#shin splints

So... I have chronic leg pain. Chronic shin splints, to be exact. They've been going on for over 4 years and it's gotten to the point where I may actually need a wheelchair some point soon.

I'm going on a flight out of the country in July to visit some extended family. The flight is 18 hours. I desperately need the front seat so I can extend my legs and keep them elevated to help blood circulation and reduce inflammation.

I messaged my PCP, the one who diagnosed me, if I could get an accommodation note that allows me to sit in the front seats. She responded with "I don't think that shin splints are an appropriate reason for an accomodation. They are a very common issue. Accommodations should be saved for people with more severe injuries or disabilities." which.... she fully knows just how bad my pain is and just how badly it debilitates me. I also very much do feel like it should be said that... "common" doesn't always equal "mild" either??? (Side note, she already has history of not wanting to treat my shin splints as chronic (despite so much more than enough documented proof) anyways so... her response wasn't too surprising.)

So I instead message my orthopedist, who does recognize my pain as chronic. He has such a tight schedule, but managed to send an accomodation letter 5 hours after I asked without question. And he made it extremely clear that the extra leg room is a medical need or else it can risk my condition getting worse if I'm not allowed to stretch my legs or change positions.

Like all I want to know is the cause man. Is it a stress fracture??? Cause I know damn well it’s not the bruise already on my leg, but yes it’s a coincidence that I got the bruise. No, it’s not the cause. I hit my heel really hard after jumping over the hurdle and it’s been unbearable ever since. No, ice doesn’t help, stop recommending it to me. No, it’s not the bruise, stop acting like it is because I know damn well it’s not. No, other shin guards won’t help because I already have like three of them. Yes, I’ve already done the stretches stop asking me to do more.

Foot wear selection, take care of your feet gents.

Sandals for recovery:

Oofos. I wear these 90% of the time I'm not working.

Garrison Work-boots:

Danner Reckonings Winter. (All things Bridgeport ACC, MCCC, WMLC, et cetera.) main garrison boots for North Carolina winters. These are also my to go to rucking boot paired with Fox River Socks and a thin dress sock liner.

Danner Reckonings hot weather. (RTAP/BRC/A&S/ITC/Rucking) these drainage hole covers rarely stay on with heavy use. 

Danner USMC Tropical Boot. 52121 R  (MCIWS-Course/CFT/O-Course/MAI/Jungle Warfare) I'm still not sure if these are better then my completely destroyed bates lites. These boots are sized differently then other Danner boots, also they tend to fall apart a lot quicker from hard use compared to the reckonings. Tropical boots are faux jungle boots, do not wear these for hiking rough mountainous terrain.

Water work:

Altama OTB shoes. (OTB/finning/VBSS/lifting/skydiving) simply a better version of the Converse Chuck Taylors high tops. Great for OTB & VBSS, decent for finning but not the best. Pretty flat so not great for running or rucking.

Poseidon One Shoe. this is a mix of the Converse Truck Taylors and the Aqua Lung dive boots. and are meant for fining.

Field work:

******Why I prefer non-Gore Tex? Moisture becomes trapped in Gore-Tex shoes, causing blisters and bacteria growth.*******

Oboz sawtooth II Low Non-Bdry version. (VBSS/climbing/very light rucking/CQB/patrolling/skydiving) these are great for gripping and hiking on rocky surfaces.

Lowa Zephyr Mid TF. Currently torture testing these. (VBSS/climbing/light rucking/CQB/patrolling/military freefall). these shoes offer ankle support that my oboz sawtooth II lows don’t have & are light.

Sneakers:

Hoka speedgoat 4. (trail running/asphalt/concrete)

Hoka bondi 6. (road running on asphalt & concrete)

Nike pegasus 38. (Road/track/PFT)

Regular wear:

Nike revolution 6. comfort shoe to deal with my near constant foot pain. these replaced my Adidas.

Reebok Nano. these were made for people with wide feet.  

Vans Sk8 Hi skate Notchback Pro shop. (For picking up San Clemente Milfs at Goodies) honestly wore these into the ground; via lifting at EOS & hard skydiving landings at Elsinore.

SOCKS: 

Fox Rivers

Darn Tough 

Merino wool 

Injinji Liner Crew 

Okay... it's time to take two weeks off :(

I tried to do a small run today, and my shins hurt the whole time. I still enjoyed it, I mostly walked, but the weather was in the 70's. I'm visiting my boyfriends family in their town and they have so many gorgeous, historic houses. I love looking at them so the walk was nice regardless of not being able to run.