Is it more han shin splints???

[inasoregui]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[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.