[zebra lover]

If there is anything that I did not mention please tell me what else I should do when you post in the thread. You can select more than one!

[April Showers]

I was thinking about this while I was working out today, and I was wondering if you've tried different shoes. I was in track all through Jr. High and High School and my senior year I started having pain in my knees. Turns out it was the shoes. Either the wrong style for you or a pair that has too many miles on it can cause problems. Just a thought.

[zebra lover]

Well I use to wear shoes that don't really have cusion on them but then I got some new ones with more padding. I asked the person what is the best shoe to wear for running cross country. I got the best shoes that there were and they actually did make a difference.

[SodScrap]

I know shin splints are painful!!! Ok, April addressed shoes. I really think you should consult your doctor. Maybe there is something they can recommend to help with the pain beyond icing and time off from running. Sounds to me like you should take a break from running, but I know that's not what you want to hear. Just temporarily to give you legs a rest. Hope this helps. Good luck!

[no_idea]

Yup, shoes to start. Dr. next, probably will recommend taking a break from running for a while. My bootcamp trainer had us running backward to strengthen the little muscles in the front of our shins, she said it helps prevent shin splints. I don't know if it really helps, but since it's bootcamp we do what we are told! LOL!

I know they can be very painful, I hope they heal quickly and you find answers that help you.

[Nutmeg]

Hi Renee! I haven't "met" you before, but as someone with a father who ran in college and coached CC, and a mother who is a physical therapist, my vote is for you to go to a doctor. When it comes to your body, it really is better to be safe than sorry, and so many young people have permanently injured themselves needlessly (so my mother tells always me--I'm young myself). It could be the shoes or it could be that icing is what's needed, but your doctor is really the only person who knows for sure.

[HeidiD]

Definitely see a doctor! The pain has been going on for so long. Only a doctor is really going to be qualified to give you the best advice - we're just random people on the Internet. We care, but we aren't there, you know?

Keep us posted!

[StephRN]

I would recommend seeing a doctor and definitely not running until you are healed. I made that mistake and it took me forever to get over the second injury while the first wasn't thorougly healed. Talk about being mad at myself. I knew better than to push myself too much.

Also, I recently took a Chi Running course and it made a world of difference. Even at my weight, I was able to run pain free. It was so great I started to cry after the first lap. All the skinny people had no idea why running could move someone to tears. The other two heavy ladies totally understood. LOL.

[April Showers]

zebra lover, on 19 October 2010 - 09:13 PM, said:

Well I use to wear shoes that don't really have cusion on them but then I got some new ones with more padding. I asked the person what is the best shoe to wear for running cross country. I got the best shoes that there were and they actually did make a difference.

The shoes I was talking about in my little shoe story were actually the best shoes out at the time. They were expensive and comfortable, but they weren't the right shoe for me. I found that I needed support for pronation and the lack of it was causing the knee pain. Just another thing to think about.

[Sara Arell]

StephRN, on 19 October 2010 - 11:09 PM, said:

I would recommend seeing a doctor and definitely not running until you are healed. I made that mistake and it took me forever to get over the second injury while the first wasn't thorougly healed. Talk about being mad at myself. I knew better than to push myself too much.

Also, I recently took a Chi Running course and it made a world of difference. Even at my weight, I was able to run pain free. It was so great I started to cry after the first lap. All the skinny people had no idea why running could move someone to tears. The other two heavy ladies totally understood. LOL.

Renee, you've gotten some good advice here - I would think this through carefully now and talk with your Dad about all of this - I bet he would agree. You don't want to ruin a good thing and something you really love to do, honey.

[DDecker]

I agree with Sara, you need to discuss this with your parents. This is a serious situation and could effect you for a long time. I have sent you a PM.

[Smiles]

You can wear out running shoes in 3 months or less if you're running a lot. That's something else to ask your coach.

[BarbaraC1977]

I'm with a number of the others here: doctor first, and then physical therapist. Shoes AFTER you get their recommendations. Hope that helps.