Hey everyone Im new to the forum and really think its great, Im 49 years old and about 60 pounds over what I need to weigh. I have been working hard since the middle of January I work at night and every morning at 3:00AM I walk on the track on the 28th floor in my buliding for about 3 miles. Cut my breads out and have dropped 16 pounds and 1 pant size. I am soo stoked but now I have a VERY painful case of shin splints, it was in one leg and now its in the other can barely walk sometimes. Please if you have any ideas help me. I still limp around the track because I feel guilty if I dont. Will ice or heat help get rid of these things they are sooo painful. Thanks to all in the forum you dont know how helpfuk you are.

hmmm, shin splits...I need to look up the def., but that almost sounds like what I had when I was in softball. I could hardly walk, and before my first (and last:P I quit after that, so I could focus on my job) game, I couldn't even run, let alone stretch and warm up...thank God I had to go with 2 other girls to go to the bathroom half way across the park so I missed warm ups But I took some ibuprofen and I was fine during the game, except I was catcher and I couldn't ...do the squat thingit the catchers do... So maybe take some ibuprofen (maybe eat first, or it'll tear your stomach up...speaking out of experience...) or some other pain killers, and then try doing some V stretches and stuff.

You got shin splints because you went from doing little excercise to alot, and you overtrained. You shouldn't increase you load more than 10% each week.
Keep of the leg until it heals. In the meantime try swimming or cycling in a high cadence. When the paid subsides gradualy build back up to walking.
Buying a good pair of shoes with quailty cushioning will make sure they don't come back, aswell as strengthing your lower leg muscles.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/80/96441.htm

There ya go! Defined and also gives good treatment.

(and this was helpful for me because I know now that I did have shin splits in both legs last summer...eep...)

I definitely agree with the new shoes (in addition to the stretching). Find a good pair of sneakers - DO NOT settle for cheap brands. I always know when I need new sneakers when the shin splints start to appear.

Congrats to you and good luck!

I don't think you need new shoes. It just happens, mostly after a period of inactivity.

Be sure to stretch your calves (tight calves are a cause of shin splints).