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Okay.
I've begun to run again. I have brand new Mizuno's that I broke in by two weeks of walking, and have begun to run. It's been about three weeks now or so, and I keep encountering the same issue.
I'm getting a pain along the bone in my calf. It's begun to affect my stride, making me take shorter and shorter strides, and i can't help but wonder if it's shin splints, or perhaps I'm just not stretching properly...

Mmmm, maybe you need orthotics? See
http://www.realjock.com/topic/7476/

How far are you running? How often?

Mizuno's are very good running shoes so I assume that you had someone evaluate your pronation so that you selected the right shoe for the way that you run. Yes?

I'm runnig about 4 miles a day four times a week. I have considered I might need orthotics, but hoping to avoid them as long as possible since they are so expensive.

Actually I picked these out myself based on how they felt on my foot. Nike's didn't provide enough support, so I turned to other options provided by Sports Authority.

Who should I look to for the evaluation you recommend?

Okay, Thanks Treader, your link supplied an quick obvious answer for me.

When I began visiting my chiropractor he informed me my left leg is a quarter of an inch shorter than my right one, because my vertibrea are fused to my spine. I have some herniated discs which compound this discrepancy?

Either way, It's clear I need to go see a professional for advice, as well as orthotics. blech!

Thanks!

Glad to help out. Definitely schedule an appointment with podiatrist asap. You shouldn't be running without orthotics. Yeah, they're not cheap but you need them. Best of luck.

briain......4mi at 4x a week is TOO much for non runner to start out.

shin splints are definitely an overuse injury in your case. and a little structual with your spine. activeimprints.com are awesome for orthotics.

just a suggestion.

jog 5mins, walk 1min x2

wk1 mon-wed- fri, wk2 mon-wed- fri-sun wk3 mon- wed-fri-sat.

of course only do this if you are pain free.
and see if that makes a difference. it is better to build on frequence than duration. short steps are a good thing.

get the chi running dvd or book.

well i chose them distance thru trial.
I'd run as far as I could, walk off the loss of breath, then return to running, until I doing more walking than running, and according to the mile markers I went about 4 miles.
I will consult a podiatrist, and look into that book.

Until then i guess it's back to the elliptical for me...

try riding a bike...you may not have the pain of shin spints...which if I recall isnt a bone issue at all...but a ligament issue.

i have the same problem...

asics definitely make great shoes especially for those of us with shin splints. i would recommend either the Nimbus or Kayano models.

also potassium helps as well, so i usually try and eat one banana a day.

try to run on grass as much as possible to ease the pounding on pavement.

hoep this helps!

Also make sure that you warm up your shins. After you've done some warm up distance, stand and raise one foot, and draw the alphabet with your toe. Repeat with the other foot. This will put it through a full range of motion, and you'll get enough of a work through that you should be okay for the rest of your run/walk that you'll do.

It could also be that you are landing too hard on your heel. This can cause some stress in your shins.

From WebMD.com

Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome)
Many athletes get shin splints at one time or another. Whether you jog daily or just had to sprint to catch a bus one day, you may have shin splints when you feel throbbing and aching in your shins. While they often heal on their own, severe shin splints can ruin your game.

Shin splints aren’t really a single medical condition. Instead, they’re just a symptom of an underlying problem. They might be caused by:

Irritated and swollen muscles, often caused by overuse.
Stress fractures, which are tiny, hairline breaks in the lower leg bones.
Overpronation or ''flat feet" -- when the impact of a step causes the arch of your foot to collapse, stretching the muscles and tendons.
Shin splints are very common. They’re the cause of 13% of all running injuries. Runners might get them after ramping up their workout intensity, or changing the surface they run on -- like shifting from a dirt path to asphalt. Shin splints are also common in dancers.

What Do Shin Splints Feel Like?
Shin splints cause dull, aching pain in the front of the lower leg. Some people feel it only during exercise; others, when they’ve stopped exercising. Sometimes, the pain is constant.

Depending on the exact cause, the pain may be located along the side of the shinbone or in the muscles. The area may be painful to the touch. Swollen muscles can sometimes irritate the nerves in the feet, causing them to feel weak or numb.

To diagnose shin splints, your doctor will give you a thorough physical exam. He or she may want to see you run to look for problems. You may also need X-rays or bone scans to look for fractures. Other tests are sometimes necessary.

What’s the Treatment for Shin Splints?
Although shin splints may be caused by different problems, treatment is usually the same: Rest your body so the underlying issue heals. Here are some other things to try:


Icing the shin to reduce pain and swelling. Do it for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days, or until the pain is gone.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like Advil, Aleve, or Motrin, will help with pain and swelling. However, these drugs can have side effects, like an increased risk of bleeding and ulcers. They should be used only occasionally unless your doctor specifically says otherwise.
Arch supports for your shoes. These orthotics -- which can be custom-made or bought off the shelf -- may help with flat feet.
Range of motion exercises, if your doctor recommends them.
Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in your shins.

In rare cases, surgery is needed for severe stress fractures and other problems that can cause shin splints.

When Will I Feel Better?
There’s no way to say exactly when your shin splints will go away. It depends on what’s causing them. People also heal at different rates.

The most important thing is not to rush back into your sport. If you start exercising before you’re healed, you hurt yourself permanently.

While you heal, you could take up a new activity that won’t aggravate your shin splints. For instance, runners might try swimming.

Your leg is fully healed when:


Your injured leg is as flexible as your other leg.
Your injured leg feels as strong as your other leg.
Your can jog, sprint and jump without pain.


How Can I Prevent Shin Splints?
To prevent shin splints, you should

Always wear shoes with good support and padding.
Warm up before working out, making sure to stretch the muscles in your legs.
Stop working out as soon as you feel pain in your shins.
Don’t run or play on hard surfaces like concrete.

ARGH!! I have shin splints right now and they are a bitch!

Lots of good advice on here- I think I'm going to get some new running shoes since the ones I have now are really OLD.

I have a question, though... do shin splints come back once you re-start your routine, or are they just a one-time deal?

Sucks but they can come back over and over and over....

About half of the competitive runners I know, me included, ended up needing podiatrist-designed orthotics to mitigate biomechanical issues...in my case, a very slight leg length discrepancy that only emerged as problematic after years of running. Such an issue will make you feel that your jarring, and that you might also have the sensation of joints being wrenched over time. The orthotics are designed to give you a neutral foot plant.

I've been a daily (well almost daily) runner since 1965. Got shin splints early on. Switched to running the stadium steps. Helped enormously. Then bought really good shoes (wasn't so easy then) and finally got orthodics. Now I include 2 days a week running in the deep end of my clubs pool. Totally stress free. But I've been lucky too. 42 yrs!

I've been a daily (well almost daily) runner since 1965. Got shin splints early on. Switched to running the stadium steps. Helped enormously. Then bought really good shoes (wasn't so easy then) and finally got orthodics. Now I include 2 days a week running in the deep end of my clubs pool. Totally stress free. But I've been lucky too. 42 yrs!

I've found that not tying my shoes too tight makes the shin splints go away.