What do stress fractures feel like?

Question

I have gotten shin splints in the past and am quite aware of how they may feel. I was just wondering how can one distinguish shin splint pain from a stress fracture pain? I did some reading up on it, but am not quite sure...

This pain is kind of different, comes while I workout as a sharp pain when I jump or bear weight on it (around my inner middle shin), and after I workout it hurts all the way down to the top of my foot, sometimes my knee is sore, but barely. I'm fine when I wake up in the morning though, kind of sore, but no pain.

I'm not sure if I have a stress fracture or not, but if I do, could working out royally mess my shins up? I also read that there really is nothing a doctor can do for stress fractures...

Any answer would be much appreciated! Thank you!

Answer 1

I've had severe shin splints last cross country season that I eventually got stress fractures from.

At first, just my whole front of the shin area in general would hurt. And the more deeper we got into season, this one part of my leg started hurting- almost as if someone was poking at my shin with a knife inside of my leg. Immediately after I stopped running, I could feel the pain (not as much while I was running, but a little there). Soon, I found myself crawling around after meets because I couldn't stand up.

To prevent shin splints, you need to figure out what's causing the problem. Maybe it's your arch in your foot, or poor shoes, or pushing into training too intensely at first. Taping your shin up helps when you run, and always RICE.

It'd probably be best to talk to your doctor. Good luck!  

Answer 2

You need to go to the ER and get an xray. How can they say they can't do anything for a stress fracture. A fracture is a broken bone it doesnt matter how it occurs.