Fibula Pain

Those who have been involved in sports like soccer and baseball or hockey or any other contact sport are not surprised by a shin bone or a knee injury. It is a part and parcel of their life. Day in and day out players injure their knees or hamstrings or calves or shin bones. Fibula or calf bone injuries and consequent pain too are routine for athletes, if not so common as the others. Fibula pain is primarily experienced as a result of a break in the fibula, which connects closely with the shin bone.

Fibula Bone

A better understanding of where exactly is the fibula and why is it so important is necessary before we move on to other aspects of pain in the calf bone. Among the two bones which comprise the lower leg, fibula is smaller, the other one being the tibia or the shin bone. The head of the fibula is very close to the knee joint and if a cross section is taken, this bone appears triangular. Fibula creates joints with the shin bone, near the ankle and knee. This bone has a major role to play in muscle attachments and formation of joints, especially knee.

Pain in the Fibula Bone

There are a number of causes of fibula bone pain. Some of the most common are calf strain, osteoma, osteomyelitis, varicose veins, injury and fibula bone fracture. Fibula knee pain happens as a result of rolled ankle with some weight bearing forces. Moreover, as the fibula is closely connected with the knee, the knee automatically comes under pain and pressure. The calf pain is typically accompanied by bruising, slight swelling and overall discomfort and probably difficulty in walking.

Fibula pain occurs as a result of a strain or a fibula fracture. The text to follow will tell you all about fibula fracture pain.

Fibula Fracture and Pain

A brief overview of causes, symptoms and treatment of the fibula fracture are described below.

Causes and Symptoms
When there is a break in the fibula, it leads to fracture of the calf bone. The fracture can be a result of a rolled ankle specially with considerable weight bearing forces. In other cases an awkward landing after a jump on uneven surfaces, a fall or a straight impacting injury to the outer part of the leg or ankle can lead to a fibula stress fracture. As is the case with any kind of fracture, there is an intense pain in the lower leg and an inability to bear weight, along with ankle pain. Swelling and bruising follow almost immediately along with pain, obviously. These are the basic causes and symptoms of fibula fracture.

Treatment for Fibula Pain
To lessen the pain and to get the calf bone back on track, doctors normally do an anatomical reduction of the bone through a fibula fracture surgery. This means that realignment of the fracture is done by manipulating it carefully. Moreover, internal fixations for stabilizing the fracture and lessen the pain are done, with the help of plates and screws. If the pain is caused by just the break and not a displacement, usage of braces or protective boot is advised. During the fibula fracture healing time, the doctors usually advise avoiding activities, like running which will exert pressure and weight on the bone since that can lead to pain while running.

Eventually, depending on the causes of fibula pain, it can take anywhere from a few days to months for a person to heal completely. Physiotherapy and exercises for strengthening the fibula are suggested by doctors in case of fractures. If not the fracture, resting the calf bone and giving it a slight massage and applying heat pack may help reduce the pain. I sign off here! Take care!