Unique Shin Splint Pain in Runner

Dear Ask The Doctor: I am a collegiate runner who participates in Cross Country, Indoor, and Outdoor Track. I took the summer off due to knee problems, and rejoined the team midway through XC this fall. I gradually increased mileage every week, eventually hitting 30 miles at my last week. I was running through what I thought to be shin splints. By the first indoor meet, the pain was inhibiting; I could barely warm up and ran terrible races. I recently took 7 weeks off, with daily stretching - no other activities. In that time I went for an MRI, which was negative for a stress fracture. It took three weeks for the pain to stop, without activity. I just started running again, and felt fine for 2 miles, although a little tight. Later that night the pain that I had felt before the break returned, and 2 days later it still hurts. I have iced. The pain radiates along the medial side of my right shin, and bothers me when standing up from a seated position, pivoting, walking and running. It even hurts when laying in bed. I don't understand why 7 weeks without running did not heal the shin splints at all. Is it possible the doctor missed a stress fracture? I feel like I am being forced to stop my running career because of this issue. Thanks for any help.

Dear Kalian: If you are very serious about your running career and have found the doctors in your area have not been able to solve the problem, i would highly recommend you visit the 3M center in London, Ontario, Canada. Their team of doctors are experts in this field with many olympic athletes and professional athletes flying there to have work orthopedic work done. I strong suggest coming here, having another MRI done and having your legs examined again. This would be my advice to someone very dedicated to their sport because at this point it could be a bunch of many issues and you want the best doctors in the world looking at it.