Just a thought on the shoes for when you can run again - look for a recreational running club in your area and ask them where most of the runners buy their shoes.

In my city all the runners buy their shoes from one store because:

1) They know their stuff - they can watch you run and look at your old runners to suggest both how to correct your running form and if there is a particular type of shoe which will be best for you. Usually a good specialist store will employ only competitive runners and students studying to be podiatrists and will have a day/time regularly when a podiatrist comes in to help recommend what's best for you - for free.

Since your a big guy and you slap the ground a lot I would guess they'd recommend the Brooks Beast since it offers a lot of support. Ask them if the shoe they recommend is best for it's cushioning or it's softness. Believe it or not in running shoe language they are 2 different things. Softness is what I prefer since when I'm not injured I do a lot of kms and I need to feel protected and I think it's the better option for anyone prone to injury running on the road. Cushioning (found in most Mizuno shoes) is actually meant to let you bounce off the road more and loose less energy to the road but it's less comfy in my opinion. Plus I think the performance benefit is pretty small especially if your shins are not going to like them.

To add a lot of softness and comfort you could also invest in some running socks found at the same specialty runners shoe store. They are a little more expensive than others but generally the good ones last a really long time and are soooo much more comfy. Especially important for any longish runs.

2) They're actually cheaper. Their market is made up of serious runners including those who run 100 plus km a week meaning they must replace their shoes often. They will charge a little LESS than most other places because they want to guarantee return customers.

One other thing to watch when you do run again is the surface. Most people know that grass is softer than the road or street but obviously it's not always convenient. You might not realise that cement is harder than bitumen. If you think about it while you are running you'll feel the difference. Stick to bitumen over cement whenever possible.

Just to make you feel a little better - all of the runners I have ever known to have shin splints have made a complete recovery so I think you will find a way around this