NROTC concerns

[CMK]

Well, I'm a 4/c midshipman, in my second semester, and I'm having some problems. I was on medical for 2 months last semester for a really, really bad case of shin splints (what luck). And looks as if they're coming back, and I cannot go on medical again. It looks as if I will have to drop the program before I get kicked out or before I get stress fractures. Is it possible to drop from ROTC before the semester is over, but not have to pay back the tuition? Isn't the first year free? I would like to know before I talk to the LT.
Thanks

 

[Navyfan06]

Hey there sorry to hear about your troubles..hope I can answer a few questions. The first year is like a "try out" time to see if you like NROTC. So you will not have an obligation, but you most likley will have to drop it at the end of the sememster in order to get your current semester paid for. Just as a side note, have you thought of trying to work through the shin splints. My freshmen year at The Citadel I had really bad feet problems, but continued to ice them and work through it. Once I got some new running shoes and was taught a few good stretches the feet problems/shin splints pretty much went away. If you need any advice on that just PM me I have some articles that may help you out.

 

[SlickAg]

By "medical" do you mean medical LOA? B/c I know of lots of kids who are broken and can't PT and they don't lose their scholarships. They just heal, don't PT, and start up again once they're better. But either way, you should maybe ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist or help you out in some way. But I can't see the Navy kicking you out for having shin splints.

 

[AllAmerican75]

I went through some bad shin splints last year in the off-season when I was training with the track team. My best advice is to ice the affected area immediately after you do PT for about 20 minutes, and then ice it for 20 minutes sometime in the evening, say while studying or whatnot. Worked for me.

 

[scotty008]

There are some great threads about shin splints throughout the forum. Many people have experienced the problem and posted their advice/remedies. I went into USMC OCS with terrible shin splints, and used much of the information here to help myself through. I'm sure you've tried some things if its gotten to this point, but I will say that they tend to get worse before they get better. I was constantly on the verge of stress fractures before and during OCS, but kept trying different things until I stopped experiencing problems. The stretching is key, and you have to do it often and beyond the point of discomfort EVERY DAY. Ice whenever you get a chance, even when not running, and talk to a physical therapist if you have the means. It often seems like an insurmountable issue, but anyone can get past it. For myself, I just couldnt let something like shin/leg problems get in the way of my dream. Talk to the people in charge of your program and let them know exactly where you stand. If you're solid, I'm sure that they'll work with you to get the problem solved. Shin splints suck, bad, but I discovered that popping some serious Motrin can get you through almost anything. Good luck-

 

[AllAmerican75]

CMK,
Also, since you are in college, see if you can go by the athletic trainer's offices. I'm sure they'd be willing to wrap some ice on your legs. I know I found it hard not flexi-wrapping the bags of ice on my legs, because I couldn't never get the ice to stay where I needed it or have enough contact with my skin to be effective. Also, the trainers have probably seen this kind of thing many times and could give you a lot of great advice on how to treat your shin splints.

 

[sarnav]

CMK-

Dont give up that easy man. Like has been said by all of the above-Shin splints suck, but you can get through them. Lay off the running, learn to enjoy swimming/biking for your cardio and slowly build up your running base later, but take some time off the feet to let them heal. If you are at a big school talk to the track or cross country team because they can a. help you out because at least one of them has or had your problem, and b. hot chicks who enjoy pt-get what I am saying. Regardless, best of luck and get your legs healed, dont let a sports injury sideline your hopes of becoming an Officer in the worlds finest Navy.

 

[snizo]

Unless things have changed since I worked at my ROTC unit (1 yr ago), you have until the first day of your sophomore year to drop without penalty. You should have to sign something then that actually commits you to the program and to paying back if you drop - in which case you should know the day you become obligated.

Hope it doesn't go that way - good luck.

 

[CMK]

I'm a female by the way, so checking out hot chicks doing PT just isn't my cup of tea.
But I did a search on shin splints here, and I have been reading some very conflicting info. Some say run through them, some say quit running. I don't have much of a choice. When you have a hard core LT running behind you, you better keep running.
I was wondering...does weight have anything to do w/shin splints? I wouldn't say I'm fat (130 lbs, 5'5"), but maybe if I lost some weight, the shin splints would go away? I have no idea. I would hate to lose my scholarship and my dream cuz of this injury.

