stubborn stubborn shin splints

[volatile]

I've had shin splints (compartment syndrome) for about five years now. It started when I took up football after a couple of years out.

after being in absolute agony I ended up via the GP and a few others at a private sports injury clinic. they told me that my calf muscle was too big and strong over powering the muscles in the front of the leg. something to do with bad blood flow to the muscles near the bone etc etc

I took a year off footy, iced it regularly and did all the streches and exercises I was told to.

Never was I convinced it was completely gone, and after starting footy again, sure enough, pain again. It's worse in my left leg, and even though I've stopped again, in an effort to sort it out, I can still feel it a little tender on the inside of my shin bone

anyone got any ideas?

Pav

[mwpod]

Hi volatile,

Has the specialist recommended surgery to release the fascia (covering of the muscles)? This will basically give more room to your lower leg decreasing built up of the pressure.

Did they get a X-ray? It could also be a stress fracture.


hope this helps

[volatile]

Thanks MWPOD

There was no fracture, and nobody has recommended surgery.

Is this a common problem?

[Ruth]

Hello,

I just wondered if you were ever referred to a podiatrist to assess your feet and see whether you require any orthotics? The reason I ask is because I had horrendous shin splints +/- compartment syndrome (not diagnosed) when I ran, which I just put up with and was told to ice/anti inflammatory, however when I saw a podiatrist they were amazed at the amount of over-pronation I had.

I was made some orthotics (which I now wear 24/7/365 religiously!) and from about a week after getting them and having worn them in, to this day, I do not get any pain whatsoever. I still have a little bit of residual tenderness however nothing like the pain I had before.

It might not fix everyone, but might be worthwhile investigating!

Good luck!

[InjuryHater]

Same thing is happening to me right now...I just got back into playing footie for having about 5years out.I done pre season training and played some matches then i went to a training session and i done bout 3mins jogging and at the bottom inside of both me legs felt like it was going to burst..so i couldnt continue. Ive been physio and he told me i have shin splints but he mentioned nothing about compartment syndrome.Ive had to stop playing football and ive been on a rest for about 2months ive done my stretches,had my physio and nothing seems to be working! Im going to go to the doctors now because physio dont seem to be helping.

I just wondered if playing football/Soccer that you can get compartment syndrome? i thought you could only get it if you are a very long distance runner?


ty

[Ruth]

Hi InjuryHater,

Indeed, compartment syndrome is more common amongst long distance runners, however it can happen to anybody. It is quite common if muscles are built up very quickly (particularly during adolescence) and the fascia doesn't have time to expand with the rate at which the muscles are developing.

When the muscles flood with oxygen rich blood during exercise, the size of the muscle belly increases further and the tight fascia basically strangles the muscle by restricting the blood flow as it cannot stretch any further, hence causing quite severe .

The sugery which mwpod suggested is quite drastic but if nothing else works it could be an option; I would want to rule out any other reasons first though, including biomechanical inbalance (overpronation of the feet is one thing which can cause this), stress fractures (this doesn't sometimes show up on a standard x-ray but requires a special type of scan), and posterior tibal syndrome (PTS).

Have you seen our shin splints at http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/lowerleg/shinsplints.htm ? Lots of useful information here and links to information about anterior compartment syndrome as well.

I hope this is useful, please let us know how it goes.