OCS start date question...

[Ken_gone_flying]

Hi everyone. I searched this topic and found one thread, but the info in there wasn't really helpful to me. Maybe I can get some more info from this thread.

I was notified last week that my ankle waiver was approved and I was a final select (SNA). My recruiter said my OCS date was Feb 2. I was unaware that my final docs had even been submitted yet, I was under the impression I was only waiting on my waiver status. I had asked my recruiter to request an OCS start date of March 1 or later, and he said he would see what he could do. Apparently he didn't know that the waiver/final select were going to happen at the same time, so he didn't even request the March date.

I've been working out with weights and running, a lot. The good news is that my ankle is feeling fine. The bad news is that my left leg has some pain (specifically on the inside portion of my bone about 5 inches above the ankle). Do shin splints occur on the sides of the bone as well? In any case, I ran a mile last night and then quit becasue I didn't want to aggrivate it too much. I can tell this is going to hinder my ability to build up my cardio in these next 5 weeks before my OCS date, which is a huge problem. I really think I need to push my date back, at least a few weeks so I can rest my leg, then get going on cardio again.

I have not sworn in yet or signed any papers, any advice? If I raise this issue will it ruin my medical clearance? Do I keep it a secret and give another reason for requesting a delayed date?

I am only trying to set myself up for success at OCS. I do not want to get there and be injured from day one and be there 7 months. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.


-Ken

 

[Tom]

Tell your recruiter now. Do not lie.

If you are having issues running a mile this close to OCS you will most likely have issues at OCS. It is hard to truly understand before going to OCS how physically demanding it is. What kind of physical shape are you in? The only way to heal from shin splints is rest. Try PM'ing Feddoc. He gave me some advice before OCS.

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

Tell your recruiter now. Do not lie.

If you are having issues running a mile this close to OCS you will most likely have issues at OCS. It is hard to truly understand before going to OCS how physically demanding it is. What kind of physical shape are you in? The only way to heal from shin splints is rest. Try PM'ing Feddoc. He gave me some advice before OCS.

Thanks Tom.

 

[loadtoad]

I agree with the above. Last thing you want to do is sit around H. My ITB got inflamed a few weeks before OCS. After three weeks into OCS the pain was too much (especially marching, driving those heals!) and I had to go to H. It blows...

 

[feddoc]

Ken,

Shin splints...plenty of threads on the subject....will occur along the path of the muscle involved. That muscle crosses over from the outside of the leg to the underside of the ankle. It is possible you have shin splints, but I think it highly unlikely.

If I were in your position, I would get an doc to confirm/deny the above. At this point in your career, you cannot afford to make choices based on an internet diagnosis. I would also get your butt on a bike, elliptical trainer or in the pool to keep your cardio up.

What was the original injury to your ankle?

My guess is that your ankle injury has something to do with your current pain...go to a doc.

 

[skim]

Focus on less impacting ways of cardio as Feddoc mentioned. I break up my running with biking, and after the new year (im out of town until then)I will be hitting the gym pool almost daily. Good luck!

ps. dont let yourself roll, cause if I roll then and you roll, I have to go back twice!

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

Ken,

Shin splints...plenty of threads on the subject....will occur along the path of the muscle involved. That muscle crosses over from the outside of the leg to the underside of the ankle. It is possible you have shin splints, but I think it highly unlikely.

If I were in your position, I would get an doc to confirm/deny the above. At this point in your career, you cannot afford to make choices based on an internet diagnosis. I would also get your butt on a bike, elliptical trainer or in the pool to keep your cardio up.

What was the original injury to your ankle?

My guess is that your ankle injury has something to do with your current pain...go to a doc.

I iced it last night and I can already tell it is much better this morning, no pain at all while walking. I had planned to quit running for at least 1 week and just swim or maybe use the elliptical.

The original injury to my ankle was a football injury in which I rolled my ankle really bad. I ended up having surgery in April of 2007 to have damaged cartilage and bone fragments removed from my inner ankle via arthroscopy. I am optimistic that it is unrelated to that simply because the pain that I was experiencing the past few days was completely different, and not in my ankle, but about 6 inches above on my inner shin.

I just need my ankle / shin to hold out through OCS and I'll be fine...