Shin pain

ctappin

Ok, need some advice - I started doing HIIT last week on the treadmill (just google searched a program of 30 second sprints, 1:30 walk) and now I have pain that runs pretty much the entire length of my shin bone (not the muscles) in both my legs when I walk or run. It seems like bike/elliptical is the only thing that isn't aggrevating it but I never feel fully worked out after using them. Any suggestions? I just bought gel arch support insoles to try out in my running shoes today when I work out but I'm starting to think that after a week's worth of hurting, I may have hurt something

raynes

Sounds like shin splints.  I can't think very well today, so I'm not much help, but I'm sure Google could provide some good ways to help/prevent shin splints.  In the mean time, some ice would probably help them feel better!

wagnerdi

I have had shin splints ever since I was in HS.  The sports dr. I used to go to told me if they're on the inside of your shin bone they're shin splints, if the pain moves to the outside (where mine pretty much stays) they're stress fractures. 
They suggest rest a few days, ice (on and off for 20 min @ a time), stretching your shins by pointing your toes (think opposite stretching of your calves) or if nothing else - giving up running (which isn't going to happen). Buying new shoes often helps, but I've just kind of learned to live w/ the pain...a few miles in it usually subsides.

ctappin

Yea that's what I was worried about. The pain is on the outside of my shin bone (my sister also had shin splints that led to stress fractures). I just didn't think it could go from fine one week to that much pain in like 5 days. Blah, guess it's bike sprints and ice for me... Thanks ladies

Nebb

You may pronate too much/too little. It might be in your best interest to see a podiatrist who can watch you walk and see if you have anything wrong with your feet that could be causing it.

cukimerrydoll

The problem might be your shoes.  If you don't have the right kind of foot support for the shape of your feet, it can cause shin pain.  Both my FMIL and I have had that problem, and we have both been able to fix it by finding shoes that work better for our feet.

I can tell that I need a new pair if my shins start hurting within the first 5 miles of a run (after that, I attribute to soreness and walking a block cures the problem).

Good luck!

[Deleted User]

Sorry I'm a little later in responding, but do your shins hurt when you're running on the treadmill only?  I have the same problem and avoided the pain by using the elliptical and bike, too.  However, I could still run on any other surface.  Recently, though, I read an article about running without shoes in Time Magazine.  I tried it on the treadmill for a few weeks and it REALLY helped!  (I also tended to over pronate which caused a lot of pain, but running barefoot kept me from it.)  Supposedly (and I believe it), running barefoot retrains you to run/walk the way your body was designed to which helps with pronation problems and shin pain.

However, if your shins hurt more often than just running on a treadmill, then maybe it is shin splints/stress fractures.  Be careful and I hope you find something that works for you!

ctappin

Thanks for all the advice everybody! I RICE'd my legs all weekend and they seem to be doing better, the right one much better than the left. I also have chronic knee issues which doesn't help as it is. I'm going to see how they do with the insoles this week (so far so good today, a little pain but nothing compared to last week) and if it keeps up, look into new sneakers and possibly a doctor's visit.

Uabasl, that actually sounds really interesting and I wish I could try that. I usually run on my lunch breaks at work on the treadmill, so I'm not sure how much others would enjoy bare feet haha. But yes, it does hurt when I run/walk on surfaces other than the treadmill.

Stupid legs...

But thanks everyone!