Take an anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by your doctor.

    •If you have a foot that excessively pronates, consider special footwear or orthotics.

    •Perform rehabilitation exercises (low-impact) regularly. Swimming and cycling are excellent activities for an individual with shin splints. Try to avoid excessive impact while recovering.

    How can I prevent shin splints?

    Prevention is best accomplished with smart training. If your sport involves high impact activities, make sure you have days that are low-impact (e.g. cycling or swimming) and no running. Increase the intensity and duration of exercise gradually. When you are increasing your activity, perform more low-impact exercise in the beginning. Make sure you have proper footwear that has been replaced regularly (life span of most running shoes is about 500 miles or 6 months). If you can run on grass or trails for some of your training (rather than pavement) that will also help prevent shin splints.

  • graham_m_dunngraham_m_dunn

     I'm getting in to see my massage therapist tonight, been working with the foam roller for the last two nights (btw, if I ever need to extract information by torturing someone, I'm bring that roller along), I've noticed that there's no pain when walking now, so I'll give it another couple days of massage and rest, and see how the weekend goes.

    I noticed it flare up just after my hip flexor got really tight, so I'm hoping that this is just a muscle tightness issue...

    Thanks again everyone!

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