???

Shin splints are an inflamation of the tendons and ligaments of the lower leg.
The best thing to do is prepare. Getting the legs conditioned before shipping to basic is the best preventative for shin splints.

alot of people get them including myself in my batallion and the reality is that ice and stretching will be all you can do because you wont have sufficient resting time to heal up.

quote:

Originally posted by cheapsin:
ice

meaning you probably have to go to sick call if you want to ice your legs.

I didn't get shin splints in basic, but I did get them a couple of years afterwards. The bottomline is that they don't go away for good. You may have periods of time when you feel no pain, but every now and then they come back to remind you that they are still here....

Yes, stretch REALLY well before running. I mean before formation, stretch out your legs, shins, feet, and calves (Moooooooo!) Also stretch your groin muscles too-- pulling your groin is not fun!

If you do have problems with them, go to the TMC during sick-call and get ice-packs or if they allow it, icy-hot type of rub. As long as the TMC or a doctor/nurse/PA gave it to you, you are allowed to have it and use it. The DS' are not allowed to confiscate medically-necessary equipment or medications.

Just don't be a sick-call ranger. DS' WILL notice, and you will be labeled a sh|tbag and they will make sure everyone knows it. There is a certain amount of pain that you will be expected to endure and drive on. Minor pain can be overcome with a positive mental attitude. If you are INJURED, then go get medical attention.

The DS' will ask you, "Are you HURT or INJURED?" The difference is that "hurt" means minor pain and you can suck it up and drive on. "Injured" means something is physically wrong/broken and you need to seek medical attention. Faking an injury (to get out of duty or PT) will usually get you an Article 15 for malingering.

So lots of stretching before PT and you should be OK.

Good Luck!

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

Don't just stretch before running. Stretch at night and throughout the day too.

quote:

Originally posted by gojeero:

quote:

Originally posted by cheapsin:
ice

meaning you probably have to go to sick call if you want to ice your legs.

hmmm i dunno what was going on in your battalion but we never went to sick call for ice. we asked the DS towards lights out/personal time and they let us either go to the loading dock and borrow ice or go to the dfac and get cubed ice.

quote:

Originally posted by cheapsin:

quote:

Originally posted by gojeero:

quote:

Originally posted by cheapsin:
ice

meaning you probably have to go to sick call if you want to ice your legs.

hmmm i dunno what was going on in your battalion but we never went to sick call for ice. we asked the DS towards lights out/personal time and they let us either go to the loading dock and borrow ice or go to the dfac and get cubed ice.

Wow... Nice DS-- really. I got in trouble once for putting ice in my water at the DFAC! Ice was a luxury at Ft. Benning.

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

quote:

Originally posted by Mad_Matt:

quote:

Originally posted by cheapsin:

quote:

Originally posted by gojeero:

quote:

Originally posted by cheapsin:
ice

meaning you probably have to go to sick call if you want to ice your legs.

hmmm i dunno what was going on in your battalion but we never went to sick call for ice. we asked the DS towards lights out/personal time and they let us either go to the loading dock and borrow ice or go to the dfac and get cubed ice.

Wow... Nice DS-- really. I got in trouble once for putting ice in my water at the DFAC! Ice was a luxury at Ft. Benning.

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

well ice for pleasure like a cool drink versus ice for medical purposes thats 2 completely different things. Warm water hydrates you just as well as ice cold water.

LOL @ sick call rangers. We had a lot of those. Matt is right, you will be singled out if you appear to be a sick call ranger. They had to force me to go to sick call becuase I just wouldn't go for that very reason LOL. I was like, "It's just a cold and ear infection. I'll be alright." But it was the case of me passing my illness to others that made them send me to sick call.

If you really want to get rid of them, then my suggestion is (If you can get a hold of these items) Get a cup like a small gaterade paper cup and ice it over night. Then take it out and rub it all over where your shin splints are. You will feel much better.