I’m not a marathon runner. In fact I don’t really even think I’m that much of an athlete. However I have suffered from chronic exertional compartment syndrome and have since had surgery to correct it. I thought I’d write about my experience here in the hopes that someone might find it useful.
A Little Bit of History
I was very active, mostly with a lot of squash, premier netball, as well as the odd game of touch rugby. I had had a tightening of what I thought were the muscles on the outside of my legs for some time and had asked various people if they knew how to stretch them. I’m fairly au fait with anatomy after studying it at school but even I couldn’t figure it out. They’d been uncomfortable mostly while I was playing netball, but I put it down to not being as fit as I could be and put up with the pain.
It wasn’t until one day I was playing squash when the pain got so bad I had to come off the court. Luckily the manager of the team I was training with happened to be a physiotherapist and mentioned that the symptoms I was describing sounded like compartment syndrome. I was training for squash nationals and playing finals netball so I didn’t want to stop. I’m also fairly stubborn when it comes to pain stopping me doing things (says the girl who walked home one day with two badly sprained ankles!) so I didn’t treat this any differently.
With squash nationals done and dusted, I moved away from the city where I first heard about compartment syndrome a few months later but began to research it online. It wasn’t until one day I left the squash court and ended up on the floor in tears from the pain that I knew I had to do something about it.
What causes the pain?
When we exercise, the body pumps blood to the muscles that are being worked, causing the muscles to swell or expand. The muscles are contained within a sheath. You know when you buy meat from the supermarket and it sometimes has that clear, stretchy stuff on it? That clear covering is the sheath. When people with compartment syndrome exercise, there’s not enough room within the sheath for the expanding muscle, therefore pressure builds and pain arises. A friend of mine once used a great analogy – it’s like trying to blow a balloon (muscle) up inside a drink bottle (sheath). It just doesn’t work.
Doing Something About it
I went to my GP who referred me to a specialist sports practitioner, who then referred me to a surgeon who specialised in compartment syndrome. Said surgeon sent me for tests (which, by the way, aren’t covered by ACC as the ‘injury’ is deemed to be progressive – kind of like RSI which, incidentally, IS covered).
Honestly, if there were a best part about having CECS, it would have to be seeing a medical practitioner about this condition and watching their eyes light up when you tell them what you have. It’s not a common condition and I think they get a little bit excited when they get to deal with something different from the norm. I digress!
By the time I got the appointment for pressure tests, I had developed drop-foot (or foot-drop as it’s otherwise known) which is when your foot makes a distinctive “slapping” sound as you walk because you can’t lift the front of your foot properly. I couldn’t walk more than 100 metres without the pain getting so bad I’d have to stop. Ten minutes after ceasing exercise, I was fine – which was probably the single most frustrating thing about the entire condition.
The Pressure Tests
I will not lie. The tests are not pleasant. Basically I had three injections of anaesthetic (in marked spots) into each leg to numb the areas for when the BIG needle gets inserted. I was then told to do an activity that causes the pain and come back to the room once it comes on. The specialist was surprised that I was back within five minutes, even though I’d continued as long as I possibly could because I wanted to be sure I got the results I knew would come.
The second round of injections measure the pressure inside the compartments of your leg. Anything over 30mmHg is “surgery territory”. As a gauge, my worst compartment was ~90mmHg. No wonder I was in so much pain!
As a result of the pressure tests, it was recommended that I be prioritised for surgery and I was placed on a waiting list. Through a mix of medical misadventure and me moving city again (and therefore District Health Board jurisdiction) it took me a further 8 months before I finally got my surgery. Bearing in mind that this was around two years after I had initially consulted my GP, I was virtually unable to walk and had put on a lot of weight – a horrible side affect for someone who used to be so active.
Finally! The Surgery
The technical name for the surgery I had was bilateral tricompartmental fasciotomies, which loosely translates to having three compartments in each leg released. When I say released… they make an incision, then cut open the sheath that holds the muscle in place. It basically allows the muscle to expand as large as it needs to when you’re exercising.
