How to know if i have shin splints or a stress fracture?

Exam: This is usually determined based on exam and further testing. Stress fracture usually has a small area of pain called point tenderness. Shin splints are over a wider area of the shin. You can also have an area of point tenderness within a wide area of shin splints. MRI or bone scan is usually used to make the diagnosis and determine if your pain is from shin splints or stress fracture.