Is it more han shin splints???

[inasoregui]

I've been training for my 1st marathon (started training in April, race is in October). I noticed pain near the bone on the inside lower area of my leg a few inches above my ankle. I noticed the pain back in May while I was getting physical therapy for my right IT band. I pointed it out to my PT and he said it was a shin splint.

The pain is worse when I begin to run or when I stop. There have only been a couple of times that I have stopped my run b/c of the pain. Most of the time I just run through because I can not afford to miss training considering the marathon is just around the corner. It is more annoying b/c I know it should not be there and I just tolerate it. I often ice it and take an anti-inflammatory when the pain is too bad. I massage my leg and notice that there is a thumbnail size spot near the bone on the lower front inside that is very tender to touch.

Last week while on a short run I noticed the pain started to go down toward my ankle. This has never happened before so I took a few days off to rest. I was able to run 18 miles on Saturday without any severe pain (I wrapped the area to help prevent any more injury). I took a couple of days off to recover my run. Tonight when I ran the pain was severe and I noticed it in my ankle to lower calve. I ran for 1 mile and decided to stop to prevent any severe injury.

I’ve seen 2 Dr’s this week. One said it was typical shin splint, the other said it was not. I’m confused and worried it maybe a severe problem and am not sure of what to do. The race is in 5 weeks.

[Heidi]

Hi,

This may be a stupid question, but is the pain on the front or back or your leg? Its just you say shin splints (which are obviously on the front) and then say the pain is in the lower calf (back of the leg?)

Either way it doesn't really sound like a typical case of shin splints. I think the first Doctor was just fobbing you off coz he didn't know what it was.

I think the only thing you can do so close to your marathon is to visit a respected sports physio or some other specialist to get a proper assessment and some treatment which might make it bearable to run on.

In the mean time, ice, rest, stretch is about all you can do.

[inasoregui]

Thanks for the feedback. It is on the front lower inside. I edited my posting to clarify. I'll take your advice and get a third opinion. The pain is bearable but not getting better and I don't want this to be my first and last marathon b/c of some injury I could have prevented.

[mwpod]

Hi inasoregui,

Have the doctors sent you for x-ray?

Possible causes of shin pain are:
- stress fracture,
- medial tibial stress syndrome (not stress fracutre but due to excessive contracture of muscle on bone)
- compartment syndrome

Depending on the causes of shin pain treatment varies from rest, physical therapy, biomechanical correction, to surgery.

Yeah, definitely visit a sport doc rather than general doc.