Shin Splints - Help

[katiesue]

Anyone have any experience with shin splints. I've started training for the half marathon but the shin splints are killing me.

I went and got fitted for proper shoes which helped some but they're not going away. I've found a few exercises which also seem to help a bit.

I've also been icing them and trying not to push it once they start hurting.

Anyone have any other ideas?

[BarTopDancer]

tequila

[Alex]

Stop.

There's really no magic pill. Ice your shins for half an hour several times a day until the pain goes away. Stop training until it does. They just won't get better while continuing to stress them. Take non-inflammatory painkillers (like Advil).

If you just started training for the half and you're already getting shin splints then you probably have tried to ramp up to it too fast and need to go slower. If you can, go see an orthopedist to see if orthotics would help you and to also confirm it is shin splints and not something else. But even getting off-the-shelf arch supports can help.

Wear good shoes. Unfortunately, "good shoes" varies from person to person.

[Snowflake]

No advice from me, just virtual sympathy.

Take care Katie!

[katiesue]

Thanks Alex. The pain goes away pretty much 5 minutes after I sit down. I'll keep off them for a few days and see if that helps. I've been doing the recumbant bike as an alternate when they've been hurting.

I went to RoadRunner last weekend and did their whole computerized fiting thing so I'm pretty sure I've got "good" shoes now.

[sleepyjeff]

Go rollerblading.....you will continue to build endurance and leg strength without the constant pounding on your poor shins:)

[Deebs]

I'm so sorry about the shin splints. I don't have anything useful to add to the good advice given so far. I know how much it hurts, I've suffered through it during many years of dancing. You have my sympathy.

[BDBopper]

I can't help you other than by rooting for ya. Go Katiesue!!!

[BarTopDancer]

Stop.

Collaborate and listen!










Sorry. That has been in my head since Alex posted. I tried to resist...

[Stan4dSteph]

Alex has it, but here's some more reference material. Runner's World magazine has very good information on common injuries such as shin splints. Here's one (http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-286-289-12604-0,00.html). Do a search on "shin splints" and you'll get a lot of information there. The key is to rest first, then add some exercises to strengthen and stretches to help prevent the same injury in the future.

[Not Afraid]

I know how much they hurt. I've had them at several points in life - dancing and waitressing both did me in. Take care.

[Gemini Cricket]

Sorry about your shin splints, katiesue.
Hope it gets better fast.
:)

[katiesue]

Steph - thanks for the article.

I've been icing tonight. They actually don't hurt when I'm not trying to do anything. I just don't want to loose my momentum. I can't belive I signed up for this crazy thing in the first place.

Thanks everyone!