I'm not sure if I brought this up last year, hmm, anyway i've had this chronic thing with my shin happening whenever I would run, and I eased up on running for a while -- and it went away. But now that i'm back into it heavily and loving it (and even more so soon with summer) it's came back suddenly. Before then it hasn't come up even when i've ran a couple times a week. I'm running daily now and tonight for the first time it just came back full force. Ouch.

It feels like my right shin is about to break in half or something lol. But it doesn't, so I just ignore it and keep on running.

I've been suspecting this is due to my street running, and maybe I should just change running surfaces to trails or a running track? It may be my 3 year old Adidas shoes also :confused: -- but what caused me to dispell all of that is even when I had new shoes, and ran on a treadmill surface with cushioning, it would happen. Just whenever I would run a lot.

Anyone have this happen before? Is it arthritis?, do I need to amputate my leg? :doh: If it's just pain then fine, i'll put up with it but there's gotta be something wrong down there.

It is not arthritis. Running surface can impact splints (concrete worse than a treadmill, for instance). 3 year old shoes are probably garbage, so it's good you have new ones. Do you have the right new ones? Did you buy what looked pretty in the store or have somebody at a running speciality store properly determine what you should be using?

A lot of people deal with shin splints and it's normally in newer runners or people who have recently jacked up miles. There is a "10% rule" that many recommend, which states not to increase speed or distance more than 10%/week (I am not sure exactly what the baseline would be, though). If you've recently bumped your running from little to every day, of course you'll be injured. That's basically guaranteed. It's a brutal activity on the legs and has to be very cautiously worked up in distance

Toughing out the splints is fine if they are getting better but if they are not, it's not a fine idea. I've read of some people who think that running through chronic shin splints will lead to a stress fracture--and that hurts like hell and will put you out of running for a long time.

WHere is the pain exactly and do you have it when not running? I'd take a few days or a week off and do some cross training and then reintroduce running at a more casual pace and build up its distance more gradually.

I am personally right now only running every 2nd day but doing greater distances than if I was doing every day, then on my off days I am doing a lot of stationary bike. I find that the non consecutive running days makes a heck of a lot of difference on minimizing my pains (which normally have been knee related).

Hi Genetix,
I suffer badly from shin splints, and am currently trying to manage them as best as possible. Here are some good articles on this common problem:

http://www.watfxc.com/TF/TF%20Education/shin_splints.htm
http://www.time-to-run.com/injuries/thebig5/shinsplints.htm
http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/0161-shin-splints-treatment.htm

You would probably do well to take atleast a week off running (try bike to maintain fitness), ensure you have good NEW running shoes......preferably shoes more inclined to control (as over pronation is often a cause of shin splints.........atleast those that effect the inner shin). Also massage the affected area with ICE after each run to minimize inflamation. Tight calf muscles and achilles tendon can also contribute, so plenty of stretching & massage prior to running should help too.

You could also try a course of Non Steroidal anti inflam like Ibuprofin.

I'm currently seeing a podiatrist and getting orthotics to stop my heel and arch rolling in which is causing my shin splints........or more specifically Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (inside shin, rather than the front of the shin). It might be well worthwile to see a podiatrist to assess what is causing your shins to be sore.

Anyway, hope you get them sorted!! Dont' run through the pain, or they could become stress fractures which will take longer to heal.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Seb

Wow, top notch info.. you guys are awesome :tucool:

I was worried it was something serious, thanks bunches!

Yea that goes in line with my problem... I went from barely running a mile a couple times monthly... to instantly 3-5 miles every day :o

The shoes are basic adidas classic, not special running shoes... do you have a recommendation? (i go 3-5 miles usually per run)

The pain goes away by the next day, so it's not a big problem yet.
I think I may need to be less hardcore about it and try the stationary ocassionally. :D

It is not arthritis. Running surface can impact splints (concrete worse than a treadmill, for instance). 3 year old shoes are probably garbage, so it's good you have new ones. Do you have the right new ones? Did you buy what looked pretty in the store or have somebody at a running speciality store properly determine what you should be using?

A lot of people deal with shin splints and it's normally in newer runners or people who have recently jacked up miles. There is a "10% rule" that many recommend, which states not to increase speed or distance more than 10%/week (I am not sure exactly what the baseline would be, though). If you've recently bumped your running from little to every day, of course you'll be injured. That's basically guaranteed. It's a brutal activity on the legs and has to be very cautiously worked up in distance

Toughing out the splints is fine if they are getting better but if they are not, it's not a fine idea. I've read of some people who think that running through chronic shin splints will lead to a stress fracture--and that hurts like hell and will put you out of running for a long time.

WHere is the pain exactly and do you have it when not running? I'd take a few days or a week off and do some cross training and then reintroduce running at a more casual pace and build up its distance more gradually.

I am personally right now only running every 2nd day but doing greater distances than if I was doing every day, then on my off days I am doing a lot of stationary bike. I find that the non consecutive running days makes a heck of a lot of difference on minimizing my pains (which normally have been knee related).