Pain in Legs.

[Alyusha]

To note, I'm in the Army, so you would guess I do A LOT of running on all types of terrain and in all types of foot wear.

The other day, I had to run about 15 miles, 99% of the run was on cement. Did a lot of up and down stairs and had to carry another person on my back for several miles. I was in running shoes (Nike Shocks).

When I walk fast i get a very bad pain in both my shins, it feels like the bone. When I sit with the end of a chain about in the middle of my femur, i get a sharp pain, it feels like the bone. When i run, It hurts real bad in my shins, and sometimes my knees. I cant even walk slowly up stairs without my left shin throbbing.


I'm a very active person. Everyday I walk at least 4 miles. Every weekday I run at least 4 miles. and every now and then I do 5-20 miles at a jogging pace. nine times out of ten its on cement. ( i know its not good, but i don't always have a choice.

I am 21 years old, and in the past 3 years i have put eaisly over 10,000 miles on my feet, between deployments an such. mostly in boots.

I could go to the doctor, but every time I do even if it is for a burn on my face, i get crutches. so id like to treat myself in this case.

Sorry for the long question, any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you.

[Alyusha]

I don't think they are shin splints either. I dont have any swelling around the bone, and when i get shin splints i usally swell up bad.

[barn babe]

Could be tendinitis. You better start some conservative treatment to see if it improves. The running on cement is just no good - sorry. I know you have to do it (or, it sounds like you have to do it).

For what it's worth, I ran on cement for years in my 20s and 30s (though never carrying another person).  I'm now in my late 40s and have a good bit of arthritis in both knees. However, it doesn't keep me from strenuous activities, I still run marathons, do triathlons, and pump iron.  But getting down on the floor in a crouch is painful, or crawling around on the floor, stuff like that.

Anyway, get hold of some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), I'm talking about Aleve, Motrin, stuff like that. Alternating ice packs and heat might also be useful.  

That would  be the first thing to do. If  the tendons are inflamed ("itis" means inflammation or swelling), then NSAIDs could calm them down quite a bit. Unfortunately, if you keep up with the exercise, you may exacerbate the problem.

It's none of my business, but have you been over in Iraq? Just askin'. I oppose the occupation, but still curious. (Sorry.)  :/

[Alyusha]

Now that you bring it up, crouching, or going to a knee brings the worst pain ever. It makes me legs feel like they will snap in half.

And yes ive been to Iraq twice and afganistan once sadly.. Due to go to afganistan again in October and Iraq again in Jan. 2009. None of this was by choice either. To be honest I dont even know what i was fighting for, other then my country...

Thank you for the help. Its nice to hear someone say it is something other then shin splints and to ice it. because I know its not.

[barn babe]

Well, shin splints can include swelling, usually inflammation around the material covering the bones, but it doesn't necessarily have to.

It's not going to improve if you keep running, but you may be able to decrease it a bit with NSAIDs and ice packs. Try not to carry another person if you can help it. : ) But that might not  be realistic, either.

I'm sorry about your tours of duty. Looks like the Dems just caved on getting us out of this mess, as well. Bush is going to get his way - again. Unbelievable. I'm registered to vote with the American version of the socialist party  - Peace & Freedom. To me, Democrats are just like Republicans. They are not doing anything about this bloody war.

Stay safe out there. Jesus, you guys are in great shape. I had no idea they put you through training like you are doing.  Nice work.

But please - stay safe. Keep posting if you can. I'd like to hear  how you are doing.  Take care of yourself.

barn

[Alyusha]

Yeah they keep us pretty up to par. I'm an Airborne Ranger, so I have to get used to walking miles with very heavy bags and very heavy weapons. and survive of twigs.

After today I'm not sure if i should get my leg looked at, because i fear if i do, i will get kicked out of the army.

When I first wake up in the morning, everything from my hips down hurt so bad, i limp around. After about an hour of walking i don't feel a thing. Then If i sit for like 10 mins it starts all over again. A little bit ago I was laying down with my legs crossed and I felt the same pressure that felt like the bone as I do in my Femur.. I'm Kind of worried.

I have been taking Anti Inflammatory, they help a bit. And I know for a fact its not shin splints, I've had my fair share of them.

This has been going on for about a year now, but it just recently got alot worse.

Something I thought about as well, I have had injuries to my left leg. Many of them, starting when i was younger up until recent. But its not a pain of the injury that hurts if that makes any since.

[barn babe]

Do you have anything neurological going on?  Like tingling, numbness, radiation of pain from your back?  Because then you definitely need to see a doctor  - it could be from a disc or pinched nerve in the back.

