I had been running 5 or 6 miles several times a week, with new "supportive" running shoes, when I began developing dull pain in both of my lower legs, a few inches above my ankles. After doing some research on the pain, and learning that it was an "overuse" injury, that caused hairline (stress) fractures, I took about 2 1/2 weeks off from running for my bones to heal.
During this time of recovery, I kept my legs elevated, iced my shins when they hurt, and wrapped them whenever I walked a lot. I also performed calf-strengthening exercises, and began a daily ab exercise routine, to strengthen my core to prevent further injuries.
At this time, my legs were feeling perfect, back to 100% again. So I decided that I would start running a couple miles again, to see if the pain would return or if I was truly healed. I wanted to start off slow, however, in order to not injure myself again.
So I have been running 2 miles, then 2 1/2 miles, then 2 3/4 miles.
This causes me to keep my cardio-vascular fitness up while not straining myself too much, in case I am not fully healed.
I am SO thankful to be running again, and I pray that I am healed and that I am stronger now, so I won't injure myself again in this way. And I'm starting to feel & see results from all my ab & leg strengthening workouts, which is a great motivator to keep them up!
Did you go to the doctor to get your legs checked out? I think stress fractures and shin splits are commonly mis-diagnosed injuries that have incredibly similar symptoms and I've experienced both. You symptoms and how you treated it sounds like shin splits rather than a stress fracture, stress fractures take a lot more time to heal.
ReplyDeleteJust something to consider, I want you to be healthy as soon as possible and not re-injure yourself. :-)
-Anna