The tibia is located in the lower leg of the human being and carries its weight, since it is involved in the knee joint on the one hand and the upper ankle joint on the other. Consequently, the shin bone is stressed during all activities in standing and walking. Pain in the shin bone is therefore not uncommon and usually occurs during or after increased strain due to sporting activities or prolonged walking. It often manifests itself as a stabbing or pulling pain. In addition to symptoms of overstrain, inflammatory processes such as periostitis or tendosynovitis are also possible.
Causes
Often, pain in the shinbone occurs due to over-stimulation, which can manifest itself in varying degrees of intensity. As a rule, more serious complaints can be avoided if the patient acts sensibly and listens to his body. This means that when pain occurs, a break should be taken and the shin should not be subjected to further heavy strain until the pain has subsided.
Training under pain aggravates irritations and leads to longer convalescence periods. In extreme cases, pain in the shin may also be caused by compartment syndrome. This is a serious disease and must be treated acutely.
Pain on the outside of the shin bone often affects the front muscles. The tibia has a particularly exposed position in the lower leg and lies directly under the skin without being covered by fat and muscles. The muscles lie externally on the tibia and from there they move over the ankle joint to the back of the foot and the toes.
This musculature thus primarily pulls the foot upwards. Most pain in this area comes from these muscles or tendons, which can occur as a result of overloading or incorrect strain. A pain in the bone is to be distinguished from this.
This is particularly painful in the case of bruises and broken bones. This is also due to the exposed position of the bone and the extremely sensitive periosteum. The most typical causes, apart from body malpositions and pain in the muscles, are healed fractures, bruises and pressure points from bandages.
Pain on the inner side of the tibia is most often caused by the tibial edge syndrome. It is also known as “shin splint” in the medical terminology. The pain is rarely spotty, but can extend from the ankle to the knee.
The point in time of its occurrence is often after a continuous athletic strain, for example in endurance sports. It is not uncommon for the pain to appear symmetrically on both sides. The cause of the pain in the shin bone lies in the muscles and the attachment tendons of the respective muscles.
On the inside of the shin bone, the calf muscles are located, especially the “soleus” and the “tibialis posterior” muscle. Incorrect strain and tension of this muscle group leads to irritation and pain in the long run. Permanent stress can sometimes even lead to fatigue fractures of the tibial bone.
This is extremely painful and takes a long time to heal. If the pain occurs repeatedly during sport and is felt permanently, the activity must be stopped and the muscle must be given time to recover completely. An orthopedic surgeon should then determine the cause in order to prevent future incorrect loading.
This can be done by dieting, movement changes, insoles in the shoes, muscle stretching and other methods. Every bone in the body has a skin, the so-called periosteum, which encloses the bone. It serves to nourish and regenerate the bone and, unlike the bone, is sensitive to pain.
An inflammation of the periosteum, also called periostitis, can occur as a result of a bacterial infection or after mechanical overloading. In the tibia, it often occurs in athletes due to mechanical overloading and manifests itself in the form of pulling and burning pain in the tibia, often on the inside of the tibia, and limited mobility of the affected lower leg. Furthermore, overheating and swelling can also occur.
If periostitis has occurred, it is important to take it easy until the symptoms have disappeared. Cooling and ointments can relieve the symptoms. In order for the inflammation to heal and not become chronic and thus very long and difficult to treat, it is essential not to ignore the pain and not to continue training with inflamed periosteum.In more severe cases, anti-inflammatory painkillers are indicated, kinesiotape and physiotherapy are further pillars of the therapy.
A fatigue fracture or fatigue fracture of the tibia can occur as a result of very high sporting stress, for example in top athletes, or as a sign of bone instability, as in osteoporosis. The pain initially occurs during the load on the affected leg and gradually increases, and sometimes also occurs at rest. It is often difficult to diagnose a fatigue fracture, as it is usually not visible in conventional X-rays and can only be reliably visualized with an MRI.
Once the diagnosis has been made, the leg must be immobilized in a cast for six to eight weeks. If the fracture is due to bone instability, possible causes must be clarified so that possible underlying diseases can be treated. Pain in the tibia is one of many symptoms of acute leg vein thrombosis.
The location of the pain is described as “lying in front of the shin bone” and extends up to the thigh. There may also be pain in the calf area, which is perceived as a cramp or sore muscles. Swelling often occurs additionally.
Especially in comparison with the other leg, the swelling can be easily determined. In the case of leg vein thrombosis, a blood clot is formed inside the vein. This then becomes inflamed, which causes pain.
There is a high risk that the clot will break loose, enter the bloodstream and enter the lungs, where it will block a blood vessel. Such pulmonary embolisms are life-threatening and a frequent consequence of thromboses in the legs. Depending on its location, the affected vessel can be clearly visible on the surface of the skin.
Often, only the overlying skin turns bluish and reddish. The area becomes warmer and sensory disturbances may occur. If there is pain in the shin bone, such a vascular problem must always be considered.
If breathing difficulties and chest pain also occur, there is an immediate need for medical action. Especially among joggers, pain in the shinbone is widespread. The cause is the shinbone edge syndrome.
A multiplicity of injuries and incorrect loads are summarized under this syndrome. A wrong appearance, wrong footwear and incorrect movement sequences are only some of the many causes of this irritation. The pain can only heal by resting and not putting any load on the leg.
If you start jogging again, the syndrome will occur again and again. Only a change in the sequence of movements, ideally supported by treadmill analysis and professional advice, can prevent the pain in the long term. The head of the tibia sits on top of the shin just below the knee.
Pain at this point can have several causes. The tibia or the tibial head itself can be affected. Fractures and bruises are not uncommon at the tibial head and are extremely painful.
This is where a muscle group of the thigh comes into play. This starting point is called “Pes anserinus”. If these muscles are irritated, inflamed or injured, there is a stabbing pain that goes under the knee in the direction of the tibial plateau.
Especially pensioners, joggers and persons with knee prosthesis develop increased irritation of these muscles. The pain is greatest at the beginning of the run and after getting up. Injuries and inflammations in the knee can also manifest themselves as pain in the tibial head. In addition to the typical orthopedic ligament injuries, bursitis and diseases of the patella tendon, which is located below the head of the shinbone, may also occur.