Shin pain

Shin pain most often occurs during or immediately after a change in activity, such as long-distance running. Although the term "shin pain" is often used, it is not a specific medical diagnosis, but a symptom of a variety of medical conditions. Where does shin pain come from and what are its causes?

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Common Causes of Shin Pain

Shin pain is very common. It can affect a person's reactions and quality of life, especially those who play sports. Shin pain is caused by swelling or inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and the thin layer of tissue that covers the shin bone.

A common cause of this pain is overuse from too much activity or training, where the person does not allow themselves time to heal or repair damaged and overstressed tissues.

Often, a sudden change in sensations in the shin can be caused by activities such as:

• Aerobic dancing
• Military training
• Overcoming long distances, hiking in the mountains

Flat feet or very stiff arches can cause pain in the lower leg if a person moves a lot and often and does not rest.

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Other causes of shin bone pain:

Chronic swelling and inflammation of the outside of the foot. This can cause numbness and clumsiness in the foot during exercise.

Fractures usually cause sharp pain 1 or 2 cm below the knee.

Causes and Risk Factors of Shin Pain

Shin pain can be caused by a variety of conditions, including compartment syndrome (increased pressure in the muscles as a result of exercise), tendonitis (inflammation of the tendon), myositis (inflammation of the muscle), muscle tear, or periostitis (inflammation of the outer layer of the bone).

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Alternative sites of pain

Shin pain can occur in the front of the shin. The pain can be localized to areas along the inner edge of the tibia, the large bone in the lower leg.

Pain may also be felt in the area of the anterior tibial pain, or may be localized in the posterior tibia.

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Symptoms of Shin Pain

Shin pain - inflammation of the tendons and muscles of the lower leg - is usually caused by the effects of strenuous exercise.

The tibia is covered by the periosteum, and the shin also consists of a group of soft tissues, nerve endings, and blood vessels. Just above the ankle and below the knee, tendons of the muscles help attach to the periosteum. When the shin is overstressed, pain can radiate to the periosteum, tendons, muscles, the shin, or to the four compartments of the shin muscles that are covered in connective tissue (called fascia). If you repeatedly overstrain the shin, these areas can become inflamed and painful.

Shin pain is often caused by seasonal injuries, which usually occur when you engage in intense physical activity after a long break. It can also occur as a result of playing sports (such as tennis) on a hard surface. Especially if you have changed your training shoe style to a lighter one, significantly increased the intensity of your training, or have done a significant amount of physical exercise.

Pain in the front of the shin can be caused by an injury to the muscles or tendons that help lift the front of the foot, causing pain in the front outer part of the leg. Pain in the back of the shin (pain that radiates down the back and on the inside of the shin and ankle) can be caused by tightness in the muscles that help support and stabilize the arch of the foot.

It is very important to differentiate between calf muscle pain due to a bruise and pain due to a fracture (or it could be a small crack in the bone located in the shin), which develops slowly as a result of repeated stress and physical impact on the leg. Symptoms of pain develop during exercise and include sudden, burning pain.

Unlike other stages of shin pain where the pain is felt in different areas of the leg, with a broken bone you can pinpoint the exact location where the pain is coming from. In mild to moderate stages of exercise, if there is no traumatic injury to the leg, the pain subsides immediately when the exercise is over, and the leg heals completely with adequate rest for a month or so.

Pain from fractures should be taken seriously, so if you suspect you have a fracture, dislocation or bruise, you should consult a doctor before continuing to participate in any sport.

The nature of pain in the shin

Shin pain is characterized by pain in the front and sides of the shin that develops and worsens with physical activity. There may also be tenderness and swelling of the shin due to fluid accumulation in the surrounding tissue. Shin pain is a common problem for runners.

What Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Shin Pain

• How long can you use ice packs?
• How long does it take to heal a shin?
• What exercises would you recommend?

