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Having been out of action for 2 years I'm back into 'getting fit' mode. I used to bit the proverbial butcher's dog. My fitness is already pretty good overall and I've been running twice a week without injury other than a shin
splint on my left side which seems to have been cured with a new pair of running shoes.
Seeing as the weather was so nice yesterday I decided to pop down to the South Downs for a full-day bimble. I got a bit ambitious and went for a 23 miler. Problem was, halfway in, my right shin got sore, bit like a shin splint. I had no choice but to complete and for 5 hours it was pretty painful, even necking paracetamol. Today I'm struggling to walk without pain in my shin and (not a bruise) but a big red mark which is tender to the touch. Normally when I get shin splints there's no mark on the skin.
The boots are Salomon lightweight trekking boots with Superfeet and Smartwool socks. Done a 21 miler in them before without any problems. Any idea what I've done? Doesn't feel like I need to see a doc but never done this before despite years of big days out. I've not got shin splints from hiking before although SDW is quite flinty so can be quite hard underfoot...
ta
Ice, Ibruprofen and rest.
Maybe you had your boot done up to tight at the top? I've had similar symptoms as you describe in the past and that was the reason.
someone called me ?
Brooeess,
Was the walk more hilly than you have been used to ?
Last year I had a similar experience with what was advertised as a 7 mile run on undulating terrain. The distance would not have been a major issue but the "undulating" terrain especially downhill proved, the next day to be a real issue re: shinsplints.
Red marks, swelling and an inability to walk for a about a week.
I had never suffered before and hope I don't again.
shin splints is tendonitis caused by doing more than normal - i.e. a 23 miler after doing not a lot!
It's common for people like dancers to get them again if they do far more than normal. I've had them at a week long event when I've only been used to weekend do's. ....and yes it can be very painful. Apparently you can snap shins in extreme conditions, but by then the pain must be off the scale!!
Rest it up and try and build up more slowly - very slowly! When the pain's gone down a bit balance on the balls fo your feet and strech up onto your toes to stretch things. Do any strech type things involving ankles/toes.
After a week or two start exercising *SLOWLY* to build up again.
best of luck
Q
If shin splints is tendonitis, how does one snap a shin (being a bone)? I can see you snapping a tendon, but not your shin?
coffeeking:
sorry not being very accurate. I think I meant snap a tendon......
I think you can start to or actually pull the tendon from its' location on the bone. ( Doesn't the tendons fuse into the bone to form a 'join'? )
I suppose being accurate, it's not the bone or tendon, just the site where one binds onto/grows into the other.
Whatever the actual damage if taken to extreme, it can be quite bad but from my friends experience, the pain means you actually stop injuring yourself before the worse damage can occur. This is exactly what out friend up top has done. It started to hurt like hell causing him to stop. If he rests, allow the immediate damage to repair and starts again slowly, it should be fine.
Q
I think overstriding might worsen this - seems to for me, esp when downhill
(you know, while I'm walking my bike past scary bits ! 😳 )
I did a 40 mile event in torrential rain & mud (ie Probably the equivalent of >40 miles) last year and, only in hindsight mind, had my left boot done up a bit too tight. Old, well broken-in boots.
I suspected shinsplints too, which I'd had before due to "too much too soon" running.
This was different though - noticeably due to the red marks, burning sensation and pins/needles. The pins/needles could even be set off by touching the top of my foot - like they were linked.
It transpired that it is not uncommon and was caused by, effectively, trapping tissue/nerves and starving them of blood/oxygen. In extremis you kill the tissue.
Can't remember what it is called. Will have a dig back through some old stuff.
It is still not *right*. Though I'm running 50-60 miles/month again, the pins/needles sensation is still there to a lesser extent.
Rest. Rest. Ice (I had to buy bags and submerge my whole lower leg in a bucket. ow! Ow! OWW!). More rest.
Good luck.
In my case, the boot upper caused much of the trouble.
I'm doing the same event in three weeks actually - and wearing trail shoes this time 🙂
Compartment Syndrome. That's it.
[url] http://www.sportsinjurysurgery.co.uk/html/shin_splints.html [/url]
My god some of you lot are fit.
And cheers for the clear-up christowkid