Taping it might provide it enough support to allow bit of pain relief in your activities. I don't KNOW that, but it would stabilize it a bit. So sorry you're going through this.

While I didn't have shin cramps last night, I did have some light localized "stuff" (unsure what to call it) in the area of my left shin where I know the splints are. I need to decide if I should cancel the group hike next week - but I really do not want to do that. Perhaps if I'm good this week and rest it - no mile-plus pavement walking sessions, it will be reasonable to take them to the same trail I did yesterday. Certainly no longer distance, assuming they're interested in a 3 mile hike...