Evaluating Shin Splints: What Is Going On?

Lower Leg Pain Becoming An Annoyance

Have you recently regained your necessity to go running, but have a consistent pain aching in your shins? You may be experiencing shin splints, if so. But sometimes some aches and pains become more serious than just an ache or just a pain; it is that time when it is important to understand the difference between shin splints and other more serious conditions.

Shin splints usually arise from overuse and originate in the musculature and tibia in the lower leg. This can come from repetitive dorsiflexion over a period of time. Oftentimes if one does not have properly fitted shoes or large boots that forces them to “carry” them with every step and stresses the anterior tibialis and other anterior muscles. Depending on how long and how serious it has become, individuals can begin to feel numbness, burning, tingling and shooting pains. It is not abnormal for the individual with a “shin injury” to have drop-foot, where they go to lift the foot up to take a step and simply drop the foot effortlessly. It is recommended if you have any of these symptoms, it is important to consult a healthcare professional such as an athletic trainer, physical therapist or physician specialist.

What Could Be Going On?

First off, lets consider your shin pain is only shin splints. Athletes who are beginning vigorous regimens such as football practices or basketball practices will typically report to their athletic trainer “shin pain.” Getting back into these multiple hour long competitions can lead to overuse in these sensitive areas and lead to this pain. Rest and ice can help alleviate the pain and swelling, as well as an anti-inflammatory. Typically within twenty-four to forty-eight hours the pain is relieved and can return to activity lightly and progress further as the pain allows them. Ice and rest is still suggested to continue as needed.

If the pain does not get better or begins to worsen, it is time to consider some alternative conditions. It is important when describing the length of pain you’ve gone through to your healthcare provider so they can make their best-educated decision as to what is actually going on. If you have been experiencing this pain for weeks or even months or years, then we could suggest you may have stress fractures in your tibia. How this can occur is overuse as well, but left untreated for an extended period of time. Say you’ve had “shin splints” for months and the pain does go away as your demanding job has you on your feet performing demanding tasks for hours on end.

READ Most Refreshing Non-Alcoholic Summer Drinks

Pain isn’t really an option nor is time off, so you push through to the point of no return, as it may seem. A simple x-ray or a bone-scan and an evaluation from a physician can help debunk possible fractures but is an important step in finding out exactly what is going on. If there are micro-fractures, it will be a necessity to take some time off from your demanding schedule. Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy or exercises with your athletic trainer to rehabilitate the injured area, started off first with modalities such as ultrasound has been known to help sustain an environment good for healing bones. Medications may be prescribed as well to help with pain.

What If It’s Worse?

If there are no fractures and the pain does not desist, compartment syndrome is the next suspect. Compartment syndrome occurs when there is swelling in the anterior compartments and the swelling compresses nerves and vessels. Sometimes this can arise from internal bleeding of muscular tissue or simply swelling. The swelling can have a permanent effect on nerves and blood vessels and therefore can be damning to the future use of your lower extremity. As it is considered a medical emergency, it is important to consult a healthcare provider immediately. If you are an athlete or an industrial employee and you have an athletic trainer available to you, this is a great place to start. From there they can refer you onto a specialist and provide a list of tests they ran to help support potential compartment syndrome. Having a team of professionals exam you and make a collective effort can help move things along and shore up Differing opinions while you are at home waiting for the next steps.

If it is compartment syndrome, there are different routes taken to fix the problem that may require a surgical procedure. Physicians may order an emergency fasciotomy of the lower leg, which helps the vessels and nerves “breath” by opening up the skin and releasing the fascia to allow this to occur. The pressure can be enough to cause permanent damage, so acting quick in an emergency situation is vital. Recovery from this condition can take months, so work or athletic activity is almost a guaranteed shelved concern. You will work with athletic trainers or physical therapists to regain your strength as the scarring begins to heal. In time you should begin to be able to walk and not have as much pain or numbness ranging from your foreleg down to your toes and should definitely not have any loss of function as long as you are following procedures as prescribed by your medical professionals. In a case where the symptoms have not subsided, be sure to reach out to your physician and explain the currency of your recovery.

READ Restless legs syndrome

These types of injuries will always start out as nagging, annoying aches and pains, but are obviously much more serious as described prior. It is important to remember consequences of not treating smaller injuries as they come, which can be limb-threatening. Trauma can occur from simple acts of hitting your leg against a hard object or surface such as a step or side of your car or even a coffee table. To avoid potential chronic pain and swelling, slap some ice on the leg to prevent further complications. When participating in athletic activity or a physical workload, keep in mind your aches and pains everyday are not a new injury to each of those days, but a compilation of injuries that occur over a period of time and they should not be ignored. Along with shin splints and compartment syndrome of the lower extremity, the upper limbs (forearms) can also be susceptible to compartment syndrome with those who work with their hands constantly.