Shin bone pain

Lisey

About 5 months ago (pre diagnosis) I bumped my shin bone on a stool.. it bruised and hurt horribly. Now the bruising is gone, but there's still a raised bump and it hurts like shin splints on that leg.

I'm not jogging or anything, so the pain can't be from impact exercises. I'm on Tamox.

I know I"m stage 1A, and I shouldn't 'go there'.. but does anyone think I could have a met on my shin? I mean, I'm REALLY trying not to think it's mets... I keep reminding myself I bumped it 5 months ago and that is what the bump is. But it's hard not to worry when you stand up and can feel your shin.

I'm hoping y'all will tell me mets don't show up on the shin bone first, and I can just move forward. I really don't want to do a CT or PET if I can help it.

Advice?

NancyHB

Lisey - it's really easy to "go there" every time we have an ache, pain, lump, or bump. I had a similar concern several years ago myself, and a number of well-educated sisters let me know that mets rarely appear below the knees or elbows, so the chance of mets on your shin is highly unlikely. Plus, guven your recent injury to that spot, it seems more likely related to that. However - if you have a concern, maybe you can explore it with your PCP to start?

jacksnana

I did the same thing and had a bump on my shin. It was still there after a month so I went to my family doctor and he said it could take several months to go away. I kind of just put it out of my (worrying!) mind, but after reading your post, i just checked and it has gone away. I don't think it was five months, but it took a long time. Maybe just have your PCP check it for peace of mind, but I'll bet he'll tell you the same thing.

ChiSandy

When I was 19 I bumped my L shin on a diving board and not only did I get a horrible bone bruise (no fracture, tho), I got a permanent bump on my tibia. Bone is a living thing that can repair itself, usually w/o intervention. That bump is a “callus” that your tibia made as it healed from the bone bruise. That’s what happens when a bone-bruise heals. It’s not mets. But if you get a bone scan, ostensibly to put your mind at ease, it might still “light up” due to inflammation. (I had a bone scan on a broken iliac crest light up 8 yrs. after the bone-graft harvest--for a R tibial repair--that eventually weakened and caused the iliac crest to break, and it too was inflammation, not cancer). So don’t go there.

Lisey

Thanks everyone for the advice. I hate that I went there...

Sandy, that's my big concern... if I mention I have this shin bone lump and pain, they'll scan it and then want to do a biopsy and I KNOW I did bump it.

I wonder if Tamoxifen is aggravating the pain? Or maybe I'm just noticing it more. I did read that these lumps can take months to dissolve...

I just wish I didn't have that dumb 'but what if...' in my head.

NancyHB

Lisey - it takes a while to adjust to the new normal after a cancer dx, part of that being worrying about recurrence. Be patient and gentle with yourself, and over time the immediate worry/concern will diminish.

The rule of thumb is to contact your Onc if symptoms don't improve in 2-3 weeks. Most doc's will not scan every time there's an ache or pain, and usually take a more "active surveillance" approach. Every scan subjects you to radiation which is dangerous. And, insurance will often balk at multiple scans without your doctor's justification. Even after two dx in four years, I can't get my doc to order a PET scan as he doesn't believe it to be necessary. Given that you know you bumped it and got a bruise, I'm fairly certain your doc wouldn't order a scan

It's all a process, and it can be challenging. Give yourself some time