Just seeing if anyone can offer any input on this topic. I ran the Chicago Marathon in October 2014 after several months of training and a lot of mileage. Didn't have any problems. I then did something dumb. I barely gave myself a week and a half of rest before launching into 4 or 5 way faster than normal runs for me in the next 2 weeks at short distances (3-5 miles). I also started playing in a basketball league around the same time. Games were only once per week but the stress put on the shins did not help.
I gave it some time running wise but still played basketball over the next few weeks. Then, every time I would occassionally test my legs in a run, I would maybe make it a mile in before my calves would get rock hard and the pain was incredible. The pain would die down about 10-20 minutes after these runs but the same process kept happening for several months. So I shut it down.
Its been about 5 months since I have done any regular running. I have done sports massage, acupuncture etc. The pressure in the calves is now gone. I can run short distances (3-5 miles) at a moderate pace but still can't do back to back days or multiple runs a week. The pain has regressed significantly and now its limited to a small portion of the interior left shin (about 5 inches up from the ankle). I know it is close to being better but the tricky thing with this is you feel great day to day walking around but the damn thing can pop up again when your running.
Wondering if anyone else has dealt with this problem and the approach they took to get better. I am desperately trying to run 2 races in May and think I will give it 2 more weeks of rest.
Apologies for the long post.
Hot yoga, one month. 3 times a week. Haven't had them since.
I've never had shin splints, but this is why I don't run. I am in very good shape, but running even for a mile hurts my knees. And that's true even though I have proper running shoes. I walk a few miles most days instead.
I saw Jordan Metzl at HSS and he said basically to just 'roll it, roll it, roll it'. And not an ordinary foam roller, he recommended the Trigger Point roller, it's hard plastic tube with foam/grid coating. It did work for me, though i do have some minor issues occasionally which i re-up the rolling & I also try compression sleeves now.
Taping relieved a lot of the pain and stress on the tendons, helping along the healing of the inflamed tendon.
I was told, at least in my case, the shin splints were due largely to an imbalance of the muscles. To counter it I was told to do foot raises. Sit on the floor, legs straight in front of you, and try to pull your toes back toward you. Use a theraband for resistance. From another perspective. If standing, lift your toes and the ball of the foot off the floor as high as you can and hold.
I also discovered that I pronate a lot. Getting a specially made orthotic made an over all tremendous difference.
I had the hard muscle issue too. I can't remember what i did for that. But it went away quite easily.
Have you gone to PT? THis is pretty basic stuff, I"m sure they could fix you right up.