Pain in the shins is commonly experienced by those who like to run, dance, play basketball, soccer, tennis, and some other strenuous sports. This condition is generally not serious, but should still be treated properly so as not to interfere with daily activities.
Pain in the shin usually occurs along the bone at the front of the foot. This condition is often characterized by several symptoms such as sore leg muscles, pain appears on the inside of the leg, the shin area looks bruised, or the leg feels numb and feels weak.
Causes of Pain in the shins
Pain in the shins or shin splints possibly caused by inflammation due to soft tissue injury in the forefoot. Inflammation and injury can occur if the shinbone is put under too much pressure or if the foot treads excessively when it hits the ground.
This shin pain can be felt when you do strenuous activities, such as doing sports that require running and suddenly stopping. For example when playing basketball and tennis. This pain in the shin can sometimes occur constantly and become severe in sensitive areas.
Depending on the exact cause, the pain can be located along either side of the shinbone or in the muscles. If you touch it, of course it will hurt. Swollen muscles can sometimes irritate the nerves in the feet, causing the feet to feel like they're being stabbed with multiple needles, or otherwise numb.
Overcoming Pain in the shins
Rib pain usually goes away on its own. To speed up healing, you can take some simple steps, such as:
- Resting the feetWhen your shins are sore, rest and stretch your calf muscles and the front of your foot. If the pain is severe enough, you should rest completely for at least 2-3 weeks.
- Compress with ice cubesPlacing an ice cube on the shin or the painful area for 10 minutes every 3 or 4 hours can relieve swelling and pain. Do this repeatedly for several days.
- Take painkillersTake anti-inflammatory analgesics to help with pain and swelling. To be safe, consult a doctor first to find out the right dose.
- Reduce strenuous activitySo that the pain in the shin does not get worse, you should reduce the intensity of strenuous activities. Some exercises you can still do include cycling, yoga, or swimming that don't put a lot of stress on your feet.
If the pain in the shin does not go away, gets worse or causes symptoms that are much more bothersome, the doctor may advise the patient to undergo a fasciotomy. This procedure is a last resort if some of the previous treatments didn't work.
To prevent injury and sore shins, it's a good idea to exercise in shoes that fit and are comfortable, avoid exercising on hard and uneven ground, warm up before exercising, and stretch after.
Although some shin pain is mild, you should not underestimate the shin pain you feel. If you continue to exercise and ignore the pain, the pain can get so bad that you have to stop exercising altogether. Immediately consult a doctor for proper treatment.
