Is this familiar to any one?
I started getting what I would descibe as a dull pain whilst running in the lower part of my left shin, rigt at the front of the shin on the bone about 2-3 inches above the ankle. At fist i just ignored it, and it would usually dissappear quite quickly. (within 24 hours).
whilst on my weekly long run of about 13 miles, at about 7 miles, i felt it again and i got steadily worse until it was quite painful towards theend of the run. I would descibe it as a dull pain as oppose to a stabbing pain. I also noticed that my lower leg was visably swollen around the area. I rested for 4 day and the swelling went down quite alot. I then stupidly took part in a 9 mile race, thinking that its just shin splints although the pain didn't really slow me down too much it was worse than ever at the end of the race. That was 10 days ago. My leg was swollen for about a week after. i've not run on it since. I took ibprophen and iced it for about 5 days. My leg is now back to normal in regards to swelling. I have cycled on a road bike twice about 10 miles. this doesn't appear to have aggravated it.
i've been to my GP who thought i may have a stress fracture and sent me for an xray (still awaiting results). My leg isn't painful to walk on now. However if i bend my foot upwards i can feel a slight pain. Also if i stamp my foot i feel slight pain in the same area. It feels like i'm on the mend but I'm still aware that my body is teling me the injury is still there.
sorry to ramble on but i wanted to give you as much info as possible. Personnally I've self diagnosed a stress fracture, but i've also read these are quite rare. i was doing about 40 - 50 miles a week in a relatively hilly area.
I'm aware an xray won't always show a fracture. i did buy a leg compression spint to wear (a cho pat shin splint £30) but now think it was wasted money. Could it be just soft tissue/muscle damage?
Any advice greatly recieved, Thankyou for taking the time to read this manic waffle, can you wave a magic wand and fix me, not running is making me twitchy lol
kind Regards Jim AKA - the sellindge flyer

Flyer, get it checked by a doc. Crescendo pain is symptomatic of stress fracture. Shin splint pain normally subsides as you run. Is there a lump on the bone at all - if you press around is there a specific point that is intensely painful?

A bone scan is the best way to tell, but if there is a lumpy build up on the bone you'll be pretty sure its a stress frac.

*IF* it is, be v.conservative when you come back (6-8weeks), and don't try and run on until it's fully healed otherwise you're looking at months and months out.

could be... google anterior compartmental syndrome and see what you think... this is where the muscle in the front compartment of the shin enlarges and puts pressure around the connective tissue giving a pain that people often think is shin splints...

Isn't that normally associated with partial numbness though? Or was that just me? I know when I had it, the pain was very similar to shin splints, but I had areas of numbness down the front of my shin and along the top of my foot.

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Thanks for the advice guys, i think i'm getting more confused, having looked at the symptoms for anteria compartment syndrome. My symptoms seem to match those descibed almost to a tee. My main suspicion with it not being a stress fracture is that i don't appear to be able to find any exact point on the bone that is particually painful. Still awaiting results from my GP. I'm still able to cycle without any reaction or pain. Think i'll do some more research and confused myself some more, anyone had any experience of compartment syndrome in this area?

I also still have some swelling in on the front outside of the shin, after nearly 2 weeks of rest, does this ring any bells?
Much appreciated

sorry mate can't help you there... i dont think i've ever really had shin splints or had pains in the anterior compartment... i do get baaad muslce pain in the calves, something to do with the fact i don't land on my heels when i run apparently, so trust me we are all inflicted with some pain when we run... saying that if you have got swelling in the shin it really doea sounds like you need another visit to your doctor... would be a good idea to get some anti-inflammatories - not much else people can do to help on the internet !...

My ankle swelled up when I turned my ankle. I ended up taking 3 weeks out to let it heal and then took several weeks to ease myself back in.

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0 - 14 Miles in 6 months, 2 hours, 13 minutes and 58 seconds.
Start weight: 18 st 4.. Current weight: 14 st 8.. Current Goal: Duchy Marathon, 8th March 2009

I agree with Revenged, get the results and talk thoroughly with the doc. If it is a fracture, I believe that anti-inflammatory is not a good idea since it can slow down bone healing. Compartment syndrome would respond though. That's why you really need to know what it is and not guess.

p.s. Revenged if you land front of foot then make sure you relax the ankle and don't push your foot down when you run, you're calf pain will go.

I'm just recovering from a stress fracture and it sounds to me (although I'm not a doctor so what do I know), like a stress fracture.

Rest until you know for sure as any impact will only make it worse.

Cheers for all the advice guys, beginning to suspect mange or gout lol, feels and looks much better tonight

it takes quite a few weeks for a stress fracture to show up on an xray - can't remember how long, but several weeks, till your body starts dumping down extra bone to fill the gap.
A trip to a local physio could help, if it is soft tissue they could help, and stress fractures can be very painfull if ultrasound is applied to them, so you could use as a diagnostic...
good luck...