Shin Splints

I mentioned in my last post that I got really bad anterior shin splints in my right leg. But after more research, thinking that it wasn't a normal shin splint, I believe I may have injured by extensor digitorum longus. This is the muscle that helps you push off the ground with your feet. So when I walk or run and my foot comes off the round, the outside of my shin below my knee is where all the pain is. The best way to describe where is hurts is if you point your toes, which flexes your calf muscle and the shin muscles, the area below your knee on the outside of your leg that bulges out, is what hurts.

I didn't run for over a week to let it heal. I took an Aleve when I woke up and before I went to bed to be sure I had constant anti-inflammatory. Every other day before bed I would soak in a hot bath with Epson Salt. During the day when I'd get off work I would elevate my leg on some pillows and put ice on it for about 20 minutes. This helped it a ton!

Yesterday, I noticed my leg felt the best since the injury. So I decided to test it out and went for an easy run. I taped my leg to be sure I wouldn't overdue it. I taped it using the Anterior Method B, but only used two strips across my leg instead of three. I made sure to have the upper part end over on the side where my leg hurts the most rather than end in the front.

I didn't want to overdue it, so I went about 5.5 mph for a little over 3 miles. The last .5 mile was starting to be a little painful so I walked it. Immediately after getting home I stretched the muscles as usual, then elevated it and iced it. Before bed I did a Epson Salt bath then had my boyfriend massage my leg. I woke up expecting all sorts of pain, and to my surprise, hardly anything. I'm still babying it and will take today off as I usually do on Mondays. If tomorrow goes well (cross your fingers), I want to give it another shot :)

Only 89 days left until my first half marathon!!!!