How to deal with Shin Splints?

Five_Star

Five_Star

Five_Star

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I know medical advice is not allowed, what I’m asking here for advice on who would be the best to receive medical advice from or if its technique related.

I’m coming back to running after a year or so break. When I was a kid through to I finished Uni I would run 4 times a week doing 12 miles total a week, mostly trails and outside stuff on the street, treadmill in winter.

I’ve started to get back to running, its one of the things I have always enjoyed. However it seems I have been curst with shin splints although I have not had a proper medical examination. I can tell you it reduces me to not being able to take another step as it feels like somebody is injecting white hot metal into the front of my shin.

I was doing 2-3 runs a week totalling about 6 miles at the very most. All on the street.

Despite all my running as a youth (ran for Preston Harriers in Lancashire for a couple of years) I never had my gait analysed. I guess there was no need it was always comfortable and I did well. Conversely I have no idea what type of pronation I have although I’m pretty sure I’m a heel striker.

What options have other people tried, I don’t really want to bother my GP when I get back to England with this as its self-inflicted, what have others tried?

  • Doctor – Not sure they’d be of much help but they might offer advice on who to see?
  • Physio – how do I find one and what would they do?
  • Running shop – Has anyone had their running technique analysed and their foot strike pattern observed? Are new trainers the answer?
  • Personal running trainer / training? – I can afford to pay someone because I can’t go on like this but how much help would they be to get my technique improved (if that is even the issue?)

I’ve done the usual searches and it seems shin splints are a very varied sports injury that have a very personal way of being solved, I’d love to hear if anyone has successfully recovered from them.
 
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I'm thankful for the advice, and I know that I'm almost certainly going to have to rest up for a while but its not the news I want to hear that I'll have to stop running just as I was getting back into it. I guess I was almost hoping for a silver bullet cure :(

I've found that ice on my shins really helps after.

I do a lot of Yoga and I'm more flexible than most but I think the cause is down to a disconnect between my calf being supple and my foot muscles that run down the front of the shin being tight.
That video looks like a good place to start, would a physiotherapist be of any additional help in this case? Can my GP provide me access to a Physio or is it a yellow pages job?

In terms of having my gait looked at and getting some decent shoes do people have any recommendations of sports shops or important things to look out for? I'm willing to travel to get this sorted and start getting better.
 
Thanks Platypus

I wonder how much of it is just down to being older, my legs must have seen some miles over the years.

Can you advise on what I should be looking for in a good running shop that will help me analyse my style?
 
I've never had my gait tested before as I've never had need to, yes I've read about and I know why its important but as there was no problem I didn't think there was much point.

I've corrected my first post too, I meant to say I've been doing 2-3 runs per week total 6 miles, I agree 0 -> 18 miles total per week is a big increase.
As an alternative I have tried and been more successful (but by no means perfect) with running in a sprinters style just on my fore feet and doing interval training between lamppost but its not what I like.

I will certainly check out Up & Running when I'm back, I like the fact they have a area page on the main website, thats exactly the kind of place I was looking for, thanks :)

When I said about being old, I know I'm only 30 but compared to how fit I was when I was 15-18 it feels like and ice age of abuse has passed since then.
 
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