Ugh. Shin splints or stress fracture?

[barefootmomma]

So, I think I did TMTS. I really tried not to, but pretty sure that's what happened.

I have been living in VFF's or barefoot for 2.5 years now, and just started running in them in the middle of August. Last week I had worked up to running about 3 miles. Too much? The only thing that ever hurt was my lungs, but sometimes after I ran (3-6 hours after) the insides of my shins would hurt. I iced them after my longer runs, and made sure to warm up and stretch before my runs and stretched after my runs. Last week my shins really started hurting. I lowered my runs down to just a mile each time.

It didn't help. The insides of my shins HURTS. It has been a week now since I ran and it still hurts to walk on anything other than carpet. The actual bone hurts to the touch, on the inside right below my calf muscle. Does this count as a shin splint?

Once I am feeling 100% again, do I need to start all over with my running? Are there any exercises I can do in the mean time to strengthen that muscle/bone/whatever?

[qcassidy352]

is the pain localized or all along the bone?  If the former, probably a stress fracture.  If the latter, probably shin splints, albeit very bad ones.  Good luck... I was out for about 11 months with a stress fracture in my shin.  Doesn't heal quickly, I'm sorry to say.

[gokuflip]

Usually shin splints will go away after a period of rest and if it persist longer especially with bone pain I would very suspicious of a possible stress fracture. I found that I was getting shin splints due to overstriding and forcing a forefoot strike rather than a midfoot strike.

[Jeepman]

Usually shin splints will go away after a period of rest and if it persist longer especially with bone pain I would very suspicious of a possible stress fracture. I found that I was getting shin splints due to overstriding and forcing a forefoot strike rather than a midfoot strike.

If I was a betting man, I'd have to go with what Gokuflip wrote.

[vice69]

i thought for sure i would experience shin splints when i switched to vffs but for whatever reason i haven't.  they are the worst.  i hated getting them.

[barefootmomma]

Ugh. I am suspicious of a fracture. Even though they have started feeling much better 90% of the time, I can't even do 5 jumping jacks without being in a lot of pain

[Dailydose]

When I started running with VFFs, things went swimmingly and I even lost all shin and low back pain.  But around the 3 month mark of full running in them (6-7 days a week, 3-5 but up to 8-10 miles each) I was getting incredibly sore in several areas!
One day, it sounded as if my right foot strike had a different sound than my left foot.  So I knew something was messed up.  So, I stopped running until the pain subsided, then I started running completely barefoot.  About 20 miles in no shoes what so ever.
I discovered a flaw in my stride, where I was over compensating in trying to hit the forefoot and keep my heel completely off the ground.  Running on my bare skin revealed this to me pretty quickly and I naturally corrected my stride.  I haven't looked back since.  It's okay to have some heel wear on your VFFs, doesn't mean your heel striking, seems as if my heel lands a split second after my mid-foot.  Believe me, running on your skin will show you any flaws you may or may not have.  I suggest running on a hard flat surface with bare feet once you heal and see how you do.

Good luck!