How bad do SF's hurt? I've never had one but my tibia has been hurting down a bit above my ankle lately. It doesn't hurt real bad, and doesn't really hurt when I tap the bone, but it feels different than my normal shin splints. It's worst right when I start running but never goes completely away while running, and sometimes I feel it while going up stairs. It doesn't hurt if I'm just resting though. If just started running a month ago and didn't increase my mileage this past week, wouldn't that decrease the chance of a SF?