 

[zab1001]

stretch stretch stretch

my shin splint solution is 20-30 min with those long skinny "freezer pops" wrapped around my lower legs. they may taste like crap, but they hold together and will form to your leg.

 

[Crowbar]

Well, I'm a 4/c midshipman, in my second semester, and I'm having some problems. I was on medical for 2 months last semester for a really, really bad case of shin splints (what luck). And looks as if they're coming back, and I cannot go on medical again. It looks as if I will have to drop the program before I get kicked out or before I get stress fractures. Is it possible to drop from ROTC before the semester is over, but not have to pay back the tuition? Isn't the first year free? I would like to know before I talk to the LT.
Thanks

Is it possible you hurt yourself or had this problem before and just lied about it on the application? Just curious.

 

[boobcheese]

A couple years ago I had a bad case of shin splints and tried icing and stretching regularly while continuing to run. I went to NSI and ended up being diagnosed with multiple stress fractures. Luckily I had already passed the initial PRT so they let me finish the program. I took a couple of months off of running and stuck to low impact stuff like using a stationary bike or stair stepper while continuing to ice and stretch my shins. I then slowly began to work running back into my routine and haven't had any problems since. The moral of the story is don't continue to run if you are injured. If a doc tells you to lay off the running for a while I doubt very seriously if your unit would have any problem with that at all. Take the steps necessary for your body to heal and carry on. No one expects any more from you than that.

 

[scotty008]

I'm a female by the way, so checking out hot chicks doing PT just isn't my cup of tea.
But I did a search on shin splints here, and I have been reading some very conflicting info. Some say run through them, some say quit running. I don't have much of a choice. When you have a hard core LT running behind you, you better keep running.
I was wondering...does weight have anything to do w/shin splints? I wouldn't say I'm fat (130 lbs, 5'5"), but maybe if I lost some weight, the shin splints would go away? I have no idea. I would hate to lose my scholarship and my dream cuz of this injury.

As for weight, I'm 6'4", 210 lbs. Before going to OCS, I was substantially heavier, and I think that this could have contributed. The more stress you put on your legs, the more likely you are to get injured. That said, you don't seem to have any weight issues. Don't try to force weight loss if you don't need to lose weight. Strengthening the muscles in your lower legs and making them more flexible can have the same effect.
What I did before OCS was stop running completely for a month. During this time, I rode a bike, swam, and used those eliptical machines at the gym. Maybe not the most masculine piece of gym equipment, but it got it done. I also continued to ice my shins, stretch, and take ibuprofen (reduces the swelling/inflamation, which is good). Once at OCS, where I had not choice other than going on light duty (not good, stayed the hell away), I ran when they made me. It was painful at times, but I spent my evenings icing, stretched whenever possible, and swore by the 800 mg Motrin diet. By week 10, my shin splints were all but gone.
These days, I contine to apply preventative maintenance, of sorts, to prevent any reocurrence. Like I mentioned, do a search for shin splints, and try to talk to some type of trainer of therapist. They can help.

 

[pennst8]

I used to get shin splints... then I got new running shoes and have been fine in that sense for awhile now.

Ice, motrin, stretching, etc helped to get rid of the symptoms but never fixed the underlying problem for me.

Find a place near you that sells nothing but running shoes. The guys at Foot Locker usually don't know anything other than what looks "cool".

Check out the site below if you're not familiar with how to pick the right shoes:
http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2005/0105/asplund.htm

 

[Pags]

A lot of this has been covered all ready, but as someone who had just about every leg affliction under the sun while in NROTC, I can tell you that I was never in any danger of being kicked out. Go see a good sports medicine doc, and get an accurate assessment of what's wrong. Go to a good shoe store (not foot locker, but something that specializes) and have them get you the right type of shoe. The right shoe may be expensive, but dropping an extra $30 every 6mo is well worth it if it doesn't mean any pain. But, in the interim, doe something else for PT. Use an eliptical machine, go swimming, ride a bike, lift weights. Don't let a hardcore LT push you to injury. If you're really injured, he'll understand. PTing so hard that you get hurt isn't a good way to PT.