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Hello. A Few Days Ago My Left Shin Got Hit
Question: Hello. A few days ago my left shin got hit hard with a heavy metal shelf piece on a rolling dolly. The mid-shin injury was exptremely painful but did not break my leg. I walk with little pain but when the skin is touched its unbearable. There was little bruising. Because I had to go to work the next few days, I daily wrapped an elastic bandage around the shin for support and to keep my pants from brushing over the skin. Yes, it was extremely painful to wrap but once done it wasn't bad. I rested my leg when I could at work, but when resting a painful crawling, bubbling feeling was going on under the skin and muscle and the second day a huge bruise developed on my inside ankle to the sole of my foot. That area was not painful but somewhat swollen. I don't have a lot of money so I don't want to go to a doctor if it will heal ok on its own as I know the leg bone is not broken. I just wonder if the shin-bone was chipped inside.
Brief Answer:
Possible the bone is cracked.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
There is no certain way to know if the tibia or fibula ( the bones in shin area) may be broken or cracked without doing a xray.
If you don't have money to pay you can go to ER because a trauma or injury, possible fracture is an emergency and they can help you.
If you don't believe it to be broken I believe it can be cracked. I can recommend you to immobilise it, you can even use a split.
Rest as much as possible.
Use antinflamatory drugs such advil or naproxen for pain and swelling.
Keep limb elevated.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Possible the bone is cracked.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
There is no certain way to know if the tibia or fibula ( the bones in shin area) may be broken or cracked without doing a xray.
If you don't have money to pay you can go to ER because a trauma or injury, possible fracture is an emergency and they can help you.
If you don't believe it to be broken I believe it can be cracked. I can recommend you to immobilise it, you can even use a split.
Rest as much as possible.
Use antinflamatory drugs such advil or naproxen for pain and swelling.
Keep limb elevated.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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