It was an overnight stay in Middlemore Hospital for me (and I’m thankful it was only one night!). When it was time to go home, I actually managed to stand up with my legs supporting my full weight while I got dressed. The only piece of advice I can give you is DON’T DO THIS. You may think you won’t move, but you will and it hurts! I was in a wheelchair to start of with, but given crutches before I left the hospital.
Healing Time
I have two scars on each leg – one on the outside above my ankle bone about four inches long and one on the inside of my leg toward the front about midway up my lower leg – about three inches long.
The advice I had read and was given was that it should be around 12 weeks until I could get 100% back into sport. This wasn’t the case for me, however. I went back to work two weeks after surgery (I recommend taking longer – perhaps another week) and even though I held a sedentary position, my ankles and feet would swell up enormously after keeping them “down” for the day, even though I had tried to elevate them as much as I could.
My employer at the time was less than supportive, even though I’d requested that I work from home. If you can, I would definitely aim for three weeks to recover. I was walking without crutches after one week but would still get pain and swelling in the week following. My recovery wasn’t aided by a minor infection in one of the wounds either, so I now have a more prominent scar than I would have otherwise.
Getting back into the Swing of Sport
So, after my two years of not being able to do anything, I was finally free to get back into sport! Unfortunately for me, I don’t think my body was as keen as my mind was and I was bogged down with miscellaneous injuries over the coming year (including prolapsed discs in my back and strained calf muscles). It’s now been around 15 months since I had the surgery and I’m finally uninjured enough to get back on the exercise wagon – enough to hopefully start losing some of the 20kg I packed on over the time I was involuntarily inactive.
Even when running now, I get numbness in my toes and feet. Areas of my leg, ankle and foot are still numb due to the nerves being severed during surgery but I’m hoping to get most of that feeling back. I still get some fatigue and soreness in the same areas as before but nowhere near the amount of agony I was in pre-surgery. My legs are also a funny “shape” because the muscles bulge out in places they didn’t bulge before, but it’s purely aesthetic and I knew to expect that. They are though, still a lot more svelt and “spongey” to the touch than they were pre-surgery. My poor legs.. what an ordeal!
Further Information
If you have any questions, you can contact me or leave a comment on this post.
Here are some websites I found useful:
MayoClinic – Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (Highly Recommended)
Wikipedia – Chronic Compartment Syndrome
EDIT: I have now also created a Facebook page. See https://www.facebook.com/compartmentsyndrome/
277 replies on “Life After Compartment Syndrome”
Hi there I am wondering if anybody has had same symptoms I had a crush injury working in the mines in March 2104 , resulting in a broken tibia and fibula than compartment syndrome my fasciotomy was delayed for almost 24 hours as the hospital where I was working had to wait for orthopaedic surgeon to fly from Perth , now almost two years later I am suffering from chronic pain , swelling of the leg if I am up on it for to long through out the day ???? Has anyone had similar symptoms this long after surgery ?? Any help much appreciated as I am getting no answers. From and doctor or surgeon other than them saying its nerve pain , all the nerve pain killers I am given eg lyrics and endep do not stop this pain , my fibula still has a fracture at head of fibula which remains u United I am told by more than 5 surgeons no one will operate due to risk of further nerve damage
6 years on mate and its got worse leg swells loads pain in leg and foot .Leg
jumps a lot in sleep lots nerves damage told me get worse as I get older
Hey,
I’m a 16 year old boy who recently had the Facsiotomy surgery on all four compartments in both of my legs just over a week ago, I am normally very active and play above my age level in Aussie Rules. I have read all over sites that normally after a week people are fully mobile and able to return to work… That’s not my case, the first two days post operation I thought all was well. I was able to move around on crutches if need but but since the third day I have been stuck to my bed, on that third day I experience excruciating pain, I couldn’t move at all, I had to be taken back to hospital but they told me it was normal…
I am unable to fully stretch my leg flat or pull my toes back towards my head and can not apply any weight through my legs, I have had pressure stockings on my feet to reduce swelling since to surgery and I was wondering if anyone knows what is wrong (if anything is wrong)
Thank you,
Kyren Gavin
Anyone who is recovering from the surgery, there’s LOTS of swelling! The inflammation process will last for 6 to 8 weeks on average. Even when you’re able to walk more, u will still have to elevate often.
