Help and advice needed please.....
I am at the end of my tether. I ran through injury last year...to the point of limping. Tried not running for a bit and got back to it and although a little better it did not go. Physio thought Compartment Syndrome. Finally saw a Consultant had MRI scan to see whether a stress fracture or not....he diagnosed Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome/shin splints. No running for 8 weeks....Shin felt good. So then started back to it 30 secs run/30secs walk......increased slowly. At 5mins running tenderness returned. Left running for another month. Started back with the 30secs run/walk and leg behaved. A little tenderness on the odd occasion but an extra day rest and all good. Running on grass or treadmill only. Now managed to get to 6min run and 1 min walk.....a couple of runs in and the tenderness is back. I ran Saturday but then left it til the tenderness and nearly gone before running today....unfortunately after the run it is slightly worse. I am at the end of my tether...going to not run for a week and see how it feels. I wear a compression sock and have had orthotics made which I feel have helped. I also do triathlons so the swimming and cycling are helping me maintain fitness but I need to sort this running out.
I am hoping that someone has had it and has recovered and back to running successfully again.....looking for that silver lining. I have googled yet again and scared myself silly.....so I won't be doing that again.
Any advice woud be really appreciated......
Comments
Hi Saffers
I could have written your post but thrown in a full stress fracture.
Returning to running caused the pain after following the beginners schedule, doing 2 mins of running x 10
I fell into a pattern of resting....returning....resting....returning and basically achieving zip whilst becoming massively frustrated.
I found that massaging the shin with ibuleve gel after each run helped. When it was very bad I missed a run but returned to the next and stuck at the same level of the beginners schedule for weeks until the pain eased. My theory was that no running meant I suffered when I returned because it was unaccustomed ........but increasing the running caused it as well. So I managed it by maintaining a level of running but not increasing.
It took ages to settle but did
...and then I did a lovely coastal 4 mile run and woke up with achilles issues which I still have
Not much help really
Sorry
Basically, massage with ice and ibuleve gel, keep gentle low level running going until it settles
Thanks Madge.......I shall do just that. At the moment I am going to leave the running until there is no tenderness and then do the 6min run/1walk and stick with that if okay. Just feeling a bit desperate at the moment after having a year of pulling out of races.....I just don't want it to be the same next year.
Sorry to hear that you have achillies issues now. Are you still able to get out and run?
im prob in a similar situation. Fair bit of tenderness of the outer side of the shin.
Have found that dry-needling helps. Should be going to see physio in a few days also.
Had tib sf earlier this year, so unsure if this is stemming from this, or from doing lots of cycling, or easing myself back into running after 4 months off.....
Hi Nick
Sorry to hear that you are still having issues......it's so frustrating when you have taken time out and feel you are taking it easy getting back into it.
I am trying to stay positive but struggling and looking at all avenues......desperate springs to mind.
I hope you have some good input from your physio.
i will let you know saffers. Yeah it is frustrating, but hey ho....
physio did mention electro accupuncture (she doesnt feel happy about me needling myself)...so might have a natter about that.
If I shorten my stride any more I will be tripping over my legs.
I did have a neurological problem in my 'problem' leg, that caused quite a bit of muscle loss, and I know it isnt as strong as my other as I have tested doing single legged squats. Quite a bit of difference (15kg) between the two.
Whenever you find yourself sat down ... tap the toes, you soon feel a different muscle group working
It cant do any harm to try
As a long term sufferer of all things achilles I can sympathise with you
I am not sure a gait analysis would be that good whilst you still have issues .... a good physio or chiro may unearth the root of the problem which may be biomechanics
You can feel the muscles working if you tap your feet incidentally so it must do something, I used it for a while to strengthen calf muscles
Saffers...my physio didnt get back to me until over the weekend, and things have eased considerably in the problem area, so I said its probably not worth me going to see her...im pretty good at judging when I need to go...and at the moment I really dont think it's worth it.....it was 4 or 5 days ago though.
I have never suffered from things like this before, and I know I have some biomechanical issues in this foot, but they are largely addressed. I did try some other orthotics a few years ago, but that caused more problems in my knee, so I reverted back to the less 'controlling' approach which I had been using previosuly with only occasional issues (which considering I was doing anything from 80-120 mpw wasnt really that bad!)
I did do a lot of walking over the weekend, so that may well have helped matters. Will have to wait and see what transpires over this week. I have brought my massage stick into work, and am massaging my shin gently during the day...hopefully that will help things too.
I did google 'dry needling', and found this..... which may be of interest......
- get some needles off ebay and have a go yourself....! I am quite tempted.....
I feel my form is a lot better - less slouchy and sloppy - and for some reason, it's more fun and springy...
I intend to keep running in flats, but want to keep the barefoot as well to keep the strength in my legs. I can feel the difference, and any "overpronation" I had whilst heel striking seems to have disappeared by landing midfoot.
Might be worth a try if you continue to suffer problems. Good luck!