Fed up!

[AllieG]

Shin splints still not better. Watched everyone doing the Brighton HM yesterday, sigh... My last run was 2 weeks ago. Went to see the physio at work, have exercises to do, and I may have been "Mis- sold" pronation trainers... I might get gait-checked somewhere else, if they ever get better. Honestly I could cry

[useitorloseit Graduate]

I feel your pain. The more I hear about getting your gait checked and feet looked at, the more I wonder if it's all a big con. Lots of people seem to be getting bad advice at the moment ...

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to useitorloseit]

I wonder that too, so far I've been told I over pronate, I don't over pronate, I over pronate with one foot and not the other....still if you get it done you have the option of returning your shoes...that's saved me about £300 so far...

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Oh no what a bu**er Allie. That's interesting about the trainers. Did your physio say that?

[AllieG Graduate in reply to Irishprincess]

Yup. He said what I suspected anyway... That trainers are often mis-sold as they are more expensive... Not sure if that's true, but they did try to sell me custom insoles (which I rejected...) Am even considering going swimming (which I hate!)

[Irishprincess Graduate in reply to AllieG]

There is some evidence that says runners have suffered more injuries since these "prescriptive running shoes" have been sold. All I know is that these companies are making an awful lot of money from all these "special" shoes. What about rowing?

[Hidden in reply to AllieG]

Just a note about what your physio said - I've recently found out that I am "neutral" when in the past I've been told I pronate (at a crappy sports shop). I was convinced this was the case as if you look at any of my shoes, they wear lots inside and you can just tell.

But I've been told that I don't do it whilst running! So don't write off your gait analysis just yet. Maybe do try another shop though for a second opinion if you're not sure.

Sorry about your shin splints! I really struggle with them too. I can feel mine coming back at the moment (recently got new shoes). But I'm hoping it's just aches and pains cos I'm out of practice at the moment and not being caused by the shoes

I did a stretch this morning after my run, sitting on my feet for a few seconds - I do feel it might have helped them a little bit! Hope you feel better soon xx

[AllieG Graduate in reply to Hidden]

It's all so complicated! And there are so many shoes! I did the "wet footprint" thing, and there's an on-line Gait Checker on Mizuno's website, both these suggest I'm neutral. There's an independent running shop I'm going to visit when I'm match-fit for a second opinion. I'm nearly there: pain free today after two weeks.

[Tomas Graduate]

Well... there certainly is a conflict of interest when it's the salesman assessing the shopper's gait. It's almost like... well... maybe a bit like buying a PPI from your bank when you take out a loan. That's not to say that insurances - or special shoes - are always wrong.

That aside, I'm sorry to hear that you're still struggling. It really sucks.

[ViaM Graduate]

[AllieG Graduate]

I have decided to take the train out to Lewes tomorrow, and go for a reeeally long walk along the river with my walking shoes, camera and iPod, and SULK, then go into town and drink coffee and eat cake. So there.

[useitorloseit Graduate in reply to AllieG]

Hear hear that girl! I may join you (spiritually, as Lewes is a bit far for me to walk to ...)

[Tomas Graduate in reply to AllieG]

Coffee and cake can cure ANYTHING. And if it doesn't cure it, at least it makes it more enjoyable.

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to AllieG]

I'll join you too, although only virtually. Given the state of my ankle at the moment, I consider it a success if I can get as far as my kitchen without incident!

[Northernspirit Graduate]

Ah AllieG I feel your frustration, I too am back on the couch so to speak, ankle / tendons painful and rested since Thursday when I really really want to keep going. Think we both need patience? And remember we can catch up now we know we can run! Keep positive And you will conquer!

[pot58 Graduate]

Awh sorry to hear..it's really miserable but better to rest...

[AllieG Graduate]

Grrrr grrrrr and grrrrrrrrrr! Thanks everyone. A nice river-walk (to case out potential running routes for when legs work again), cake, coffee, a train ride then big glossy magazine and ice on shins. Quite looking forward to it now!

[aliboo70 in reply to AllieG]

that sounds like a really good plan hope you get sorted soon

[JuliaM72 Graduate]

Can I ask what symptoms you have with the shin splints? I went to the docs last year with pain and numbness in my legs from the knees down after just walking briskly, but was told didn't know what it was blood test etc revealed nothing out the ordinary. My friend and I had started walking on a regular basis and this was a regular occurrence for me. I looked them up online but didn't really get much help. I hope you get better soon.

[AllieG Graduate in reply to JuliaM72]

I just wrote a reeeeally long reply, and it got dumped somewhere so if this kinda shows up twice, apologies!

Basically, it feels like someone is pushing a knitting needle into the inside of my shinbone, about half way up in the direction of my knee. When I try and run, it feels like my shins are "broken" even though when I'm sitting down and I prod my shins, they DONT hurt! Walking down stairs was really painful, as was walking down hills (up hill and up stairs, sore, but not so bad). Walking on the flat not so bad, but I developed an interesting waddle for a while, as it didn't hurt so much if I tilted my body over in the direction of the foot I was going to land on!

