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-   -   How do you know if you have a stress fracture or just shin splints? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=178444)

  • Jan 30, 2008, 08:42 AM
    GrahamDiehl
    How do you know if you have a stress fracture or just shin splints?
    To Anyone who has a clue about running injuries

    Last week I was running an interval workout when my calf began to tighten up. I have had a stress fracture before, but this did not feel anything like that. The pain is purely in the muscel and I do not have any tender spots throughout my tibia bone. I am very confused by what the feeling is because it only hurts when weight is on it. I am able to run, but after a workout it hurts a lot. There is no pain during running, but a lot afterwards. I was running about 70-80 miles a week prior to this pain, and then it was during that one track interval workout where things went crazy.

    Any suggestions would be great.

    Graham Diehl
  • Jan 30, 2008, 10:04 AM
    Gernald
    Is it swollen? Bruised? How long has it been going on?
    Sounds like a shin splint, but it's hard to tell. If your really worried go see a doctor (I know not the answer you were looking for).
    If it is shin splints you could try taping your legs. Put one piece of tape vertically on (top of) your shin and then take three other places of tape put one horizontally at the bottom of your shin, one in the middle, and one near the top (make sure they're tight!). And then wrap with pre wrap (sorry I don't know the official name it's kind of thin and gausy, but streachy and almost like foam, we use it in soccer to tie our hair up).
    But I'm not a Dr. so go see one and get an x-ray!
  • Jan 30, 2008, 12:33 PM
    parttime
    I think Gernald is right about the DR. I'm recovering right this minute from a DVT in my calf muscle that matched your description of pain, excepted my leg was swollen.
  • Jun 10, 2011, 03:58 PM
    runrunrunrun
    hi. I have been having this pain in my left leg, on the inner side above my ankle but below my gastrocnemius. I do not feel the pain all the time the I walk. I run both cross country and track. I took a week off after school ended and then I began to run again. But after 6 days of running my left leg began to hurt in the area I just described. I have stopped running for a week now and usually no longer feel the pain when I walk. I usually only feel it after I poke the area to test and see if the pain has gone away. But sometimes it will start to randomly hurt. Or it begins to hurt after I jump or land hard at the bottom of the stairs. I am worried I have a stress fracture because this does not feel like shin splints, and is in such a strange specific spot. I do not want to go to the doctor because if it is a stress fracture they will put me in a boot. I cannot be in a boot because this summer I have many active plans and am going on a 5 day 50 mile backpacking trip in the adirondack mountains as well as many other physical activities. How can I get the pain to go away completely? Is it even a stress fracture? What should I do? Should I go to the doctor? I am really freaking out about this and am so worried. One of my friends who had a stress fracture said she is pretty sure I do not have one. But then again she is not a doctor. Please help advise as much as you can. I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much.

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