walking w/ shin splints

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

I got some orthotics today to help with my shin splints and they have made a somewhat noticeable improvement on the distance I can walk before the pain kicks in. I've been doing some stretches and stuff working on the shin area but not for very long so I haven't seen any help there.
I was never particularly fit but since I've started getting these a couple of years ago I've become almost completely sedentary so I know it's probably going to take a long time and that my inactivity might even be a factor in why i'm getting the pain after walking such a ridiculously small distance at a reasonable pace.
I was just wondering what the best way to approach this is. my plan atm is to go for several short walks each day, just keep walking until the pain kicks in.. rest for a while and then head home or would this be bad for the splints cos i'm bringing the pain on several times a day. I'm getting some time on a bike and whenever I remember I have them I lift some dumbells for a while so hopefully I can bring up my general level of fitness over time but really I'd much rather be out there walking in the fresh air, the bike is so boring and for some reason I just keep forgetting about the weights.

So without venturing into medical advice obviously.. any thoughts? or is it just a case of get out there for as long and as often as I can?

cc87

ehhh did whoever prescribed the orthotics give you any reason for what has caused the shin splints?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

aye.. it was something about um..
maybe muscles were involved?
I do remember there was something about tightness. There was something about the way I walked too, either it was wrong.. or I was standing on my feet wrong, or my feet were.. wrong.... *shrug*

I pretty much forgot everything she said as soon as I left.

juke

I've had shin splints - and for me the only way to prevent them was to find out the actual cause (trying to do too much running, too quickly) and treat it appropriately (and that meant plenty of physio).

Have a read of this thread - there's good info in it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056274182

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

hrm, well I was told to keep doing the stretches and that the orthotics should be a good help so I guess I'll just keep on with that and try to get as much walking as I can in and see if i notice any improvement. i'll have as look at the thread too, thanks.

sammye333

I had shin splints for years. I eventually had surgery on both legs 10 years ago. I was in the same situation as you, where i could only walk short distances without the dead feeling in my feet.
Specialist told me it was compartment syndrome.
Go and see your doctor

Hanley

juke wrote: »

I've had shin splints - and for me the only way to prevent them was to find out the actual cause (trying to do too much running, too quickly) and treat it appropriately (and that meant plenty of physio).

Have a read of this thread - there's good info in it.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056274182

God I killed that thread.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

well even though yesterday I was only able to walk a little farther with the orthotics in, today i was out walking all around town for ages and not a peep. I kept waiting for the pain but it never came. It must be something to do with the way I'm walking or carrying myself and I just don't notice it.

I raised the issue of compartment syndrome with the doctor as well but she poo-poo'd the idea.

d'Oracle

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

well even though yesterday I was only able to walk a little farther with the orthotics in, today i was out walking all around town for ages and not a peep. I kept waiting for the pain but it never came. It must be something to do with the way I'm walking or carrying myself and I just don't notice it.

I raised the issue of compartment syndrome with the doctor as well but she poo-poo'd the idea.

Orthotics change how your foot relates with the ground.
You had probably been walking how you had been walking for some time and your lower leg was used to that. I used to wear them and the podiatrist who prescribed them recommended slowly building up with them. Basically you are getting used to how you are being forced to walk.

I hate threads on shin splints because people can tell people who have shinsplints because it basically means lower leg pain which can be many things. A medical/healthcare professional can tell you what that is. A faceless internet punter cant.

So you can conceivably get people warning people with a bad gait that they are getting compartment syndrome or people with compartment syndrome stretching their calves.

Bottom line if something hurts and won't stop hurting go to a medical/healthcare professional.

sammye333

That was a good link hanley put up.
I wish i had known some of that information when i was having the pains.