chronic lower leg pain (shin & calf)

hi...i practise martial  arts precisely Taekwondo ..for almost a year and a half i have been having some chronic pain in the inner side of my shins combined with a burning sensation  at all time  (both ..)...the first symptoms appears after an increase of training hours and leg pressing at the gym ...(i also wanted to increase my explosive speed buy developping my calf muscles)..so i started feeling a severe pain in the shins ..i was told  that i had a shin splints ..i did get some rest ..take some anti-inflammatory  but it is  just getting worst ...anytime  i tried to run ,jump  i feel the pain ..quite unbearable...x-rays and bone scanning came alll negative,same for the blood test ...i tried to use an insole  thinking about flat feet but ..nothing..i tried chiropractic methods  ...but still nothing no improvement ...my orthopedic told me that i may be developping  compartment chronic syndrom (syndrome)...i am awaiting to  go for a compartmnent pressure examination ...but i'm losing hope ...please if anyone have been through the same  i need to know if i am going to get better .. and what to do !!!!
thanks

[marissposa]

Did your doctor teach you how to stretch your calf to avoid shin splints?  You  need to do both straight and bent knee calf stretches.  You can do this by hanging the back of your heel off the edge of a stair hold for at least 30 sec with the knee straight and 30 sec with it bent.  Do it before and after exercise and periodically through the day.   Go to a massage therapist  (many will work on a sliding scale if your insurance doesn't cover it)  and have them do deep tissue on your calves and shins.  Be prepared it WILL hurt like a motherfer.  But it will help in time.    Also you can develop the muscles on the front of the shin by doing a few simple exercises:  1-  tap your toes emphasizing the upward part of the tap, do about a 20 on each foot a couple of times a day.  2- flex your foot and holding it in that position swing the toes from side to side, holding for a couple of seconds on each side.  You should feel this in the front of your shin.  
Or better yet, have your orthopedist send you to a physical therapist.  Why he hasn't done this already when he has you doing all those expensive tests is unfathomable?

[agludovic]

i just read your comment and will try to follow everything you said ...i will get back to you with good news if it work i will owe you a very big one ....thanks one  more time

[marissposa]

you are very welcome =)

[Suri123]

Hi agludovic, how are you doing and how is the pain? In your follow up visit to the orthopedician, you can discuss the probable cause of a stress injury to the leg bone causing the pain and discomfort. "A stress fracture of the lower leg is generally considered an overuse injury. They are sometimes difficult to diagnose due to vague discomfort and generalized pain over the muscles of the lower leg and are often misdiagnosed as shin splints. They come on slowly over time from cumulative trauma to the muscles and bones, often due to overuse. They occurs when muscles become fatigued or overloaded and can not absorb the stress or shock of repeated impacts. Fatigued lower leg muscles transfer that stress to the nearby bone and the result is a small crack or fracture in the bones of the lower leg".
Link: http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/leg_injuries/a/leg7.htm
I hope this link would be of some help to you. Take rest and do gentle massage. Physical therapy needs to be continued. Take care.

[marissposa]

Since you have already had bone scans and xrays you don't need to worry about stress fractures. It is a soft tissue injury. Although it never hurts to educate yourself on the causes and symptoms of injury for the future.

[agludovic]

hi there ...thanks for the concern..really appreciate it...actually there is no stress fracture otherwise the x-rays or at least the bone scan would have revealed it...i believe more in a soft tissue injury ....because the calf muscle are very sensitive now whenever i try to deep massage them i can't stand the pain...anyway i will be going on tuesday to get the pressure in the leg checked (compartment  syndrom (syndrome))..
i'm also making arragements to be able to start going for massage..so all those actions combined may definetely give a result ..
thanks

[Suri123]

Hi agludovic, how are you? Hope you might be feeling better now? The possibility of a stress fracture being caught on x-ray is less, you can ask for an MRI, which give better findings. Yes, it is a good idea to consult a surgeon and get investigated thoroughly. Gentle massage and few physical therapy sessions may be helpful along with heat therapy. Keep updating on your progress and doctor advice. Take care and share your thoughts.    

[agludovic]

thanks  alot ...i be keeping you posted on my progress...

[Suri123]

Hi agludovic, how are you doing and how is the pain? Is your orthopedic doctor regularly following you for the shin pain and do you have improvement now? Are there any new investigation that have been performed to know the cause or review the plan of care? A MRI would be a better choice and you can request your doctor to get one. Please update on your current progress and care. Avoid excessive strain to leg and take as much rest as possible. Regular gentle massage and hot fomentation with calcium supplementation should help. Keep sharing your thoughts and update on the doctor advice. Take care.