Shin / Calve Problems

[Acitic]

I am not sure if it is shin splints or not.. looking to see if anyone knows.

when i make a impact on my shins, like kicking at someone and they block it, Or even heavy bag work. My calve tenses up, and i can not longer walk on it. It normal stays like that for several days.

[bgill]

I get shin splints a lot, doesn't sound like shin splints to me though. Shin splints, for me atleast, the pain is only along the shin (or front lower part of the leg) and doesn't affect my calves at all. It feels almost as if my legs are too fatigued to move, although the rest of me may have all the energy in the world. How well do you stretch out your calves beforehand? Or it could just be a different injury completely?

[Acitic]

I get shin splints a lot, doesn't sound like shin splints to me though. Shin splints, for me atleast, the pain is only along the shin (or front lower part of the leg) and doesn't affect my calves at all. It feels almost as if my legs are too fatigued to move, although the rest of me may have all the energy in the world. How well do you stretch out your calves beforehand? Or it could just be a different injury completely?

normally i pretty warm, it's fine if i am running or something, but the impact on my shin triggers it. It kinda feels like the day after a work out... kinda hard to explain, it just tenses up and doesn't let go. after it tenses i can't walk on my foot, almost like it won't move

[bgill]

normally i pretty warm, it's fine if i am running or something, but the impact on my shin triggers it. It kinda feels like the day after a work out... kinda hard to explain, it just tenses up and doesn't let go. after it tenses i can't walk on my foot, almost like it won't move

Again, doesn't sound like shin splints as I experience them, specifically I can't run when I have an onset. Looks like its time to go to the doctor or at most look up the symptoms as best as you can on google or webmd.

[Scott Bolinger]

sometimes iceing the shin and calve may help eleviate the pain.

but, you'll need to strengthen the calve.
i'd start toneing up on some weights and get a good leg workout which would include 2 X 20 calve raises. Try and get good extension on the calve raises.

[eXcessiveForce]

sounds like muscle spasms/cramping to me.

increase potassium/sodium. (vitamins)
increase water intake.

[Bianca]

I would not do sodium
But the other three I would- Mg,K,Ca.
Those are known to relieve spasms.

[eXcessiveForce]

sodium and potassium are the two main elements used for nerve function.

If you become dehydrated or lose your electrolyte balance you will get muscle cramping.

Gatorade has enough of both to help restore it, pedialite is better though.

[Bianca]

That is true,
but lack of Mg can cause spasms faster than anything else.
What about just using trigger points and pressing on the painful spots.

[eXcessiveForce]

it might work, however sometimes cramps can be strong enough to actually tear the muscle especially if it happens during a contraction of the muscle.

Since it's happening during the work out, i'd be more inclined to think it's dehydration.

but just massaging it may help relieve it so it doesn't last days. Also very light stretching might help.

[seppuku]

Sodium/Potassium balance is the main part of nervous transmission. The reason sodium supplements are a very bad idea and probably difficult to get hold of is that in your diet youre likely to have too much sodium by far already, and not enough potassium. Potassium chloride salt may help, otherwise standard supplements are a good idea.

I dont know what effect magnesium has on the system. More potassium is good tho, more sodium will not be.

Cheers

[eXcessiveForce]

The reason I suggested sodium, is that while it is rare, I am a person who had problems with low sodium. generally their is enough sodium in food, but now always.

there is enough sodium in gatorade, as well as potassium to help get things in balance. I usually had to eat something like mc'ds french fries to make sure I didn't pass out in hard work outs, or get muscle cramps.

[darkrelevance]

The reason I suggested sodium, is that while it is rare, I am a person who had problems with low sodium. generally their is enough sodium in food, but now always.

there is enough sodium in gatorade, as well as potassium to help get things in balance. I usually had to eat something like mc'ds french fries to make sure I didn't pass out in hard work outs, or get muscle cramps.

do you make all your food from scratch? it'd seem to me that if you buy pre made food anywhere these days, sodium would never really be a problem at all.

[eXcessiveForce]

at the time, most of my food was homemade. I also only ate 1 meal a day which didn't help matters any. I was also training in high temps 85+, and training 6 days a week 4-5 hours a day. Plus running 3-4 miles a night.

Never figured out for sure why things went out of whack, but salt did the trick. I also have very low blood pressure usually. 90/64 at times. So i'm sure that played a role.