Shin Splints

[JNech66]

 Does anyone know the symptons and remedies for shin splints

[Frodo]

I would start by buying new shoes.  Taper your running a bit.  Chances are you're doing too much too fast.

Here's a lot more on the subject.

Good luck.  I remember the pain.

[froggermauger]

Jim,
Shin-splints is a generic or all-encompassing diagnosis for any and all pain associated with the shin (i.e. tibia), and the specific causes can vary and be due to soft tissue issues such as chronic compartment syndrome to actual stress fractures. It is the latter that concerns me most because that takes 8-weeks (minimal) of no running to heal up. The problem with shin splints is the symptoms are simply acute pain that inhibits or prevents you from running. In the case of me 1-week in the aftermath of Little Rock Marathon and not running, the following Saturday I did the standard 10-mile long run and ca mile 8 I noticed a throbbing pain in the mid-Tibia, and by mile 9 it was excruiating pain and by 9.5 miles I was hobbling and walking in. X-rays were negative and MRI inconclusive, but suggestive of stress fracture. And that's how the Ortho Doc treated it - no running 8-wks. And 8-wks later, ran Palos Half, albeit lost substantial conditioning, but finished it with no issues or pain with the shin. Bottomline here is if you even suspect some kind of shin issue, then get to the Ortho-doctor and have him do his or her thing. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!