Medical Question?

[Green Machine]

I have been running for four months and in the last two weeks my right shin has started to hurt. I only have to jog on the spot for a few seconds and it hurts and then hurts for a few minutes after that when I am walking around. My left chin also hurts but no where near as much as the right leg. I am going to see a sports physio to have it checked out etc. First I wanted to ask around here just incase anyone here is a doctor or spots physio that may be able to tell me what exactly is going on and what I should do to stop the pain as I think it may be affecting my running as well as just hurting. I welcome any advise etc from anyone else that may be able to tell me why this is happening and how to stop it. I don't want to see a doctor because of the chance of it stopping my application for the Royal Marines but I do hope to see a sports physio as I have said. Thank you for your time.

Regards
Green Machine

[stoormboy]

Its "shin" green machine...."shin"...


Could be any number of things...appears to be a common fault with guys doing a lot of running..myself included suffer from this trouble...I found it was the fact my feet over pronate..and after visiting a sports injury clinic got these insoles for my trainers that support the instep of my foot...I wear them all dam day to help and ice the legs when they are sore..seems to help me..I get the odd bit of pain time to time and at the start of runs..but it soon goes..Im sure if you visit a desent physio or sports injury clinic they will identify the problem for you...treat your self to a week off maybe...

[Felias]

They're called "Shin-Splits," yes painful, but affecting your running, doubt it as you wouldn't notice it while hammering the ground and doing a decent speed. At least I don't, I only run on concrete, I use Fila trainers which are being held together by string I found that the more you run on concrete the stronger your shins get. Remember do NOT run in designer trainers which were made to impress, use a less popular make with decent quality like Hitech. basically you need a small degree of shock absorbtion to avoid shin splits. Still that should not stop you from running, just work round the pain!

[Sarastro]

They're called "Shin-Splits," yes painful, but affecting your running, doubt it as you wouldn't notice it while hammering the ground and doing a decent speed. At least I don't, I only run on concrete, I use Fila trainers which are being held together by string I found that the more you run on concrete the stronger your shins get. Remember do NOT run in designer trainers which were made to impress, use a less popular make with decent quality like Hitech. basically you need a small degree of shock absorbtion to avoid shin splits. Still that should not stop you from running, just work round the pain!

Here we go again.

Felias, you passed PRMC, well done, it seems you aren't a complete plank. So please, for four weeks until you hit CTC, stop spouting utter shite at every opportunity. It's just about possible that we were all wrong about you before, you are not some gobby fantasist, but some kind of superman who can back up all your wild claims; to be honest, I don't give a shit. Most of the world & lads on these forums, however, work by the normal laws of physics. Swimming will not make them worse runners; stretching after exercise is not bad for them; and running with shin splints is a very, very bad idea.

Please stop giving bad advice or shut the f@#k up.

Green Machine. Shin splints are when the tibial anterior muscles at the front of the lower leg tear or pull away where they attach to the bone. This is caused by a variety of things (ranging from stress on the legs caused by running too much or increasing pace/distance too fast, to flat feet and other skeletal/muscular problems). A podiatrist or physio should be able to take a look at you and tell you if there is an underlying problem or simply strain from running - you are correct in thinking that a physio would probably be a better bet to avoid medical records. Good physios can be very good too, try and get recommendations from around your area.

First thing, however, is to stop running. The muscles won't be able to heal unless you give them a chance. A physio can also do their muscle massage bit to try and promote healing (be prepared, it f@#k hurts though). Depending on severity, as little as 3 days to a week off running can do the world of good. After that, take it as a sign to slow down a little, the muscles need to be stronger to take the current amount of running you are doing.

Don't run through it. Continued stress on the shins can cause the attached muscles to tear off the surface of the bone & take pieces with them, and you suddenly have a very different problem which cannot be easily healed.

[rc]

Here we go again.

Felias, you passed PRMC, well done, it seems you aren't a complete plank. So please, for four weeks until you hit CTC, stop spouting utter shite at every opportunity. It's just about possible that we were all wrong about you before, you are not some gobby fantasist, but some kind of superman who can back up all your wild claims; to be honest, I don't give a shit. Most of the world & lads on these forums, however, work by the normal laws of physics. Swimming will not make them worse runners; stretching after exercise is not bad for them; and running with shin splints is a very, very bad idea.

Please stop giving bad advice or shut the f@#k up.

How funny is that ?
Had me in stitches.
Keep up the good work sarcasto / I mean sarastro

[mr.zog]

Just to capital on what stoormboy said, it sounds like 'Overpronation' which I suffered from untill I got orthoric Insoles made, and they have worked wonders! So maybe look into that area.

Chris

[mfat_man]

They're called "Shin-Splits," yes painful, but affecting your running, doubt it as you wouldn't notice it while hammering the ground and doing a decent speed. At least I don't, I only run on concrete, I use Fila trainers which are being held together by string I found that the more you run on concrete the stronger your shins get. Remember do NOT run in designer trainers which were made to impress, use a less popular make with decent quality like Hitech. basically you need a small degree of shock absorbtion to avoid shin splits. Still that should not stop you from running, just work round the pain!

