Shin Splints

[Catrin]

Saw my podiatrist yesterday and he was chagrined once he figured out what happened. Other people get orthotics to HEAL shin splints, I am the only one to actually GET shin splints from my orthotics.

Well, it was the interaction between orthotics and my beloved rigid backpacking hiking boots that just created an overly rigid situation that sent a lot of force up my shins and he didn't think to warn me - but he hadn't seen my hiking boots before yesterday. Those 11 miles didn't help, but that's life. I did enjoy that hike. Bottom line, if I want to continue using the orthotics, and I do, come spring there will be a new pair of hiking SHOES - probably Keene's higher topped version of my shoes. I do need the ankle support. My feet appear to to like hiking in them with the orthotics.

The shins are far from healed, but he thought it was safe to do light hiking, just no more 11 mile hikes for now and flatter is better than hilly, for now.

[ny biker]

I could see that sort of thing happening to me -- when I tried to add a metatarsal button on top of the insoles in my bike shoes last year, I ended up in more pain than I had been without them. And a few years ago I tried new Shimano insoles in the bike shoes that caused all sorts of leg pains, because it changes the angle of my feet ever so slightly.

But at least now you know what caused the problem and are on the road to recovery.

[Catrin]

Yes, thanks NY Biker. I DO love those hiking boots, in my pre-orthotic days that was the only way I could hike. Not totally pain free but it was minimal, especially on real dirt trails. Thankfully my experiment with my Keene shoes with the orthotic last week was not only fine, but even less pain than with the hiking boots (though my ankles made it plain that I really need higher shoes). Those boots were spendy, but they made it possible to hike for a full year when I otherwise could not have done so. I'm thankful.

As always when I think about this, I'm struck by how expensive it can be to stay active at the "normal" level after a certain level of injuries, etc. Thankfully I've managed to scrape together enough to keep going, but it always makes me think of those who simply do not have the ability to find the money and are therefore trapped on the couch because it hurts too much to do anything else. Sobering.

[Crankin]

So true. I have a few clients who would really benefit from a water rehab program that is part of the local hospital wellness program. Unfortunately, insurance does not pay for it. I know in cases where insurance has paid for stuff like this, with a little help from a physician, but it's not going to happen in these cases. I have offered to advocate and call the physician, but the offer has been refused.
On the other hand, I have to bite my tongue and not talk about some of the less than healthy things some of these people spend money on. We make stuff like hiking shoes a priority, because activity is so much a part of our lifestyle. I just hope that as activity becomes more of a prescription by physicians, more of these things will be paid for.