Sometimes the pain went round the back into my calves and upper bit of Achilles, which I think is where the whole thing has stemmed from. Foam rollering is terribly ouchy, and when hubby massages my calves for me he says they're really knotty and kneeding those knotty bits with thumbs proper hurts!

Thankfully I think slowly slowly it's getting a bit better. Walking doesn't hurt any more but experimental 5-step trots down the corridor at work still cause pain in a 4 inch strip down the inside front of both shin bones. Classic medial shin splints, caused by too much enthusiasm too soon, ignoring initial symptoms and trying to "run through" the pain, and on Tarmac, and increasing distance too soon. Stick to Laura's programme basically, it is the way it is for a reason.

I'm not going to run again AT ALL, until those experimental trots down the corridor are pain free. Ice ice ice, rest, surgical stockings and luckily for me, free physio from a friend at work. Lots of calf stretching exercises are on the net, I try and go for a bit of a walk first so my muscles aren't cold. There is also some advice from a lovely person with the same problem on an earlier post of mine, and the other thing that helped is Voltarol gel rubbed in before bed.

Hope that helps, and makes sense! It's been horrid. Good luck JuliaM and to everyone else stuck on the dreaded injury couch. Boo.

Happy running/resting! xxx

[JuliaM72 Graduate in reply to AllieG]

Thank you so much for the reply and the advice. I feel so sorry for you it sounds awful and thankfully I don't think that is what I've had in the past. My symptoms are pain and numbness can't feel my legs from my knees down (so get a funny walk like a baby just learning), and it's painful but once I stop it goes. I hope you get better soon Allie and can get back to your running programme. Don't overdo it and make sure you rest well before you go back to it. I will heed your advice and go at Laura's pace. Thank you and get better soon x

[poppypug Graduate]

Oh Ali, big hugs ((((( ))))

All I can say is I totally get it, I am still on the sidelines too . Oh it is the flippin' pits. Im still walking 5k to work weekdays and taking my pugs out but I am soooo envious of seeing runners when Im out. I dont know whether its coincidence but I seem to be seeing more and more .

Oh I am green with envy, I am so green I am Shrek.

Anyway Ali, this too shall pass, it really will.

Enjoy your walk and cake, but not at the same time, you might drop some !

Take care xxx

[AllieG Graduate in reply to poppypug]

I keep seeing them too! Flipping everywhere, grinning, running for miles and miles with gay abandon... Sigh. Makes me MAD I tell you so I'm more like the Incredible Hulk. At least I will be if I eat too much cake. I am going to go for lots of long walks instead if the pain stays away.

[Heggers Graduate]

I just got back from physio with shin splints. Haven't run for 2 weeks and I'm twitching. More ultrasound, more tape, more massage but more bloody rest!!! Hate this!!!! Am now allowed to do yoga but nothing on my toes.

I hear you Allie. Miserable right there with you. *sigh* Patience is not my strong point...

[AllieG Graduate in reply to Heggers]

Nor mine. Trying not to go for "official"physio because the coffers are empty but I may consider it if not improved by payday! Have a vision of you doing Toe Yoga though, made me giggle

[Heggers Graduate in reply to AllieG]

Just don't!!! Ha ha. X

[Hidden]

Hi Allie, sorry to hear of the continued bad luck. Hopefully you'll be up and running before too long. I'm in Brighton too and was planning on doing the whole gait analysis/proper shoe shopping this weekend. Do you know where is a good place to try, or any clues on where isn't...? Enjoy your trip to Lewes. Sounds a good plan

[AllieG Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Well.... I tried the Sweatshop, they were very nice but did sell me a pair of expensive pronation trainers which felt fine in the shop. They do give you a months grace which is great as you can take them back even if you've worn them in a bit, but the shin splints didn't kick in properly until the beginning of week 8! They initially said, "no, you're neutral" until I said that previously I had thought I was an overpronator, when they said "oh, well yes you are a bit. Probably. Possibly. Here, let's try these!"

The other place is Nick Rivett Sports on Church Road in Hove (no advertising intended), it's an independent shop I think so there probably is less of a sales target thing going on there. They do gait checks too. I've got other stuff from them and next time, I'll give them a go. I suppose the sensible thing to do would be to go to The Sweat Shop, and Nick Rivett, and see how the analyses compare!

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to AllieG]

Thanks for that. I was planning on Nick Rivett, as they've been great for other stuff in the past. That's even worse, if you can 't even take yours back. Worth trying anyway, or did you already give it a go?

[misswobble Graduate]

Sorry to hear you're not back to running. You sound well fed up. Train ride, walk and cake does sound very nice though. You could perhaps treat yourself to a gift while you're about it, to cheer yourself up a bit.

It won't always be dark at six though Allie! You will run again and you will see off those darned pesky shin splints or my name's not Miss Wobble.

Chin up, we'll keep you company while you're sidelined x

[Buffy007 Graduate]

That really is miserable. People seem to be finding Sweat shop good at the moment. Horrid having to be patient.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

That's awful, so sorry Ali. I'd have thought 2 weeks was enough for shin splints to go..hope it's sorted soon xxx