I am 5 days out of surgery. Pain increased and swelling, bruises and movement issues are making things challenging. This is my second time having both legs done. I’m healing quicker and walking better. But I was kept in hospital last time and monitored. This time I can’t be sure what is normal and ok and what I should worry about. I was told not to remove covers so I don’t know how many stitches or how big the cuts- I suspect two small ones one outside and long one like last time on inside. I can feel everything inside my legs and just wish I could have some pain free comfortable sleep. Keeping legs up helps reduce swelling but is impractical. Down time makes them puff and bruise. I’m worried about that.
Hi guys,
My story is different & I feel bad about asking you guys, since my problem seems minor after reading about the true compartment syndromes. But if someone can help or encourage, I would appreciate it- this is important for me. 🙂
I had an ACL and MCL reconstruction 4 months ago due to a volleyball injury. Knee is recovering great, but after surgery due to a super tight bandaging (I tolerated it only for 40hrs) I ended up with ‘mini-compartment syndrome’ (ortho doc’s words). My whole shin and ankle are numb and I can’t flex my big toe. I keep jamming the toe on the floor, if I try to walk fast or normal. 🙁 I am a personal trainer & on my feet a lot – really would like to have a normal gait and get back to sports. Doctor recommends a tendon graft after another 6 months, if there is no progress.
My question for you is:
1. Does anyone have success with recovering from similar condition? Can the nerves really regenerate?
2. Currently rehabbing a lot for the knee – not too much information for nerve ‘rehab’. Massaging and nerve stimulation therapy at pt. Anything else I could do?
Thank you so much, good luck to everyone.
Susanna
Massage and nerve stimulation therapy along with physical therapy is a great combination. TENS unit (some physical therapists use it, and you could buy a portable for like $20 online) will help. Also tapping around your knee and lower leg. Massage should be mix of scar tissue breakdown for knee and basic lengthening of tissues to bring blood flow and relax tissue (scar, fascia, etc) to promote room for nerve regrowth, and nerve stimulation techniques.
I had ok results after first one. Not running but reduced pain and my life mostly back for about twenty years. Just had it redone as pain increased and mobility challenged for last six months. Hopeful that it will help again to some degree.
I had the same surgery and problem, unfornately it took about 2-3 year before I stop having the tingling sensation.. I still have numbness where my scars are.. But I don’t have full extenstention in that knee.. It’s been almost 10 years and unfornately I still have problems.. (Arthritis) and popping.. Would love to know if you’re healing well..
Hi everyone!
I am a 21 year old college student who has been active all of my life. I had always thought I had shin splints during high school sports and minor legs issues but they never were too much of a problem. During my 3rd year of college, February 2015, I was training for a half marathon and one day I went to run and was unable to really move. My calves felt like they locked up and from that point on I had a really hard time doing anything active without my legs getting really tight and my feet going numb.
I went to the doctor and he mentioned that it may be compartment syndrome but he had me take two months off of physical activity to see if that helped at all. Along with this he took X-Rays to make sure I didn’t have a fracture. April 2015 nothing had gotten better so we decided to proceed with the pressure test. My pressures prior to exercise were in the 30s and once I exercised they went up into the 60s and 70s. Although this was extremely high we still decided to take more time to try physical therapy. I did physical therapy for 3 months to try to break down the tissues in my legs.
Nothing seemed to help so on August 19th 2015 I had the surgery. All four of my compartments were released. The doctor had me in a wheelchair for two weeks and I am now on crutches for two more weeks. I am able to take off my boots when I am at my house, although I was allowed to the first two weeks. My incisions are about 2 and a half to three inches, two incisions on each leg. Very similar to the ones in the original post. I am healing great so far, everything looks good.
I am having a lot of swelling in my feets and three of my toes on my left foot are constantly numb. I am hoping this will go away when the swelling starts to go down. My legs have a lot of bruising but the doctors said that all of it is normal.
