Should an X-ray be taken for severe pain in the shin after a injury?
Patient: Hi my daughter banged her shin on a metal cupboard at school (she is a 31 year old teacher!). She says the pain was excruciating and ice was applied. That was 9am today. She drive home. Now the pain has returned. Her shin is painful and there is a swelling. She has elevated her leg and applied ice. Should she be xrayed? Doctor: Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.  You can go for an X-ray even though the chances for a fracture is unlikely. Most probably she might have suffered some kind of contusion or sprain. It will resolve with conservative management. You can give her analgesics like Diclofenac for pain. Apply ice packs and take adequate bed rest and do limb elevation. Generally symptoms will subside with in a week with conservative management. If pain persist despite all these, better to consult an orthopaedic and get an MRI scan done.  Wishing you good health.  Thanks.