Periosteitis primarily affects athletes. In joggers and game athletes, it occurs particularly frequently on the shins. In addition, however, the inflammation can also manifest itself on the elbows, wrists, knees or heels. The cause of periostitis is usually overuse, but a bacterial infection is also possible. Typical symptoms are pain and swelling of the affected areas. In the case of periosteum inflammation caused by overloading, physical rest is particularly important. In the case of a bacterial infection, treatment is with antibiotics.
Causes of periosteum inflammation
The periosteum is a connective tissue covering almost the entire surface of the bone. In periostitis, this covering is inflamed. Because the periosteum contains blood and lymph vessels as well as many nerves, such inflammation is usually relatively painful.
Various causes can lie behind an inflammation of the periosteum. It is particularly often caused by overstraining, for example during sports. Among the possible triggers are:
- Too intense or extensive training
- Change in training conditions, for example, change in the floor surface.
- Change of technique
- Incorrect footwear or inappropriate insoles
- Foot malpositions
Osteomyelitis caused by pathogens.
In addition to overload, periosteum inflammation can also be caused by pathogens such as viruses or bacteria. Often, the symptoms then occur in the context of bone or bone marrow inflammation.
On the one hand, the pathogens can enter the body through an injury or an operation. On the other hand, it is also possible that the pathogens reach the periosteum from other disease sites in the body via the bloodstream. This can be the case with syphilis, tuberculosis, and typhoid fever, among others.
Typical symptoms of periosteum inflammation
Whether on the shin, elbow or heel, periosteum inflammation is always accompanied by pain. These are particularly noticeable during movement or when pressure is applied. In some cases, however, they can also occur at rest.
Typically, however, the pain subsides at rest, but flares up again during the next exercise. Sometimes the painful area is reddened or feels warm.
In addition to pain, swelling of the affected area is one of the symptoms that can occur with periostitis. In addition, there is often a restriction of movement.
Treating periosteum inflammation
Treatment of periosteum inflammation depends on the underlying cause in each case. If a bacterial infection is behind the symptoms, it is usually treated with antibiotics. If there is overuse, getting enough rest is especially important. In addition, the pain can be relieved by cooling and anti-inflammatory medication. In rare cases, surgical removal of the focus of inflammation may be necessary.
Osteomyelitis can be extremely protracted; in some cases, it takes several months for the pain to disappear completely. Even after a longer symptom-free period, pain may suddenly reappear. This is especially the case if athletic training is started too early.
In general, it is advisable to increase training only slowly after the inflammation has subsided: do not train for too long or too often at the beginning. If pain occurs, you should stop the training. Also try to switch to other sports: For example, go swimming instead of jogging. If you continue to exercise despite periostitis, the inflammation can become chronic in the worst case.
When to see a doctor?
If the symptoms are very intense or constantly recurring, you should see a doctor early on. This can rule out another cause and determine the exact trigger of the periosteum inflammation. Usually, imaging procedures such as an X-ray examination, magnetic resonance imaging, or bone scintigraphy are used to make the diagnosis.
