I have recently been afflicted with one of the most frustrating injuries in the sports world: shin splints. These things suck! They make you feel in you down time like you might be able to get back out there and have some fun, but as soon as you put pressure on your shins you get a rude awakening.
There are many remedies for shin splints I have tried most of them so far and I think they are helping. But the nature of shin splints, is that even if the remedies are helping it could be weeks before you are back to 100%. You can also undo all of your good work with just one single over exertion.
The remedies that I have found best help me are as follows:
Ice – Icing will help reduce the inflamation that causing these painful incidents. There are various suggestions on how often to ice. I have found that icing when you are in pain, and icing various times throughout the day helps me the most.
Anti-Inflammatory drugs – Taking Aspirin or Ibuprofen can really help reduce pain with Shin Splints. The source of the pain in shin splints the actual inflamation in your shins. So it makes sense that Anti-Inflammatory drugs would help reduce the pain.
Compression – Compression socks or wrapping your shins tightly can help to keep your shins in check.
Cross Train – The key with healing your painful shin splints, is resting your shins. Even though it can be really frustrating sometimes, you do need to abstain from the activities that cause your shin pain. Taking up swimming, biking, or rowing to give yourself time to heal.
There are plenty other remedies and suggestions that might help, but these are the options that I have chosen to take.
If my shin splints continue even with these remedies in place, I may end up going to the doctor because prolonged shin splints can be indicative of serious problems such as hairline fractures in your leg.
later,
Dan