Pain in One Shin Symptoms, Causes & Common Questions

Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)

Shin splints is when there is pain in the front part of the lower leg. The pain is from the swelling of the muscles, tendons, and bone tissue around your shin.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: shin pain, dull, achy shin pain, pain in the inside of the shin, shin pain from overuse, irregular period

Symptoms that always occur with shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome): shin pain

Urgency: Self-treatment

Tibial stress fracture

A tibial stress fracture is a small crack in the shinbone (tibia). These fractures are most often a result of overuse and are commonly seen with an increase in activity. Usually stress fractures of the shinbone occur in the lower third of the bone.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: shin pain, dull, achy shin pain, moderate shin pain, pain in the inside of the shin, pain when pressing on the shin

Symptoms that always occur with tibial stress fracture: dull, achy shin pain

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Shin bruise

A bruise is the damage of the blood vessels that return blood to the heart (the capillaries and veins), which causes pooling of the blood. This explains the blue/purple color of most bruises. Bruises of the shin are common given the location of the shin.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: shin pain from an injury, shin injury, pain in one shin, shin swelling, shin bruise

Symptoms that always occur with shin bruise: shin injury, shin pain from an injury

Urgency: Self-treatment

Fibular stress fracture

The fibula is the smaller shin bone which lies on the outer part of the lower leg. With excessive, repeated stress, a small fracture (called a stress fracture) can occur.

Rarity: Rare

Top Symptoms: foot numbness, pain in the outside of the knee, lower leg numbness, shin pain, pain in one shin

Symptoms that always occur with fibular stress fracture: pain in the outside of the shin, pain in one shin

Symptoms that never occur with fibular stress fracture: pain in both feet, pain in one foot, pain in the inside of the shin, swelling in both shins

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Ewing sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma is a type of bone cancer often affecting the legs, pelvis, ribs, arms or spine. It can occur anytime during childhood and young adulthood; it is rarely seen in adults.

Rarity: Ultra rare

Top Symptoms: fatigue, loss of appetite, new headache, fever, rib pain

Urgency: Primary care doctor

To diagnose this condition, your doctor would likely ask the following questions:

• Where is your shin pain exactly?
• Does running make your symptoms worse?
• Is your pain worse when jumping in place or standing on your tiptoes?
• Do you run for exercise or sport?

The above questions are also covered by our A.I. Health Assistant.

People who have experienced pain in one shin have also experienced:

• 6% Swollen Lower Leg
• 6% Shin Lump
• 4% Swelling In One Lower Leg

People who have experienced pain in one shin were most often matched with:

• 60% Tibial Stress Fracture
• 20% Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome)
• 20% Shin Bruise

People who have experienced pain in one shin had symptoms persist for:

• 29% Less than a week
• 25% Over a month
• 22% Less than a day

Source: Aggregated and anonymized results from visits to the Buoy AI health assistant (check it out by clicking on “Take Quiz”).