Football Injury - What could it be?
Discussion
I got roped into playing a 5-a-side game at lunch yesterday. Felt fine after the game, walked home no problem last night. Then woke up early this morning with the side of one of my shins in agony. It has calmed down to a dull ache, and I can walk on it without too much pain, but if I press in a certain place (about halway down, on the inside, directly "underneath" the bone if I was lying down) it's very painful.
Any thoughts on what I might have done to it? I do plenty of exercise, and played a lot more football just a couple of weeks ago, so it's not unfititis!
Did think I might go to the minor injuries clinic later if it doesn't ease up, but then realised it'll probably be full of people with bubonic ebola SARS swine flu.
Any thoughts on what I might have done to it? I do plenty of exercise, and played a lot more football just a couple of weeks ago, so it's not unfititis!
Did think I might go to the minor injuries clinic later if it doesn't ease up, but then realised it'll probably be full of people with bubonic ebola SARS swine flu.
Its probably something an nothing. Give it a few days and if its still hurting then perhaps thinking about it. After I play football or other sports I'm constantly hurting in different places, a lot of time behind my knee cap which I may get looked at but they aches and pains generally go or you get used to them...
Oh yes, I'm very familiar with the random aches and pains after playing (the ones that seem to start appearing the day you turn 22...), and things like shin splints, but this one feels different.
General consensus from the guys I play with is a stress fracture is the most likely cause, and there's not much you can do with that other than rest, so I might as well leave it
General consensus from the guys I play with is a stress fracture is the most likely cause, and there's not much you can do with that other than rest, so I might as well leave it
Sounds like you have shin splints. No big deal, just bloody sore. If you can avoid it, don't do any running and it should start to ease.
If it gets worse see a Doctor, but they are all quite busy dealing with fakers of swine flu
EDIT TO ADD 'WIKI'
Acute treatment
The immediate treatment for shin splints is rest. Running and other strenuous lower limb activities, like basketball and other sports which include flexing the muscle, should be avoided until the pain subsides and is no longer elicited by activity. In conjunction with rest, anti-inflammatory treatments such as icing and drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (in particular, NSAID gel) may be suggested by a doctor or athletic trainer. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also be taken, though there is some controversy over their effectiveness. Furthermore, the lower legs may be taped to stabilize and take some load off the periosteum. Finally, using good shoes (ideally compensating for individual foot differences) is important. The shin can be trained for greater static and dynamic flexibility through adaptation, which will diminish the contracting reflex, and allow the muscles to handle the rapid stretch. The key to this is to stretch the shins regularly. However, static stretching might not be enough. To adapt a muscle to rapid, eccentric contraction, it has to acquire greater dynamic flexibility as well. One way to work on the dynamic flexibility of the anterior shin is to subject it to exaggerated stress, in a controlled way, such as walking on the heels. If the muscle is regularly subject to an even greater dynamic, eccentric contraction than during the intended exercise, it will become more capable of handling the ordinary amount of stress. Experienced long-distance runners practice controlled downhill running as a part of training, which places greater eccentric loads on the quadriceps as well as on the shins. A physical therapist, athletic trainer, or doctor should be consulted before engaging in this type of training.
If it gets worse see a Doctor, but they are all quite busy dealing with fakers of swine flu
EDIT TO ADD 'WIKI'
Acute treatment
The immediate treatment for shin splints is rest. Running and other strenuous lower limb activities, like basketball and other sports which include flexing the muscle, should be avoided until the pain subsides and is no longer elicited by activity. In conjunction with rest, anti-inflammatory treatments such as icing and drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (in particular, NSAID gel) may be suggested by a doctor or athletic trainer. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also be taken, though there is some controversy over their effectiveness. Furthermore, the lower legs may be taped to stabilize and take some load off the periosteum. Finally, using good shoes (ideally compensating for individual foot differences) is important. The shin can be trained for greater static and dynamic flexibility through adaptation, which will diminish the contracting reflex, and allow the muscles to handle the rapid stretch. The key to this is to stretch the shins regularly. However, static stretching might not be enough. To adapt a muscle to rapid, eccentric contraction, it has to acquire greater dynamic flexibility as well. One way to work on the dynamic flexibility of the anterior shin is to subject it to exaggerated stress, in a controlled way, such as walking on the heels. If the muscle is regularly subject to an even greater dynamic, eccentric contraction than during the intended exercise, it will become more capable of handling the ordinary amount of stress. Experienced long-distance runners practice controlled downhill running as a part of training, which places greater eccentric loads on the quadriceps as well as on the shins. A physical therapist, athletic trainer, or doctor should be consulted before engaging in this type of training.
Edited by SoapyShowerBoy on Thursday 23 July 15:43
Rest it up, but keep active (if that doesn't sound too contradictorymechsympathy said:
I am (pretty much) the biggest hairiest physio I know I'm not very tolerant as the girl I have working for me occasionally gets a
holes in who get ideas.
Naturally this is all tongue in cheek, I would not advocate wasting anyone’s time especially if they are trying to help me. The female trainee phsio at my rugby club didn't receive one bad word and was very respected. I'm not very tolerant as the girl I have working for me occasionally gets aholes in who get ideas.
I'd hope both of our comments were taken in the spirit they were meant in 
The last physio I went to was very good looking, and a really nice woman too, but I'm the last person to try something on with someone working in a professional capacity (or indeed try something on with anyone...gutless...)
Anyway, the amount of pain she was capable of inflicting resulted in me being pretty scared of her rather than attracted to her
The last physio I went to was very good looking, and a really nice woman too, but I'm the last person to try something on with someone working in a professional capacity (or indeed try something on with anyone...gutless...)
Anyway, the amount of pain she was capable of inflicting resulted in me being pretty scared of her rather than attracted to her
eace:Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff