Medial Shin Splints - Page 3

Solid · 06-29-2004, 14:21

It seems (fingers crossed) that my shin pains have gone away. Unfortunately, I've been doing everything possible to help them disappear, so I don't know which technique was the most effective. I suppose the true test of my recovery will be this summer, when I start running again.

NG- If you see your doctor again, could you ask what the scar tissue was from?

Thanks,

Solid

JGarcia · 06-29-2004, 18:59

I certainly will.

JGarcia · 07-25-2004, 10:39

Its been about 8 weeks since the surgery, the scab has completely dissappeared, I have no trouble walking or standing. Its pretty much pain free. I want to run on it, badly. But I wont because I really dont ever want to have that pain in my legs again, so I will wait the required time.

I got a letter from my doc last week. I am scheduled to have the next leg, my right leg, operated on the 11th. Looking forward to it. I have been ready to have it done for the last three weeks! Waiting so long only increases the amount of time I have to wait until I can start training again. Its not much fun not being able to do any running. Oh well, I have to pay my dues.

Solid · 07-25-2004, 15:30

Great news! Good luck with the next leg. I'm interested in the recovery periods.. my left leg just started acting up, but I can still jog which is good.

Solid

JGarcia · 08-01-2004, 17:32

Its roughly 8 weeks after the surgery, I will get the next leg operated on the 11th. I feel pretty good now. So, today I decided, (without input from my doc) to try and work out on the elliptical trainer. I was extremely pleased with the workout. Afraid to tell the doc though.

The Left leg, (the one that had the surgery) felt loose, it was a brand new feeling for me. The right leg, in contrast felt very tight in the afflicted area. I had no idea how stiff that area of my leg was because until the surgery I had nothing to contrast it with.

I expected the opposite to happen before I worked out. I thought I would have to baby the left leg. Instead it was the right leg that, from the start of my 30 minute work out until the end, remained tight, and somewhat stiff. After about 15 minutes the toes in my right foot were semi numb (this often happens to me on the elliptical trainer) the toes on my left foot were not numb and did not get numb the entire workout.

My words don't express the excitement I feel now. I am really happy with the results, I can't believe how tight and stiff my legs were. And to think my condition is only going to improve. My dreams of 12 minute two miles may yet come true after all.

Solid · 08-02-2004, 05:01

Every time you post I feel more confident about my own legs (the left has now started acting up... frustration does not suffice to describe my feelings on it). How severe is the muscular decay (in estimate)?

Thank you and good luck with the right leg,

Solid

JGarcia · 08-03-2004, 16:25

Solid,

Since you are there in the UK, this might be of interest to you.
The only published articled (and I think Peer reviewed as well) on Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome was written by some docs from the UK at Leicester General Hospital. Drs. Yates, Allen, Barnes(ben.yates@northampton.ac.uk)

The article is titled "Outcome of Surgical Treatment of Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome"

It appears in "The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery" (jbjs.org), volume 85-a Number 10 October 2003.

There arent many studies on the subject, so this one is often referred to.

Solid · 08-03-2004, 16:38

Thank you! While I am loathe to trust British doctors (many bad experiences of the highest degree), I'll still make sure to see if I can get my hands on it.

Thanks again,

Solid

JGarcia · 08-05-2004, 13:02

Saw my Doc today for the pre operation appointment. I asked him what caused the scarring on the muscle. He told me that the scarring is from the stress syndrome, associated with overuse, it looks like "gristle" (sic?) and follows the same line as the muscle fibers. Scar tissue is not flexible, so it does not exapand when I use the muscles in my leg (run), the pressure in the muscle compartment simply builds up and gets worse as I run, causing severe pain, which only diminishes when the pressure inside the muscle (the fascia covers the muscle, sausage like skin) drops.

So the operation that was performed on the left leg and will also be performed on the right leg, is called a Fascial Release. The incision is made, nerve isolated, scar tissue removed, fascia is cut open, something is cauterized, closed up, and I am sent home.

I asked him about the revovery time. He told me that since the bone was not afflicted (as is common in this type of injury) my recovery time until I can start running again is 4 months. At two months I can use the elliptical trainer, at one month swimming.

The normal recovery time (for me) if the bone had been injured would have been about 9 months. So I am very lucky indeed.

Only 6 more days.

JGarcia · 08-13-2004, 10:56

I just took the ace bandage off of my right leg that I had surgery on two days ago. The scar isnt in the same place as the scar on my left leg that I had surgery on in June for the same thing, Medial Tibial Stress Syndrom or shin splints.

The swelling isnt the same, the numbness isnt the same, and I am worried that the Doc didnt operate on the right spot on my leg. The spot he worked on I have never had pain in before.

Now let me try and figure out how to attach a photo to this post...

Air.177 · 08-13-2004, 11:01

Not to worry, I'm sure there will be some sort of legal representation made available to you shortly now that you've chummed the water a bit

JGarcia · 08-13-2004, 11:08

Well it appears I dont have the auth.. to post photos. Perhaps I can put them on a yahoo page. gimme some time. Any suggestions? I tried to post them here but each time I did it went to an all white screen that essentially said "check your network connections...etc"

LEStudent · 01-04-2005, 04:25

Any update on your situation, NG? My shinsplints have been killing me for the better part of the past 5 years. I've done my best to ignore the pain, but I nearly had to drop out of the Academy due to the severity of my shinsplints. I've tried everything short of surgery to get them fixed, but they continue to get worse. My cat bumping into my leg feels like a ball bat hitting me.

JGarcia · 06-22-2006, 12:53

There was no benefit from this surgery, at least in my case. Others have had some success, I havn't. For others with MTSS this is the best site I've found on the matter, and it has probably the best advice I've seen on the matter. I've read some rumors that cortisone injections in some cases worked for some people, and its something I want to try. If there are any docs in California willing to give it a go for me, give me a shout.

Anyway, here is the link to the best site I found, in my opinion, the article should be copied, and put on a sticky on this board. Its that good, but its a little long, again its absolutely the best article I've seen on Shin Splints - MTSS.

http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/...in-splints.htm

P0604 · 04-15-2008, 23:56

Quick question I recently had a bone scan and was told i have shin splints and stress fractures in both of my lower legs. My profile is a little contradicting and somewhat confusing it says i can not carry a combat load of 48 pounds for 2 miles. but i can do lower body weight training i understand the act of walking with a ruck is high impact. My question is can i strap a ruck on and do squats or is that putting to much pressure on my legs to allow them to heal and just concentrate on strengthening my core.
i apologize for posting in someone elses thread and the stress fracture thread was locked. I guess it might also be more of a training question which i also apologize for since i know you beat that subject to death.