But really anything going on for a year or more needs to be looked  at.  Just my opinion.  It sounds like one problem might be that you keep using your legs for strenuous workouts and stuff, and that means you continually exacerbate the problem, so it's not getting better.  

I would think they wouldn't kick you out of the Army - just give you time to heal  and then return back? I don't know how  it works in the military, but there is such a huge shortage of troops to man all of these occupations we've got going that they are unlikely to kick you out. They have been sending injured troops back to Iraq, from what I'm reading. (That is horrifying to me.)  

You don't want to hear my personal opinion about what you should do! : ( But you are obviously a courageous and strong person to do what you are doing. Jesus, if the Democrats in Washington had a fraction of the courage that you do, we wouldn't be in this  mess.

My personal opinion? You probably need a couple of weeks minimum off your feet taking it easy so you have  a chance to heal.

Here's another idea: Post this on the Orthopedics forum if there is a doctor who responds there. Then at least you have a professional opinion before seeing a doctor in person, even if it's on-line.  

[Alyusha]

Well, I do have pain often in my lower back. It started about a year and a half ago. but it went away for a while and now it is back. It is not a bad pain though. It does bother me.

I wouldnt second guess it. walking 40 miles with a 130 pound bag on my back and a 40 pound gun prolly dosnt help the back to much.

But what do I know.

They wouldnt kick me out if it was a problem that was temporary and could heal. But if it was damaged for life and could impact my performance, like this does at the current moment, they would. It would be a honorable discharge. Nothing bad. But I didnt serve all I did for as long as I have just to be kicked out. Im looking to go another 12 years.

[barn babe]

No, this is definitely temporary. This is not going to keep you from maintaining a career in the Army.  (I'm going to google Army Rangers here in a minute so I can find out what you do.)  

You will not have any permanent lasting damage from what is going on IF YOU GET TREATED.

I hope you go in and get looked at by a physician. You really need to since it's gone on so long.  But no, this is not some permanent disabling condition that will cause you to be thrown out of the military. You probably don't want to hear this, but my guess is that many of the VA docs might be downplaying injuries because of troop shortages. They need you. They want you back out there as soon as possible. The last thing they want to do - the last thing -  is take you out because of a permanent  disability.

But this just isn't a permanently disabling condition, from what you've described. You just need to be off your feet for a while and you'll be fine. The other thing about getting seen is that you can get stronger medication if you need it. That could also speed healing. So can physical therapy.  But you can't  get any of these  things if you don't see  a doc about it.

That a*shole Murtha voted yes on the supplemental. What was this clown thinking?!?!

Are the women still in burkas in Afghanistan? I think we are not getting the full story from the media on what's happening with women there.

Have you used your weapons when you were on duty?

[Alyusha]

I just don't want to go to a Military doctor. They always over do everything, or dont do anything at all. I think I may go see a Civilian doctor.

I cant really say much about what I know about what is going on in these countrys. But alot of what is showen in the media is for the most part true. But the news makes it sound not as bad as it really is. The situations in Afganistan and Iraq have not changed much, if at all. Just the war is getting worse as we get deeper in, our soldiers are going missing and more are dying.

The Iraqi civilians are begining to hate us as well, because so many of them are dying. This really isnt a good thing at all.

Unfortunally, yes I have used my weapons. But I have also had many used on me.

350,000 Iraqi army troops.
500,000 American Army troops.
700,000 American Army National Guard and Army Reserve troops.

With roughly 130,000 AAT's in Iraq and 9,000 in Afganistan.

I personally think the Iraqi army is ready to take their battle into their own hands.

This really isnt the place to talk about this I don't think.

Please send me an E-Mail at: alex.***@****

[barn babe]

I was actually going to suggest a civilian doc in my last message but thought better of mentioning it, because I don't know what your financial situation is.  But I think that's a terrific idea.  Maybe VA will even pay for it; they probably will.  

If you don't have to go back overseas until October, I think you have a good bit of time to rest up and deal with this thing, if you can stay off your feet.  

I read about Army Rangers on google. You sound extremely skilled in what you are able to do, what they expect of you. Sounds dangerous. :-( I wouldn't have the guts to do that, and the majority of men I know also would not do it. You have more courage than every member of Congress *combined.*

I'm sickened by the whole thing. I lose sleep at night thinking about the killings and the destruction. It's horrible - for everybody.

Thanks for the email. :-) You will be hearing from me.

[CLuna]

OPSEC.