As some of you might know, I just went through some sciatic problems. That seems better now but my left lower leg has been hurting me for about a week. It is the front of my leg - I get sharp pains in my tibia. I'm assuming it's what's called shin splints likely caused by me walking funny for a while(?) Any advice?
Shin Splints?
- Thread starter MissCroft
- Start date
Take a look at how you walk and run.
A buddy of mine found thst for long distance running a heel first approach led to shin splints faster than a ball of the foot first approach.
It is very subtle but posture, way you walk etc can have physical effects.
A buddy of mine found thst for long distance running a heel first approach led to shin splints faster than a ball of the foot first approach.
It is very subtle but posture, way you walk etc can have physical effects.
agreed. I had shin splints once on both legs. it was from running heel first and thus hitting too hard. I took it easy for a while till healed.
Try rolling a tennis ball under your arch of the leg that hurts- it should help. Then look at your shoes and see if you have enough support for running and then as someone mentioned review your running style- ensure you are coming down on your heel and then rolling on your feet
Finally try to run on grass or some soft surface for a while
Finally try to run on grass or some soft surface for a while
Shin Splints are pretty common and easy to self-diagnose and self-treat.
In Miss Chroft's case in which her recent posture, not running seems to have brought on the injury. Highly unlikely there are any micro fractures. And besides, they are treated the same way.
1. Stay off your feet as much as possible for a few days to let the muscles recover. Stretch and massage these muscles that run alongside the shin.
2. Use ice packs for a couple days to help reduce inflammation and for pain relief.
3. Take Advil (ibuprofen) for its anti-inflammatory properties. Take it on a scheduled basis for inflammation control for a week to 10 days, not on an "as-required" basis for pain control. Advil is extremely safe and effective for this injury.
4. Apply Voltaren (topical diclofenac, also a non-streroidal anti-inflammatory) to the shin as directed on the label. This will deliver more direct medication to the affected muscle.
5. Apply heat packs for a few days after the third day. The heat will encourage blood flow and healing.
It should take a week or two to get 80% better and another moth to fully recover from minor shin splints.
6. See a podiatrist if you have insc coverage but otherwise you can go to Running Room and see what kind of feet and gait you have. IF you are a pronator (walking with knees inward, likely with low arches) then you need a shoe with a high arch.
You can also find out this at one of the Dr. Scholl's foot pressure mapping kiosk's at some Pharmacy's like Rexall.
You can also try some of the better insoles that have moulded high arches in them to help prevent it in the future.
In Miss Chroft's case in which her recent posture, not running seems to have brought on the injury. Highly unlikely there are any micro fractures. And besides, they are treated the same way.
1. Stay off your feet as much as possible for a few days to let the muscles recover. Stretch and massage these muscles that run alongside the shin.
2. Use ice packs for a couple days to help reduce inflammation and for pain relief.
3. Take Advil (ibuprofen) for its anti-inflammatory properties. Take it on a scheduled basis for inflammation control for a week to 10 days, not on an "as-required" basis for pain control. Advil is extremely safe and effective for this injury.
4. Apply Voltaren (topical diclofenac, also a non-streroidal anti-inflammatory) to the shin as directed on the label. This will deliver more direct medication to the affected muscle.
5. Apply heat packs for a few days after the third day. The heat will encourage blood flow and healing.
It should take a week or two to get 80% better and another moth to fully recover from minor shin splints.
6. See a podiatrist if you have insc coverage but otherwise you can go to Running Room and see what kind of feet and gait you have. IF you are a pronator (walking with knees inward, likely with low arches) then you need a shoe with a high arch.
You can also find out this at one of the Dr. Scholl's foot pressure mapping kiosk's at some Pharmacy's like Rexall.
You can also try some of the better insoles that have moulded high arches in them to help prevent it in the future.
Telehealth is not useful for this kind of a condition.
There are incredible on-line resources that someone of Miss Chroft's intelligence can discern the worthwhile from the Bullshit.
oh man when i use to run shin splints were the worst. I had to stop as the pain got bad. I switched to cycling. No more pain.
I agree with this premise with more serious conditions BUT, just because we think a visit to the Doctor is "free" doesn't mean we should run over for every minor ailment or discomfort. It is not "free", it costs us all money when mommy takes their baby to the doctor for sniffles, just to rule out meningitis. If you had to pay $100-$150 for a visit to the Dr like in the USA, would you be running off for every ache and pain?
And what Chloe describes are clearly shin splints, a similarly minor, very easily identifiable condition. We are not talking about heart or blood pressure medication. And even if they were accomanpied by tiny fractures (which they are NOT because they ONLY occur from repeated long term impact as a result of activities like running)
Shin splints are a perfect use of the information available online.
Use credible resources like www.mayoclinic.org rather than some herbal remedy site selling you miracle cures that "big pharma doesn't want you to see"
If you read their articles on shin splints you can see how clear, concise and reasonable their advice is.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shin-splints/basics/definition/con-20023428
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000654.htm
In this day and age of three hour waiting room waits and 10 minute quickie-visits, you are foolish to blindly take the quick verbal advice of your Doctor without having done some of your own background research before or after.
Thanks guys. 
My leg is feeling better since I've been resting it. Will look into new running shoes.... One of the problems is my feet are so small that my running shoes are actually kid's shoes so maybe they don't have great support.
And I've been wearing flip flops all summer.
My leg is feeling better since I've been resting it. Will look into new running shoes.... One of the problems is my feet are so small that my running shoes are actually kid's shoes so maybe they don't have great support.And I've been wearing flip flops all summer.
misscroft said:
Also might consider the type of running shoe she is using? The Running Room chain stores have knowledgeable staff who can advise on the right type of shoe.