One thing I would caution for those who haven’t had the surgery, a lot of surgeons now do a smaller incision. Mine did not, which ended up saving me. The nerve in my right left was much different than my left which is uncommon. If my surgeon had made a smaller incision he would have cut my nerve in half leaving my whole right foot without feeling. Be careful and choose your surgeon wisely.
I am currently doing PT on my ankle and in two weeks will begin biking and working on balancing. Good luck everyone.
I am lost and looking answers at this point. I had bilateral fascitomies on both legs in 2001 after battling with shat I thought was shin splints for 7 months; i was to the point where I wasnt able to walk. I was lucky that a Ensign general doctor caught it because his roommate had the same problems while at the Naval Academy. I was serving in the Marine Corps at the time on special duty. I had the procedure and basically had 60 days to recover because they had to go back in my laft leg a debris it due to a stitch breaking open. The military sent me back to full duty after 60 days without any physical therapy. Make a long story short I could not function to Marine Corps standards as a Staff NCO. They medically processed me out in May of 2002. Since that time I have battled with the VA over my legs. They keep telling me I have tendonitis and or shin splints while prescribing medication after medication and no physical therapy. Finally, two years ago I sought a second opinion from the local Grave Gilbert Orthopedic Clininc and they perofrmed an array of test and concluded that I more than likely have chronic excertional compartment syndrome. Loaded with new information, I went back to the VA to ask for help. Here it is two years later and nothing. Since that time I have developed a set of other problems from my legs killing me everyday. I have began to under pronate and walk on the outside of me feet; supination. THis in turn has put pressure on my achilles tendon and I now have sever achilles tendonitis on both legs. The VA keeps trying to tell me that the achilles tendonitis is the problem but my left leg (anterior compartment) absolutley kills me at times and makes sleeping unbearable. My ability to walk has drastically deminished and Im seeking answers. This is sad but there are times when I wish that they would just amputate my left leg. SOMEONE PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH SOME ANSWERS OR HELP!
I am in the same boat as you. I am about to ETS from the guard. When I was in training 5+ years ago I had constant “shin splints”. Walking was so painful I was restricted to 1/4 mile. Doctor after doctor didn’t take my concerns seriously. I said my legs felt tight ALL the time. What do you mean by tight? He would ask. I was so frustrated I gave up. I just thought I would have to deal with the pain and manage it as best as I could. The Air Force closed my line of duty, so now they won’t cover anything related to my legs when I know I was misdiagnosed. The pain is so bad now that it keeps me up at night. It feels like my muscles are made of rocks!
I’m going to file for disability as soon as I get out. I went to a doctor and had them confirm compartment syndrome a few months ago. I’m hoping this helps my case. Get the pressure testing done, even if you have to pay for it yourself. They won’t be able to deny your claim then. Also do you have anyone representing you? Get the DAV or another veteran org to represent your interests at the hearings.
It took me years to be diagnosed. It’s rediculous. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I’m currently recovering from my bilateral 4 compartment fasciotomy. Keep persisting, ask for pressure testing from orthopedics. Also discuss about “functional popliteal artery entrapment which can mimic chronic exertions compartment syndrome almost exactly. Turns out I had both. Some tests will be negative like an mri might not show anything but the pressure test for compartment syndrome is the top. Ultrasound is done first for artery entrapment but mine didn’t show positive until I got a CT angiogram. Don’t stop persisting, someone will eventually test you through.
I had a similar story and I have had bilateral compartment syndrome surgery but I still have alot of long term pain. I would just keep talking to you pic provider and place a claim with comp and pen at the VA.
