Nothings working.../Shin Splints...??

[Titan412k3]

It started almost 4 months ago.. i was really out of shape.. hadn't really exercised in about a year.. and i got in the gym and started doing a slow jog on the treadmill.. i was able to do that for about a week and half to 2 weeks.. and then i started noticing pain in my lower legs on the inside of my shin (both legs started hurting at the same time).. above my ankle and below my upper calf muscle.. it kind of came out of nowhere... so i let it rest for a couple weeks and stretched it everyday and iced it every morning.. then after 2 weeks i tried running again and the pain started right back up... and its been almost the same thing for 4 months.. its strange because everyone talks of pain when they point their toes but the only time i have pain is when i try to jog/run... any other time its a normal day.. i stretch everyday.. very often amost every 10 minutes and my calf muscles still feel very very tight... could this be a symptom? anyones advice would be greatly appreciated.. i've already read all the sections on shin splints and other similar problems... but nothings working.. and i don't have the money to go to a specialist.. so please someone help me.. i'm at the begging stage...

[Heidi]

Hi,

Before you started running, did you get your feet checked and make sure you have the right trainers for your feet and running style? This is a very important factor in lower leg pain when running.

You have done the right thing to stretch the calfs and ice the shins. If the calfs feel tight to you then this is most definately a contributary factor. Continue to stretch them as regularly as you can. Do you also stretch Soleus as well as Gastrocnemius? There are some examples here:

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/stretching/allstretches.php

All else I can suggest at the moment is to get a couple of sports massages (usually about £20 per half hour), honestly this will help no end.

Other possible contributary factors include other tight muscles, hamstrings, quads....or possible weak hip abductors. However, you won't really know this unless you can visit a specialist