Shins STILL hurting
garyroberts
Posts: 869
in General Chat
can't believe it really, laid off running for about three months in order to get my legs (shins) feeling strong and unbruised again - only to have them feel just as bad after a week or two of running again.
I'm pretty pissed off.
If i can't get this sorted i may have to dump running altogether.........which is crap. Because triathlon is cool, whereas cycling (only) and swimming (only) just doesn't cut it quite the same way.
AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I'm pretty pissed off.
If i can't get this sorted i may have to dump running altogether.........which is crap. Because triathlon is cool, whereas cycling (only) and swimming (only) just doesn't cut it quite the same way.
AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
0
Comments
If you've been able to run previously without shin pain, then can't see any good reason why it can't be fixed. Now feel free to disregard everything I'm saying 'cos I really don't have a clue what I'm talking about, but is it down to a change in your running style? New shoes that you've bought which just don't do you any favours? What about those special inserts (don't know what they're called) which some people put inside their trainers?
I'm sure you've seen a specialist physio (?), but maybe try another. Can you see a running coach? Get a video analysis? Can Conehead point you in the right direction? Or is anyone else on this forum capable of helping you out?
Like I said, if you've ran pain free at some point in your life which I believe you have, then I can't see any good reason why you can't again.
Don't give up G, we need you and I'm sure you'll get bombarded with loads of advice and support.
Oh, and please feel free to shoot down my armchair analysis. Good luck buddy.
Can't remember if I gave these links to you or someone else:
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html ... lints.html
http://www.bupa.co.uk/running/injury-pr ... -syndrome/
http://www.greatrun.org/Training/article.aspx?id=61
Don't give up! Get a decent physio. If only more physios were keen to say 'I really don't know what it is; go to a proper sports physio' we could all save a lot of time (9 months I think for me last year).
Follow Conehead to some physios who deal with actual proper sports people and then I'm sure you can pack in the 'I'll have to give up running' lark!
Scotty just moved up a place in the AG rankings!!!! Yeah!!
I'm in a not too dissimilar place..
As you know I also suffered from SS (or something like it) and I still do when I increase the intensity of my runs.. I've got to the stage when I can run at a low HR aka low intensity and I'm fine, but as soon as I add in a race or fast track session I begin to suffer again.. all I can suggest is to start from the beginning and do it slowly...
use everything you can to assist recovery (ibuprofen, compression socks), if you have exercises from the Physio do them!! (I still don't and that's why my problems come back??) foam roller, balance board etc..
Get down the MD's for an appoint with a podiatrist.. or go to a private specialist.
Scotty
everyone has said it better than me, take up the conehead's offer and get some leet physio advice. i've been having problems with my knees and the one thing giving me heart is that i have run in the past without pain so i can do so again.
you've run without pain so you will too. have you tried running on a cross trainer to keep the running fitness there but take the pressure off the shins?
He's a 'proper' sports physio working at a national sports excellence centre in Lillishall (where the england footy team used to workout). I also know he currently works with a range of international athletes (he only works with us 'non-elite' folk one day a week). I say this because i have to believe he knows what he is doing.
Anyway, his diagnosis centered on 'weak hip' muscles that do a bad job of keeping my leg (knee) pointing forward when my foot hits the ground. He said that if these muscles are weak then every time my foot hits the ground my knee 'wobbles'
(not that you can see this - although a tell tale sign is one legged squats, try it now, no wieghts or anything, just stand up, cock one leg behind you so you're standing on just the one, now squat. Do about 20 reps........here's the sign......does your knee tend to travel inward (towards your other leg) when you squat?)
Mine does! He also said that the butt muscles need to be strengthened too!
So, he has given me lots of strengthening exercises to focus on my hips and but.
Here's the difficult bit. Yes i've been doing them but not as regularly as i should be doing them. I know. I know. I don't need to be told..........but if you've ever been in this position you will probably know how easy it is to lose focus on such exercised when you're not actually training/running/racing.
