Shin Splints

S

SwinginBoo

New Member
Ok, so Swing Kitten prompted me to post my question here so HERE it is.

For the past few months I've been dealing on and off with shin splints. They have never been too bad and I've always managed with Icing it and Ibuprofen. This past week however, I've been in so much pain that I have had to stop running, and dance sparingly. It's to the point where it is rather painful to walk. And I'm still assuming these are shin splints I'm dealing with since I've got some bruises and swelling on the front of my leg where the muscles connect to the bone. The odd thing is that the pain is coming from somewhere else in my leg, but still in the front. So anyhow, I assume it's shin splints. Any other suggestions other than

1. stop dancing/running for a bit (which Swing Kitten will bite my head off if I say that one more time :wink: ...honestly I am, no really :P )
2. icing
3. ibuprofen
 
Don't fool around . . . go to the doctor.

Swelling maybe, but not bruises with a shin splint.

The reason I say go to the doctor, is because this is how my doctor discovered that I had Type II diabetes. I kept complaining that two of my toes on my left foot ached ever so slightly. Eight months later . . .
 
You probably need to see a doctor since you have a problem that does not seem to go away, even if it only is to have your suspicions confirmed. I tend to self-treat too, but this is something I would definitely see a doctor about.
 
Hi Boo,

I am rather hesitant to comment on medical matters because there are so many opinions and so much conflicting information available, it's easy to cause a controversy. However, having experience in both shin splints and dance injuries, I'll add my 2 cents and brave the waters:

Shin Splints....hurt. When I started running, I too experienced shin splints. The searing pain in my legs would be nearly to great to bear and I couldn't understand why I would be feeling this. Painkillers and ice packs worked to lessen the severity of the pain, but did not prevent them from recurring. Through much experimentation and research, I found out the cause for my shin splints. When I ran, more often than not, the force of my stride did not roll from the heel to the ball as the human foot is designed to be used. Often, the force of my stride would strike my foot , but not roll. This caused the energy that was not properly absorbed by my foot to be absorbed up my legs. Muscles and bones were forced into a role they were not designed for. For me, this meant shin splints. Once I understood this, I worked to correct my stride and specifically worked on utilizing my entire foot. Once I did this, I never experienced shin splints again.

On to dance injuries...

When I started dancing, occassionally I would have a terrible pain in my right hip. I recognized this pain as a hip pointer. Something I once had when I was playing football (American football for the curious international readers.... :wink: ). However, since my football days were long over, I was quite surprised to have this. An ice pack and heat pads, as well as painkillers helped ease the pain, but it kept recurring. After a while, I came to accept this condition as a re-aggrevated injury. One day, I was correcting my technique with my coach. I was a bit hesitant because my hip was sore that day, but I did. I explained where it hurt and what I would do to make it hurt more. She looked at me and explained that it wasn't supposed to hurt and my technique was forcing my body to move in a way it was not designed to. Once we corrected my technique, the pain subsided never returned (additionally, the quality of my dancing improved!).

I tend to agree with the others on this, seeing a medical specialist is probably a wise move. However, I would also add that the pain you feel may very well have a root cause that is not being addressed. The human body was designed to handle much more stress than what a typical night of social dancing can inflict. You may want to ask yourself why it hurts and take a good look at how you are moving your body. Just my humble opinion.
 
Thanks for the replies. Going to a doctor is a good idea. It's just complicated by the fact that i just moved here and don't have a doctor. I'd have to take part of a day off to go see my PCP in RI, which probably won't go over well with people at school. My insurance is going to run out in December as well so it would be difficult to find a doctor here on such short notice. But I will think of a way to work it out hopefully. Thanks again.
 
suure you'll see your doctor... just after your last dance! ;)

I know you've been dancing a crazy amount... even more than usual... but please take care of your body-- it's the only one you get and if you don't have your health nothing else matters-- besides, I want to dance with you!
 
OK I'll do my best. THis is a personal best for me...third night in a row without dancing...while bruce is dancing. It's so hard. :cry:

On the upside. I just walked up the stairs without pain for the first time in months. :D
 
Do take it easy Boo... and do get it checked out!

I know how frustrating it can be not to be dancing but I've rushed back from injuries a couple of times too many not to warn you that you'll just end up costing yourself more dance time in the long run.
 
could arials be the culpret? ... and why Bruce is still dancing?

Makes sense to me... I know you've been doing more of them lately. That's a lot of energy for you legs to absorb!
 
I think aerials may have factored in...especially since I was doing them last week in my wedge shoes which are not the most supportive or comfortable (the pictures show me in sneakers...that was the end of the night when I could barely walk)

Well Bruce shoudln't suffer because I am right?
 
SwinginBoo said:
Well Bruce shouldn't suffer because I am right?
Click to expand...

Of course he should!! and you can tell him I said so ;) .... that is, as long as he would still dance with me :D

I wasn't saying that Bruce shouldn't dance but that he wouldn't feel the consequences of doing the ariels which would point to them being the problem instead of the sheer amount you have been dancing since you two generally dance the same number of hours a week (do you?).
 
IN general yes we do dance the same number of hours per week. Although I have just completed week number one of no dancing....oy vey I don't know how much more I can take. :cry:

Oh well, it's best in the long run...I think I'm starting to feel better.
 
I haven't danced in 11 days. That has to be the most I've gone since I started dancing. But the good news is that i'm going to try to dance tomorrow! :D
 
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