Shin splints / Stress fracture / Something else?

[marders]

Hi,

I think I have shins splints in my left leg but not 100% sure.

I run quite a bit (~70-80 miles / week) and I have been doing this for the past 5/6 months so there's been no sudden increase in mileage.
Whilst running on Friday, I noticed a slight pain in my shin area but didn't think much of it.
That night, it was still noticeable and I just thought it would go away with a night's sleep, as little niggles often do.
Next morning it was still there and I completed my planned run in the morning (hindsight is great and I probably shouldn't have!).
Afterwards, the pain was worse and it has even been sore when walking.
I have iced / rested / applied pressure / taken anti inflammatories and the pain seems to be easing (but I wonder if it's just the drugs kicking in!).
It's almost complety gone (the pain) after just 1 anti inflammatory (200mg ibuprofen) - assume that is a good thing.
I'm off to see the Dr tonight but I don't expect much more than a 'take it easy / rest' type of solution.

The reason I'm not sure whether it's shin splints is that it came on so quickly - I thought it was more a gradual thing.
Also, the usual causes don't seem to apply so I'm at a loss as to what I have done differently to bring this on. I'm hoping that as it came quickly, it will go just as quickly!

The pain is in the front of the shin and hurts to point toes downwards (so from reading it suggests shin splints). I'm hoping that as it came quickly, it will go just as quickly!

[Heidi]

When you say pain at the front of your shins, is it in the muscle on the outer front of your shin, or to the inside of where the shin bone protrudes?

Shin splints would be over the front inside, and feel almost as if its over the bone.

If the pain is more in the muscles on the outside of the shin bone it is not shin splints and is more likely to be muscle overuse or at worst anterior compartment syndrome.

[marders]

The pain is more like over the bone and not outer. Almost running right down the middle of the leg.

I visited a GP yesterday saying I had developed a pain in my lower leg. She asked a few questions (trying to determine how it happened) and I eventually said I noticed it when running (trying to avoid getting the obvious diagnosis / advice ie oh, you run a lot, well stop!).

She thinks it’s just a muscle / ligament / tendon inflammation (or even vein as my veins stick out a bit (varicose) so plausible?). I asked if it could be shin splints and she said no because to locate the pain I had to move my foot / ankle. I don’t think she knew what shin splints were because what she said sounds like what I have read about shin splints ie inflammation causing the pain! She asked no questions at all about running volumes or intensity (after I said I noticed it whilst running) and I ended up having to extract info from her (GPs are great but not when it comes to more specialised problems). She also didn’t recommend me applying pressure / compression either but I am yet to follow this advice.

I’m going to rest until the pain has gone and I’ve booked another appointment with a different doctor just to see what someone else says before I go to a sports physio for some decent diagnosis / advice.

It’s basically fine after taking ibuprofen and I might invest in some compression socks as these should help when I start running again.

Other than that I guess I need to do some stretching (although I don't believe it has been caused by tight muscles - I may be wrong) and low impact exercise (x trainer / bike / swim). Should it hurt at all when doing any of these activities as I do notice it a little when biking but nothing too bad? Assume it's just the minimal movement in the leg aggrevating it.

[marders]

Just to clarify the location of the pain...

It is in the lower third of my left leg (starts about 3-5cms above the ankle and continues up for another 1-3cms with a noticeable worst point) and it is in the middle of the leg at the front. When I apply pressure with my fingers it almost feels like a bruise would feel (pain wise). If I bend my foot up and down and point it outwards there is less pain than when I do the same thing and point it inwards.

Not sure how much is masked by the ibuprofen.

[Heidi]

I think you have the right idea. Get another opinion and if no help, definately visit a sports injury specialist. Whther its shin splints or muscle/tendon inflammation you will need some physical therapy on it to really improve.

Good luck!