Shin Splints
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Shin splints
I have shin pain
Pain along the shin bone
Pain along the front of the lower leg
Swelling in lower leg
About the Symptom
This describes pain in the shin, or anterior aspect of the lower leg. Shin splints are a type of bone stress injury.
Possible Causes
Generally, Shin splints can be related to:
- Lumbar Vertebrae Disk Herniation
Also known as a slipped disc, this condition is characterized by injury to the cushioning discs between the spinal bones in the lower back (lumbar vertabrae) that causes the disc to bulge outward or rupture. The disc bulge puts pressure on adjacent nerves, which causes pain, leg weakness, or numbness. Poor posture, exercising with incorrect form, or occasionally benign non-lifting movement are some possible causes of this disorder.
- Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that makes your bones weak and brittle. As result, the bones become more prone to break even with minor trauma or stress that would normally not result in a break. It may be caused due to long-term low calcium intake, estrogen deficiencies in women, and an inactive lifestyle.
- Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder where the body produces abnormal hemoglobin, causing red blood cells to take on a sickle shape instead of their normal round form. These distorted cells can block blood flow, leading to pain, organ damage, and an increased risk of infection.
- Neuropathic Pain
- Lumbar Spondylosis
- Osteomalacia / Rickets
- Myalgia (Muscle Pain)
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have shin pain?
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Jan 29, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Song SH, Koo JH. Bone Stress Injuries in Runners: a Review for Raising Interest in Stress Fractures in Korea. J Korean Med Sci. 2020 Mar 2;35(8):e38. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e38. PMID: 32103643; PMCID: PMC7049623.