Call your doctor if

• Even though you have already received treatment for your shin pain, you may need to call your doctor if:
• The pain continues and is persistent, even after rest.
• You're not sure if your pain is caused by a shin injury
• Your condition does not improve after home treatment for several weeks

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Treatment of shin pain

If the pain is severe or you suspect you have a fracture, see your doctor for an examination. After your doctor has completed a questionnaire and physical examination, he or she may suggest an X-ray to look for cracks in the shin bones, a sign of a fracture.

If the chronic pain syndrome is localized in the lower leg, it is most likely a case of compression of the affected muscle area. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed in case of compression syndrome, in more severe cases surgery may be recommended.

Self-help for shin pain

At the first sign of pain in the shin area, you need to stop moving your legs. Trying to move through the pain will only worsen the condition and lead to a worsening of the condition.

First, massage the area with ice to reduce inflammation and irritation. Ice acts as a fast-acting, anti-inflammatory agent.

To relieve pain and reduce swelling, your doctor may suggest taking ibuprofen on a schedule.

In case of fractures or other injuries of the shin, heat should not be applied to this area first. Pain in the shin can be caused by inflammatory processes, and heat will only irritate the painful area even more.

The healing time for shin splints from injuries can be as little as two to three weeks (if you cut back and use aggressive self-care measures), and in some cases, it can take 12 to 14 weeks before the pain subsides.

Home Care for Shin Pain

Begin the healing process of your shin with 2 to 4 weeks of rest.

Rest from any physical activity (except walking for daily activities) for at least 2 weeks. You can try light exercises to relieve the calf, such as swimming or cycling.

After 2 to 4 weeks, when the pain has gone, you can begin to work physically again. Increase your activity level slowly. If the pain returns, stop exercising immediately. Warm up and stretch before and after any exercise.

Apply ice or a cold compress to the painful area of your shin for 20 minutes twice a day. Over-the-counter pain relievers may also help.

Talk to your doctor or physical therapist about wearing proper shoes and shoe orthotics.

If you have a fracture, see a doctor immediately. Most patients with fractures should use crutches and avoid any physical activity.

Questions a doctor may ask about shin pain may include:

Time of the disease picture

1. When did the pain in your shin start?
2. Was it continuous all this time?

The nature of pain in the shin

1. Describe the pain.
2. Is this a sharp pain?
3. Do you have numbness and tingling in your leg?
4. Has your leg become clumsy during exercise?

Localization of pain

1. Are both legs affected by pain or just one?
2. Where exactly do you feel pain in your leg?

Mitigating factors

1. How long have you been feeling pain?
2. Have you increased your training or exercise routine before your shin pain developed?
3. Perhaps you changed the type of exercise you were doing before the shin pain occurred?

Self-help factors

1. What did you do to relieve the pain? What medications did you take?
2. How well did your products help?
3. What symptoms did you have initially and how did they change after self-treatment?

Surgery for shin pain may be necessary in rare cases when shin pain does not go away even after prolonged treatment.

Shin Pain Prevention

Shin pain can be avoided with a few precautions.

Replace or repair the exercise shoes you wear – they should protect your heels. Switch to well-fitting shoes with plenty of moisture-wicking materials, especially in the forefoot and heel area.

Keep in mind that your running shoes may lose much of their shock-absorbing properties after just 500km of running.

Warm up before jogging - walk first, then gradually increase your jogging speed.

When your heart rate is elevated and you are sweating lightly, stop and stretch your calf muscles with a stretch in your foot. One way to stretch tight calf muscles and Achilles tendons after warming up is to walk slowly in your heels for 100-200 meters.

Whenever you go for a run or walk, walk or run on dirt, grass, or a rubberized track to minimize shin injuries.

When taking an aerobics class, make sure the floor is made of wood and slightly raised off the ground to reduce the impact of jolts and shocks when jumping and dancing.

If you have any questions or concerns about your condition during exercise, please consult your doctor.