Thank You all for so much information. My story is a little different to most. As a result of an accident, I stepped backwards off the bottom step of a ladder. The ladder reached the point of overbalance and I was falling, so I put My foot down on a step that wasn’t there !! My foot hit the ground about 20cm below, that impact with full body weight fractured both My fibula and tibia. On the X-Rays You can see where the impact meshed both into the knee. The result a massive amount of pain and a crippling of My left leg. On arrival of the ambulance, they knew straight away it was a case of a Compartment Syndrome and commenced treatment. With a crowded Accident & Emergency Dept; I waited 12 hours for the Orthopedic Surgeons consult. This delay worsened My problem and put My lower leg in danger of amputation (My Wife and I never having heard of CS were shocked to say the least). We were told surgery would follow to relieve the pressure, debridement of tissue, removal of dead muscle and nerves. irrigation drains were inserted and continually flushed out. Dressings were changed every three days. A further 2 ops were carried out, both times to clean and flush out the wounds, the use of a cryovac like procedure was used to pull the site together. (Yep a CRYOVAC. Pumps out air until closed). Pain. Prior to surgery pain was terrible, following surgery it has never stopped. Pain relief. I am on 2 types of Morphine painkillers. Oxycontin, slow & sustained, with Endone Faster acting over 3-4 hours. PRN. (As needed). Its now 6 weeks, A Fracture Clinic Consult with new X-Rays tomorrow will tell a big story. I have getting around on crutches and on wheel-chair. END Part One. I wish All a speedy recovery and a great outcome. Gregg & Elaine.
Hi Gregg I have had the Same as you broken fibula and tibia, I’ve still got the external frame on my leg, I’m eight weeks in and feel like there is no light at the end off the tunnel, because I had severe compartment syndrome to I’ve been left with scaring as long as my leg, I’m trying not to let it get to me but the swelling in my leg is still pretty bad, I’ve asked the doctors and they say it will go but it’s not, starting to feel really depressed need help on this
I realize this older post, so I hope you may still be checking in. I’m very sorry about your injury, and hope you’re feeling better….. the depression aspect is what kicked my ass, pain was and still is horrid from my fascitomy in my right thigh. I’ve been able to find what works for me to mange. But crippling depression wrecked me to my core, folks don’t tend to believe you. But I’m right there, feel free to email me back I can offer what helped me.
Hey I have compartment syndrome in 2 out of the 4 comparments in my calvs. Id say I got my at the age of 16 or 17. I refuse to get the surgery because my reading were only in the 50s. I stretch my calves and Hercules tendon twice a day 3 times hold each for 30 seconds and it helps a lot believe it or not. Now running it helps somewhat but I’m a swimmer and it doesn’t bother me at all when I swim. Jumping can get to me sometimes but mostly it’s the running.
So glad I’ve found this feed from all of you and the reading about all of your different experiences.
So on that note, I was curious has anyone actually come out of the surgery and not had any sort of success at all with the procedure ?
I personally was diagnosed when I was 12 years old, nearly 13, in 2007, and it was due to excessive excersise and became acute in not just one but BOTH of my feet in the main muscle in the arch, Resulting in surgery on both of my feet at the same time as soon as possible in 2007 and was unfortunetly completely unsuccessful 🙁 which now I have 6-7 inch scars on both feet (keloid scars too unfortunately, which only in the last two years have actually subsided in thickness and purpley colour) I now only have around 1/3 of feeling etc in both feet and can be really hard to guide myself let alone walk straight without flopping my feet and nearly tripping over most times.
Since being diagnosed 8 years ago and having surgery very shortly after, which as I said earlier was unsuccessful, I cannot physically run more than 30 seconds anymore due to my acute compartment syndrome and I now after all these years I have started suffering further up my legs including my calves, knees, thighs, hips and groin, which is slowly continuing further up again on my body.
Only two weeks ago I had my 21st birthday and I was hoping someone on here or someone out there has some information about any further procedures I could try because I’m struggling with movement and I can’t let it continue taking toll on more and more areas of my body especially at 21, I want to be able to walk around with my future kids and family etc, so please if anyone has any information that would be beneficial or just worth looking into then please comment back of you can ! Thank you everyone and you are all inspiration for me getting through all of the horrible things that come with this stupid condition!
Kind regards
Darcie
Hi fellow CS pals,
I am recovering from my third Fasciotomy on my lower legs over a span of four years. I had my first two surgeries at Johns Hopkins – the doctor was incredible. But, what I have learned from this last surgery (and after speaking to several surgeons) is that it is important to have a creative surgeon who has performed numerous chronic excertion CS fasciotomys rather than only surgery on acute CS patients. The way an emergency trauma doc would release is very different than the way another doc might release. Trauma doctors typically approach a lower leg release from the exterior of your leg. And apparently, they really cannot properly reach all compartments that way.
