Pains in my shin
The shins can hurt for a range of reasons. The problem can be with the bones, nerves, muscles or even the circulation. This is therefore one of those complaints which can result in seeing more than one type of specialist before the root cause is identified, sometimes by a process of elimination. Most causes have a characteristic pattern of symptoms but there is considerable overlap.
When the shins hurt with sporting activities the term shin splints is often used. Two of the commonest causes are traction periostitis and exercise induced compartment syndrome. The former is felt along the inside edge of the shin bone and ache for a while after stopping the activity. The latter causes crampy calf or shin pains at a predicatable running distance or time which tend to go fairly quickly on stopping.
Shin pains which occur suddenly and persist, preventing any further participation in the sport, might mean a hairline stress fracture through the shin bone (tibia).
When assessing for shin or foot pains it is important to keep an open mind for the full range of possibilities and thereby avoid being caught out by an otherwise unexpected cause. Examples include a slipped disc or arthritic spur in the spine causing pressure on the nerves (radiculopathy) and producing sciatica in the leg, perhaps with little or no pain in the back itself. This can be checked for with appropriate clinical examination and tests. A less well known example of so called referred pain is when the pain from an arthritic hip is felt around the knee or the shin. This is a classic orthopaedic 'catch' for the unwary. Considerable time can be spent searching in vain for a shin or knee problem before the penny drops that the hip joint is stiff and when it alone is moved during examination the knee/shin pain is reproduced. Once suspected, an x-ray of the hip will confirm the diagnosis.