I MUST DO MORE
I MUST DO MORE
All that said, a second opinion would be very useful. So yes, i'd love to get one Mr. C. Just as long as i dont need to contact the bank manager first!
By the way, in case i didn't mention it........(i dont think i did)......the wobbly leg issue leads to extra stress on my shin/calf muscles and that causes the pain (according the the physio).
What do you think?
A second opinion is always wirth getting, whatever any expert says, they never know everything. It might reinforce what's already been said, which is good, or might just tweak what;s bee advised to date, good as well. Or might tell you to do something completely different. But persue CH's offer.
And if I can be blunt here, if you've been told to do some specific exercise to overcome an issue that's peventing you from training, and you don;t properly carying out the recommendations, and then train and complain about the pain, not more canbe said. You need to carry out the recommendations rigourously, as that's the only ay you're going to back up to full fitness. If/when you get a 2nd opinion, listen to that as well, and take on board what they're telling you.
Nothings over until it's over. This should only be a short term set back, from which you will recover. I appreciate that it annoying and painful, but you will come out th eother side stronger and better for it. Just keep up the exercises.
I also wanted to know about the pain.
Does it hurt _all_ the time?
Does it hurt during a run, or does it come on after?
If you have a very slow run does it hurt more, less, or the same as a fast run?
If you run on soft ground (I don't there are any Sandy beaches near Telford... but that would be great) does it hurt?
Do you think you are doing what the physio has asked you to do? Quantity/Quality? If not, then... well... you've just got to try harder!
What you really need is a training buddy. It's a pity Telford is so far away At my tennis club (which has the gym that I use), there are a range of professionals on the staff - I have occasional sessions with strength/conditioning guy (not cheap) - but he will give me an appropriate programme, and shout at me (work harder! do it properly!). Which is good for motivation. Variety is important too.
I do the one legged squat things on a wobble cushion. It's great, and far less boring. I don't notice my knees bending in an odd way (well, apart from the one that has just had surgery - it was behaving really wierdly the other day - but that was its first go since coming under the knife). I can reasonably comfortably do about 100 on the good leg - I stopped after 25 on the bad one. I say this to motivate you!
Other things:
1) Some exercises for the adductors - which are good for hip, knee stability also.
2) Lots of lunges, with weights. Forwards, and sideways.
3) Try to do some exercises with a swiss ball, as that works the core a lot more - bridge curls etc.
4) Use the rowing machine. Really work those legs. It's great fun if you are motivated by records etc. You can try to beat my (not very good time) of 7:10 for a 2,000m row. Shouldn't be too hard for you.
You don't need to run that much. I've done some reasonably run times (41 - 42 mins for a 10) from mainly doing rowing and no more than 3 miles a week running on average.
Try just running on a treadmill for a bit.
About 8 years ago, I suffered from chronic back pain. I was told that my back was very weak and that my hamstrings were always constantly tight due to prob related to my back. I had two MRI's and upteen x-rays and a proper diagnosis was never really given to me. Even to this day I still suffer serious back spasms and for the life of me I'd love them to go away. I spent 2 1/2 years in and out of physio to the point where I was doing the excercises and the pain was kinda subsiding. I wish I had the opportunity to afford a proper sports physio but I couldn't. I still would like to go back to the physio but the local docs seem more comfortable prescrbiing 500mg of codine and diazepam ( I've never take the diaz tho..)
I don't get back pain anywhere near like I used to and it took a long time to get to that stage, what I'm getting at is that whether you feel like giving up or not, don't. There will be a answer to your problem and it may be 'a case of trial and error. Hopefully CH's kind offer will be the answer you need but keep the chin up big guy and remember to do the exercises that the physio's tell you. I know it can be hard to keep focus but you've got the winter to sort it out and get back to triathlon domination next year. So heads up and keep focus.
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