Felias

Stick your head back in "Running on concrte will make stronger shins" where the hell does that come from... show us the reference then>> Thought not.

If the guy that posted took your advice then he would permantly fark up his shins, and the prospects of any military career. Think about that. Many of us just try to help here but for feck's sake think before you post or don't post at all. Ta!

[stoormboy]

whats the score with problems like "shin splints" in the first few weeks of training?..would you get MD'd on the spot or huntered?...any ideas?

[letsrole]

Well you should get back trooped, but I have known lads who have had shin splints for the best part of their training but dont want to leave their troop so crack on. Bad idea though as they were most probably finding themselfs in hunter with a worse condition a few weeks later.

[Sarastro]

There is some good advice and good exercises to strengthen legs & avoid shin splints here:

http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/arc ... atment.htm

FYI though, if you are going to do any of the strengthening exercises, wait until your shin splints are gone. If you do them while you are still getting pain, then you are simply putting more stress on the muscles and slowing down recovery.

[Artist]

They're called "Shin-Splits," yes painful, but affecting your running, doubt it as you wouldn't notice it while hammering the ground and doing a decent speed. At least I don't, I only run on concrete, I use Fila trainers which are being held together by string I found that the more you run on concrete the stronger your shins get. Remember do NOT run in designer trainers which were made to impress, use a less popular make with decent quality like Hitech. basically you need a small degree of shock absorbtion to avoid shin splits. Still that should not stop you from running, just work round the pain!

I've got to ask you feelyarse but do you in fact run wearing your Superman suit of your Batman suit? Because sunbeam you are without doubt the biggest Wassock on this forum. If people took your stupid, dangerous advice even a little bit seriously they would be applying for their Motability Biff Chits in Droves.

[Greg The Great]

Sarastro - excellent post mate.

Green machine - Two things I feel might be worth adding. Get down the chemist and get some MSM tablets, or have a look on Ebay, they're selling dirt cheap on there. They're a bio sulphur which, amongst other things, aids the regrowth and healing of ligaments and tendons.

I started taking them a while back and have been taking them since. I can personally say they've helped me recover very quickly from various problems, including shin splints and an operation to restabilise my shoulder - needed following several dislocations. This involved cutting, shortening and reattaching the ligament at the front of my shoulder. My rapid recovery from the operation was noted by the surgeon and the physio.

I also read a report on an athlete suffering from shin splints who took MSM regularly and recovered in two weeks whilst continuing to exercise gently. The normal prescribed recovery is two MONTHS off exercise completely.

Best stretch for avoiding shin splints:

Stand close to and facing a wall.
Place the sole of your foot against the wall whilst keeping your heel on the ground, as though you are trying to pull your toes up to your shin.
Lean in towards the wall.

Regards,
Greg.

[Green Machine]

Just to clarify I do know how to spell shin, it was just a quick typing mistake . I will let you know how I get along by posting back on this topic once I am recovered. Thanks for your help and adivse.

Regards
Green Machine

[Daveb]

Sarastro - excellent post mate.

Green machine - Two things I feel might be worth adding. Get down the chemist and get some MSM tablets, or have a look on Ebay, they're selling dirt cheap on there. They're a bio sulphur which, amongst other things, aids the regrowth and healing of ligaments and tendons.

I started taking them a while back and have been taking them since. I can personally say they've helped me recover very quickly from various problems, including shin splints and an operation to restabilise my shoulder - needed following several dislocations. This involved cutting, shortening and reattaching the ligament at the front of my shoulder. My rapid recovery from the operation was noted by the surgeon and the physio.

I also read a report on an athlete suffering from shin splints who took MSM regularly and recovered in two weeks whilst continuing to exercise gently. The normal prescribed recovery is two MONTHS off exercise completely.

Best stretch for avoiding shin splints:

Stand close to and facing a wall.
Place the sole of your foot against the wall whilst keeping your heel on the ground, as though you are trying to pull your toes up to your shin.
Lean in towards the wall.

Regards,
Greg.

Hi Greg,

Cheers for that info. I looked on ebay and got a variety of different MSM tablets (here - http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search. ... SM+tablets) Are there any in particular I should look for? I think this could help me in a big way with my injry too.

[Doc]

They're called "Shin-Splits," yes painful, but affecting your running, doubt it as you wouldn't notice it while hammering the ground and doing a decent speed. At least I don't, I only run on concrete, I use Fila trainers which are being held together by string I found that the more you run on concrete the stronger your shins get. Remember do NOT run in designer trainers which were made to impress, use a less popular make with decent quality like Hitech. basically you need a small degree of shock absorbtion to avoid shin splits. Still that should not stop you from running, just work round the pain!

Oh how I wish I was still at CTC, especially on the 5th of June, your one bloke I would love to see report sick, but then why would you, you'd be treating yourself with the amount of medical knowledge spilling out of your shit tube! Plank.