Flash back to April 2008, Big D Half Marathon, and my horrible shin splint problems. Fast forward to now, and the return of shin splint (really, they never went away - even with rest - but the cold stirs them up a little, and 2 half marathons in 2 months probably didn't help) and my left foot that falls asleep at mile 3-4 and has searing pain starting at mile 6 continuing through mile 13.1 (what a pain).
Last April, I went to an orthopaedic who took x-rays or the ankle/leg to make sure I didn't have a stress fracture (I even did the tuning fork test - both were negative), but didn't offer any answers - just rest. I have had the foot pain between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsals since I played soccer in high school, but haven't really felt it in the last 10 years because I haven't really done much to irritate it. In High School, I thought it was a bone spur.
I decided to go to an orthopaedic that specializes in the foot/ankle. I got a referral from my mom's hand surgeon who used this doctor for his foot surgery, so I thought he had to be good. I didn't really like the office procedures that were kind of long and drawn out. I am sure they are effective, but they definitely aren't efficient. And I wasn't a huge fan on the nurse/employee that walked me back to the room. BUT I did love the doctor! I would recommend him to anyone. 
After x-rays and talking about my foot problem and shin splints, he played with my foot a little and immediately knew what was wrong. I thought it may be a Morton's neuroma (and not a bone spur) after a self diagnoses from orthogate.com, but it wasn't that either! Turns out, my extensor digitorum longus tendon on the 2nd metatarsal are weak and lose. Instead of just moving my phalange up and down, the whole joint moves up and down. This eventually causes friction on the nerve which puts my foot to sleep and then causes pain. Because I have high arches, and running shoes not only don't have good enough supports, but are also too flexible in the toe box, this just adds to the problem. He showed me how when my arch is supported, the joint works correctly. Amazing! He told me to get some arch supports and something called hot feet - which he said I could google, but I haven't found it. Hot feet is a plate that can be put in the toe box to make it more firm - and is especially used with athletes that push off the toe, like soccer players, sprinters, and football players (and while I wouldn't call me an athlete or a sprinter, I do run with the form of a sprinter - a mid foot striker and pushing off the toes - but, no, I am not fast). He also prescribed a visit to the physical therapist to check my bio mechanics of running, to make sure that I don't need prescribed orthotics, and to show me some really good stretching techniques for the extensor digitorum longus mucsle.The doctor said that the shin splits could be from the tendon/muscle since it runs up the shin, but it could also be from my unsupported arches. So good news! I have answers! And it wasn't "don't run anymore" or "no running for 6 weeks".
Rachael and I went to Academy today. I tried some arch supports and found some I like. Rachael tried them too because she has high arches and some shin splints. (maybe she should pay half my copay for the medical advise!). Tonight I tried them out on my warm up on the treadmill - 8 minutes at 6mph. I could tell a major difference! Looking forward to doing some good distances with the new supports.
