Hi all,

I'm not sure if this is off topic or not so bear with me.

For the last 5 days now I have this strange pain in my right lower shin that has been getting progressively more painful to the point where I can hardly put any weight on it.

It started last Friday as I was walking to work. This is a 40-45 minute walk which I usually do at power walk pace (always running late! ) and I don't normally have any problems apart from when I'm in a fibromyalgia flare, but even then the walk usually makes me feel better not worse.

This started out as a pain in the shin bone itself about 2" above my ankle and 2-3 " in length, almost as if I'd cracked the bone or something. It also had a thin redish area running the length of the sore spot. It has progressed to the whole shin and down into my foot and now feels hot to touch and the skin is slightly flushed looking all the way down.

I haven't been to the doctor with it because I keep hoping it's going to go away, but today I was almost to the point of getting Frank to take me to A&E the pain was so bad! It seems to ease off a little when I've had the chance to rest it (yeah I know.... don't walk on it then!) but I feel that is just giving in to a pain that there is absolutley no reason for.

I'm wondering if this could be related to my 20+ year history of steroid use or maybe just another extraintestinal IBD problem? I don't like to blame every little ailment on my IBD but usually there is a correlation.

If I didn't know better I'd swear I had a greenstick fracture, but I really haven't injured it at all!

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks in advance.

Shell

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Shell Worrall,

Sounds like shin splints, common in gymnasts and runners. Lay off the power walking for a week or so and use the usual sports injury treatment- RICE- rest, ice, compression, and elevation. See your doc if it does not improve with conservative treatment. Here's a link.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shin-splints/DS00271

While it is possible to be a stress fracture (which does not require a traumatic injury), that would most likely be in the ankle area.

Jan

I was thinking shin splints too. I've had it before from running.

Once it's recovered, maybe you could think about getting some proper running shoes for your power walking.

Thanks for the quick response folks,

I'd never even heard of shin splints but having read your link Jan it makes perfect sense.

I have been walking to work ever since December when we moved out of town and all winter have worn rubber soled boots with a slight heal. With the warmer weather I have been wearing flat pumps which don't have much cushioning. They seemed really comfortable and the ideal thing to walk in but I think I'll get my trainers out and start wearing them now that it's too warm for boots.

Mike, When I say power-walking, I meant that tongue in cheek. I'm usually going at a fair old pace rather than that funny walk that professional walkers do! Anyway, I'll have to slow my pace for now because I really can't power-hobble!

Thanks again

Shell

I had Shin Splints in high school when I played basketball. A trainer told me they can be helped by making sure you stretch out your calf muscles really well. I usually put my toe against a wall while keeping my heel down and it stretches the calf nicely.
It also helped me to have my shins taped up. There are a couple of different ways you can tape; you can probably find some info out there on the web or get a physical therapist to show you.

All well and good, but first, you need to rest or you will make it worse. I suggest you drive to work for the rest of the week. Since you really weren't jogging it probably was your choice in footwear. If athletic shoes are inappropriate for the office, just bring the sissy shoes in a bag to change into at work.

Yes, stretching is very important to good musculoskeletal health.

Jan

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jan Dollar,

I am a walker, I try and walk several miles each day, and Jan really "nailed" it, You will have to let it rest awhile, and the "Key" to painless walking is in the shoes, I switch between about 3 pair, I prefer the leather type, and to drop a name or two, "Rockport Walkers" and "Keene" make some great walking shoes, but you will know when they need replacing. Keep walking, its great, Den

My favorite walkers are ECCOs!

Jan

This actually sounds a bit like a superficial thrombosis. I had one last year that started out as just a little red soar spot on my leg, but quickly spread and became fairly painful. Its probably a shin split as Jan said, but you should have it checked. They initially told be mine was an infection, a second opinion found otherwise, they can become very serious.

Good point Matt, while thrombophlebitis usually hits in the calf, it can occur anywhere. Plus, this also could be cellulitis, and should be seen by the doc if it does not resolve fairly quickly.

Jan

Ya, cellulitis is what the first doctor incorrectly diagnosed me with. A lot of us probably are at higher risk for clots due to hospitalization and inactivity. Clots are in part what caused my situation, they finally determined that I had malformed viens around my colon that clotted and cut off blood flow causing my ischemic colitis. Anyways...

Ok you people have got me worried enough that I'm going to get this checked out in the morning!

I have tried resting it as much as was practical today but the pain has got progressively worse over the last 24 hours and it is a little more swollen now. I've been sitting with my leg elevated and a bag of frozen peas on the sore area all evening with no relief. The bottom part of my shin, ankle and foot now is very red and feels extremely hot to the touch, the skin feels tight and I am getting a tingling (pins and needles) sensation in my foot. Ouch!

Shell

No, that does not sound like simple shin splints. Sounds more like celluitis.

Jan

Yep sounds like thrombophlebitis I have had 3 since 1998 in different parts of my legs.
First one thought it was a spider bite and cellulitis, doc amd me figured it out the second time. Mike

Hi all,

I haven't seen the doctor yet because it actually felt better this morning after a good long lie in bed. The red area has decreased and it doesn't feel as hot to the touch. I do have a mild calf pain now but think that is due to my "guarding" the painful shin and tensing the calf muscle.

Jan, can you get cellulitis without there having been an injury to the skin? Can it occur from not having shin splints treated? The reason I ask is that I can pinpoint when the pain started and it definately felt like an impact pain while I was walking into work, there definately hasn't been any skin injury or insect bite that I am aware of. I haven't had a fever or felt unwell in any other way (even my gut seems to have been behaving for the last week) so apart from the pain and redness there is no other symptoms that correspond with the research I've done on cellulitis.

I'm not working today so intend to keep the leg rested as much as is possible to see if is continues to improve. If not then I will see the doctor tomorrow.

Thanks again guys, your advice is much appreciated.

Shell