So, it is imperative to work from two incisions – one on the outside and one on the inside of the leg. I am three days post-op and feel better already. Of course I’m bedridden so it is impossible to tell what the results will be! But,
I am hopeful that the third time is the charm! Best of luck to everyone else!
Good Afternoon Darcie,
Have you tried Dry Needling? I just had my first procedure done today. After icing my leg I could finally stand on my leg. After a couple of hours and a second icing I my leg doesn’t hurt…. That is a first for me, I have had compartment syndrome for over 6 months now. My doctors want to try every other option before surgery. My doctor has said next week when I go in we will add electric shocks to it and hpefully this helps. Hopefully I do not have to have surgery. Praying for you and hope things look get and look better for you in the near and far future.
V/R
DeAnna
I don’t have compartment syndrome, but I was misdiagnosed with it for a short period. What I did end up having was Popliteal Artery Entrapment syndrome. The symptoms can often present the same. PAES is an extremely rare condition, so there are not many sites to talk to other people about it. I hope that maybe someone will read this who also has PAES and wants to talk/share.
I had my first set of surgeries in October 2013. My PAES was so progressed by this point that just releasing the muscle/fascia wasn’t going to work. I had to have a complete bypass on both of my legs. They took part of my saphenous vein and replaced a 5 cm portion of my popliteal artery. Things were going great until about 2 months ago when the pain started again, and it got bad really fast. I had an acute DVT (blot clot) and had to go to the ER. I was in hospital for 5 days on blood thinners and monitoring. I’ve just heard from my specialist that my CT from the hospital shows that both of my graft sites have failed and will clot again and again unless I am on blood thinners. So I have to have BOTH of my legs redone. The worst part is that he doesn’t know why this happened. I work at a medical clinic with some of the top radiologists in Canada and even they said that my case is extremely rare, and that my case has been discussed at the teaching hospital and will likely be in medical journals.
All that still doesn’t give me any answers! Where it stands now is to have another CT to figure out WHY they failed and get the surgeries redone and just hope they work this time. Recovery from these surgeries is a solid 2 months of very limited activity and no work. If anyone else here has had experience with PAES please let me know! I am trying to blog about my experience in hopes of helping others with this.
Please blog your experience! I’m thinking of doing so as well. I was diagnosed with popliteal artery entrapment and chronic exertional compartment syndrome. I had popliteal release 2 years ago and right now recovering from fasciotomy.
hi there! I did start blogging if you want to take a look at it. A lot has happened since this summer!
http://popliteal-artery-entrapment.blogspot.com
Hey guys!
This is the first blog that I’ve ever seen on compartment syndrome which is absolutely fascinating to me because this whole time I’ve been researching on weird symptoms or what not and “webmd” can’t give you all of those types of answers. So I’ll tell you my story and if this helps anyone I really hope it does!
Im currently 19 years old and play Division 1 soccer. I’ve had the anterior surgery April of 2014, and this past year, July 2, i had the bilateral fasciatomy on all compartments on both legs. Ive been dealing with compartment syndrome since my sophomore year of high school. So about 2011-2012. I first just started to run around the track and realized i couldn’t run more than a couple laps without having this severe pain. I thought it was shin splits but I just felt like it was way too painful for such. Burning in the front of my legs, and little bumps would be all up my shins. I didn’t want to get surgery so i went to a specialist in Ft. Meade that said she could fix me without surgery saying if i fixed the way i ran i wouldn’t have the problem. Here’s the thing, you don’t pay attention to your foot mechanics when you’re playing soccer. So for me to play a competitive sport and keep track of running on my toes the whole game, wouldn’t work. Plan B: Get the testing done. Let me say, that testing is a very very painful experience. And also, the testing just isn’t ethical. You run on a treadmill for how long, then jog back to a table to get pricked by a big needle. I believed the measures, i just didn’t believe that the way to test them through the treadmill was the most effective way. The first time i had the testing done, it showed pressures such as 46. One in my front compartment and one in my back. I researched my surgery options and decided that I would pick a doctor in my area that did these surgeries a lot. He recommended at the time i only get surgery on the front two compartments. I got the surgery done and it went well. The one thing i recommend is that you DONT BABY IT.
