My son is running the London Marathon for kidney research hes just phoned me in a panic as he thinks hes got shin splints and he is worried that he won't be able to run the marathon. He has got a doctors appointment on Wednesday so I've got everything crossed for him. Are  there any runners amongst you that know anything about this problem.

Well done your son for doing this run for a wonderful cause (lost a bro-in-law at 32 to kidney failure). I don't know very much at all about shin splints (just entered my first 10k so I'm a long way off a marathon !). I did get them for a while though. Mine went by inserting a special insole into my running shoe as my foot was rolling slightly. Also, I was told that it can be an overuse injury. Maybe he needs to have a break, or do a little less. Another common cause is running on hard surfaces. The doc might help but he could try going to a specialist running equipment shop or a gym instructor - they could watch him on a treadmill and check his running style - make sure his feet aren't rolling.
I do hope he gets it sorted, but he does need to ease up on the excercise for a while - tell him to swim instead, that might help.

Val

Sorry...but as you asked...Shin splints...very painful very long term resolution...usually caused by over exercise and or exercise on too hard a ground(mainly road running!) Hard to diagnose accurately if a 50/50 situation...only time will tell(by that I mean there are varying degrees of shin slints and those that aren't severe can be marginal, in other word may be something else, (like compartment syndrome)with true shin splints there's no arguement and only solution is pain killers and rest! Sorry!) The problem generally is that the pain stops when exercise is started, but comes back after resting. Exaccerbated by not enough rest in between exercise periods...sorry again...not good news!:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I've had to edit this 3 times...I must learn to proof read stuff!! LOL :D

Well Tom is on his way home now. Still no improvement the shame of it is he's raised over a thousand pounds for kidney research and there was even a piece in the local paper last night about him so he's going to be devastated if he can't run. I will let you know how his doctors appointment goes tomorrow until then I'll need to get used to the smell of muscle rub again Yuk.

I managed to get a sim injury the year before I did the London(so long ago now !)I went tio a sports injury clinic in Sheffield & they showed me how to tape my feet to help the pain & I switched to a different running shoe. i did finish the LM but managed to rip the capscule of the calf muscle off the cruciate ligament at 19 1/2 miles 7 had to hobble strapped up the last few miles

this link might help http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/lowerleg/shinsplints.htm

Thanks everyone have got Tom to look at that web page. He went to a specialist shop for some new trainers last week and he went on a treadmill and his feet impact patterns  were filmed. He had the pain before he got his new trainers so we will wait and see what the doctor suggests tomorrow.

I feel for him. i was training for a half marathon and twisted the muscles in my knee at the begining of november. I ran 1/2 mile on Sunday. First time running since November and its still twinges and I was exhausted  :( :(:( Just hoping if I can build up gradually I may get back up to doing a 10k by March Fingers croosed. Before I did it I was running 15-20 miles a week and incresing every week :(
But will be martialling on the Sleaford 1/2 marathon instead of running it :(
Lea :)
(Edited to add, i have just added that site to favorites and will see if I can find my injury on it tommorow Thankyou :) )

Hi Everyone
Tom has just got back from the doctors. The problem is a strained muscle in his calf. The doctor has prescribed him Ibroprufen 400, 3 times a day and said, like you mentioned Val to swim for now and run just a bit and not race - take it very slowly. I just hope it does the trick. I'm a bit happier now so hope the marathon is on again.