At the age of 16, I started exercising regularly. This decision drastically changed my life for the better. I lost an enormous amount of weight and went down three dress sizes. Unfortunately, I had to undergo orthopedic surgery 8 years ago to remove torn cartilage from my left knee. After my surgery, I was afraid to work out due to the continual swelling in my knee. Thankfully, I made an appointment with my orthopedic doctor to talk about this issue. This medical professional prescribed a comfortable and protective knee brace for me to wear while exercising. On this blog, I hope you will discover how an orthopedic doctor can help you exercise again.
If you are an avid athlete and use your legs a lot for running, jumping, or hiking, then you are at risk for shin splints. Shin splints are a common orthopedic injury that most people who do weight-bearing exercise experience. If you ignore this lower leg injury, then you may end up needing surgery. Here is more information about shin splints, their symptoms, and how you can prevent them from totally taking you out.
What Are the Symptoms of Shin Splints?
The main shin splint symptom is a dull or throbbing pain in the front or inside edge of your shin. You may also have pain around the front of your foot when it connects to the tibia. The pain will be mostly constant, but it is worse when you run, climb stairs, or walk up or downhill. You might even see leg swelling.
What Causes Shin Splints?
Shin splints are a classic overuse injury. If you train too much too soon, then you increase your risk of injury. The same goes for if you begin working out on harder surfaces than what you usually use. Also, some foot problems and poorly fitted shoes directly contribute to shin splints.
How Are Shin Splints Treated?
Most doctors recommend rest and ice to reduce pain and swelling. Reducing your exercise, or changing to a new exercise for a while is often enough to heal this condition. Make sure when you return to your sport, you do it gradually. If you workout too hard again, then you will re-injure yourself.
What Else Causes Shin Pain?
If your shin pain is severe and doesn't go away within a few weeks of rest, then you may have a stress fracture. Stress fractures are tiny, little cracks in the tibia. They are usually the result of severe over-training on hard surfaces. Severe tendinitis in your leg or foot can contribute to shin pain. Some people have a rare condition known as compartment syndrome. This is where the muscle pressure builds up and causes severe shin pain.
When is Surgery Necessary?
Most people with shin splints do not require surgery as long as they rest or change their activities. However, if the pain is debilitating, and lasts more than a couple of months, then your orthopedic physician may prescribe surgery. Surgery is especially beneficial for those with severe compartment syndrome.
If you are suffering from shin splints, try a different exercise that doesn't put a lot of pressure on your feet. Sometimes, switching to a no-impact exercise, such as swimming or cycling, for a while is enough to help your shins heal while staying active. If your shin splints or so bad that you can't do your normal activities, then see an orthopedic physician right away.
To learn more about shin splints, reach out to a local orthopedic surgeon.
Share22 April 2020
