Avoiding Shin Splints

I'm pre-op and I hate the treadmill.  Walking "fast" has always given me problems with shin splints, ditto for attempts at doing anything faster.  I love to use the elliptical so I stick to that.  Since I tried treadmilling last I've invested in orthotics for my shoes as well as professionally fitted sneakers.  

So.. I want to walk a lot immediately after surgery (obv) and I won't be able to use the elliptical for 6 weeks.  I'd also sort of like to run a 5K in November.  What can I do to avoid getting shin splints?  Will losing weight help?  Or are there stretches I should be doing specifically for this?  

I use to do toe taps when I ran. Even when I was a size 2 I would get them but they weren't as bad as they are now. I know that there were some other ones that helped but I can't remember them. I ran across them when I had googled leg pains. 

I love your goal....good luck in your journey 

Thanks!  I'll google these :)  

My local community college does a "Turkey Trot" every year the weekend before Thanksgiving which is a 5K run and a 1 mile walk.  Last year my family had one runner and two walkers.  I hope to change it to two runners and one walker this year! :D  My partner even said he would slow down his pace to be able to run with me.  He's a very competitive marathoner, so I felt very loved by the sacrifice ;)

I hate shin splints! They happen when you suddenly increase your activity level. Your muscle attachments are only as strong as they need to be based on your activity level. When you suddenly increase your activity (particularly walking and running) the muscle fibers along your shin actually pull away from the bone causing pain. The best prevention is a very gradual increase in activity and icing after activity. I always get shin splints after I have been inactive for more than a month. If you gradually increase your activity, your muscle attachments will strengthen with you. Ice ice ice!