shin/ankle pain

[gingernuts]

I have started running again as a form of cardio and to train for a local fun run.I used to be a competitive distance runnner so I have a good idea of how to train.I cycle for 40 mins (to work and back) most days so already have a reasonable cardio fitness.Over the last 5 weeks I have gradually built up to running 3 miles.

This sunday I ran the usual 3 miles (have been at this distance for two weeks) and as soon as I began my warm down jog I felt severe pain towards the bottom of my shin.It was so bad the jog turned into a hobble!I immediately iced the area for 10 mins.

Since then I have very bad pain in my tibia just above the ankle everytime I put weight on my foot and sometimes when I just rotate my foot.It feels like someone has hit my ankle with a large hammer and is very sore to touch especially along the edges of the bone.I have seen my doctor who thinks it is very bad tendonitis/shin splints.he has instructed me to not run for a week.

48hrs later I have seen no lessening in the pain.Does any one here have any help or advice? I am a bit concerned it could be a stress fracture although I would have thought it unlikely as I have only been running three times a week.I am quite heavy on my feet - 154lbs at 5'4".I have been given an x ray referral form by my MD if I see no improvement in a week.

 

[onyx]

I do not like doctors when it comes to things like this, as in general (Although not always) they know very little and mostly in their minds any form of calf or shin pain is shin splints (get that on your medical record and wave goodbye to the police, military etc as a career, so not good) Shin splits is a very serious vascular condition which needs specialist diagnosis not just a silly slow chart in a doctors brain of pain in the shin simply meaning that. My advise would be to go and see a physio, they are working with this sort of thing day in and day out and are much more likely to be able to detect the actual cause and advise on the best form of treatment (rest isn't always the best form of treatment for all conditions).

I know from my own experience of having a calf injury last year that what people were telling me was probably shin splints turned out to be basically an overuse injury where with a little strapping, applying ice I was fine within a few weeks. (Mine was caused by increasing the amount I run too soon)

Get yourself to the physio and also take advantage of the X-ray to make sure it isn't a hairline fracture or something nasty.

Good luck

 

[gingernuts]

Would love to but at the moment paying for any treatment is a big problem!I have just recently declared myself bankrupt as debts from my student days where just unsupportable by my salary.I am absolutley wiped out at the moment financially.

Will go for x ray and if it still doesn't improve then I will return to my Dr and ask for NHS physio.If it gets to that point I may also try and find a sports therapist I used to see who is very cheap and very effective - fixed a shoulder injury in 3 weeks at total cost of £40 including initial assessment.

Priority at moment goes to paying household bills + food!

 

[gingernuts]

just an up date.have kept off running all week - just cycling to and from work for cardio.have been lifting but just upper body work.pain is getting worse so I paying the x ray dept a visit tomorrow.trouble is all I will get is an x ray and the results posted to my g.p..the way I feel right now is that there is no way I am leaving without an opinion.It has been so bad tonight I nearly checked into A&E at the city hospital but when informed there is currently a three hour wait I decided to leave it until tomorrow.