I've been dealing with these shin splints for about two months now after doing very hard hill workouts two nights in a row. I've done everything you could do for them and then I finally thought they were getting better. I noticed a lump on my shin and went to my family doc who said it was just a muscle knot so I should ice and massage it but I could still run. I had two more runs after that and the last run was grueling. I was supposed to do three miles but could only do two and I *should* have done none! My body was telling me that something just wasn't right so I went to a sports medicine doctor on Friday and he took an xray right away (which my family doc did not do). From the xray he said that he's almost positive it's a stress fracture.

He said it looks like a healing stress fracture which is good but if he can see it on an xray that means it's been there for a while. I'm having an MRI done on Friday to see how bad it is but either way, I'm out of training for a very long time. I won't know just how long or what the plan is until after the MRI. I told him that I was registered for a the PHM in Feb and he said that he'll try to get me there but can't promise anything. He also said that seeing as I'm lactose intolerant, perhaps I haven't been getting enough calcium which doesn't help matters. And I'll fully admit that I'm stupid and it had not occurred to me to take calcium supplements. How dumb am I?
I'm so depressed right now. Before those stupid hill workouts I was doing great and having no pain. I had some nice times doing several 5Ks and now I'll be sidelined for at least 6 weeks. If I can't run I still plan to walk it - I just need to stay ahead of the sweepers!