So i had sever bruising but no infections, physical therapy right away, it helped. I was back to running and i could run 2 miles every other day on the track without pain. However, as soon as i got to college for preseason, my trainer told me she wanted me to stop running completely. Little did i know that, that could’ve and did halt me form progressing. So my recovery was 2 months halted. It took forever for me to get fit.
I started to get really bad pain during November of 2014. ( same year as my first sugary). I would have practice on Tuesday Wednesday Thursday, Game on friday. Let me tell you, by Friday i could barely walk. I had no idea why i was in so much pain. Just walking i could feel my calves SO tight. Every day before practice i would heat, roll, stretch. After practice i would ice. I would get massages, nothing helped. I called my doctor and saw him and he said that he doesnt believe that it is compartment syndrome.
So in december, I went home and did all types of therapy. Massges, laser, and needle therapy twice a week for the whole month, Why isn’t this working!!!! It didn’t help at all.
I suffered the whole rest of the year in pain, until i was able to go get the testing done again. The results were positive in my posterior compartments, great!!! I come back home from the summer and was able to talk to a new doctor. He was very surprised that i didn’t get all 4 compartments done the first time. He also said that testing doesnt get done now a days, so don’t bother doing it. ( For anyone who doesnt want to pass out! ) And that if you’re going to get the surgery, just release all 4.
So instead of running I’ve been doing the elliptical bike and constrainer at the gym which is still a great source of exercise but I am on scholarship for soccer, and my coach won’t keep me on the team if I’m injured all 4 years- Division 1 is cut throat.
I got the surgery on July 2, 2015. Its now July 7. The first day, obviously was on lots of drugs/pain killers so i could walk a little- by walk i mean stick my legs out far in front of me and take baby steps. I was told not to baby it. The second Day i progressed a bit by now being able to bed my ankles up and down and just continue to walk around the house. Third day I could take my ace bandages off- and I was walking pretty fine now, barely any pain. Fourth day was my post op He said i looked great. Put new ace wraps on me. I was developing one random blister that’s near one of my incisions. He said he didn’t know why because if it was me being allergic to the tape there would be more blisters.
Tuesday I started to get pain in my left leg. Wednesday it got 10x worse. Thursday was miserable. Im now laying in bed 12am on a friday debating why Im in so much pain. I called my doctor on wednesday to tell him how much pain i was in on my left leg. i now can’t straighten it, i can’t put pressure on it. How could i be walking up the stairs two days ago but now be bed rest? I can barely walk- and I somehow am starting to develop a reddish spot that hurts to the touch near the inside of my calf. I wonder if this is normal, i Know this could be an infection but we are waiting to see if it gets bigger, i don’t have a fever. Im too young to deal with granny legs!!!
If i can help anyone from this, please let me know and I would love to keep in contact with all of my fellow CS buddies 🙂 I also know that this was half in detail half in not, if anyone would like to know more details about the testing, pre op, or post op recovery, I’ve been through it twice now. And have had weird symptoms both times.
Kat
Hi Katherine! I feel like we have very similar stories and experiences!
My name is Zeynep, and I’m 18 years old! I had a bilateral fasciotomy performed on Thursday July 16th, releasing all four compartments in both legs. So this is my story…
I absolutely love to run, I like exercising in general but running has always been ‘my thing.’ I am not very athletic which is why I always went to the gym, did hot power yoga, and ran instead, but I just always liked the idea of being fit. I began running in eight grade, to the point where I would sometimes go on 5 miles runs before school started, just for fun! I started out doing all three seasons of track in high school, XC, winter and spring. But starting way back in preseason of freshman year XC I started to get injured. I got injured during every season of track in high school, and it was a miserable experience. I never was able to improve, in fact I only got slower. And to make matters worse, I was gaining so much weight because every time I got injured I would go into a mini depression, which was accompanied by a lot of food and just not moving around. After a season would start I would run for about 5-6 weeks, improve, and then get injured. Freshman year I am almost positive it was just shin splints, and that’s what they told me anyway. But as the seasons and years went by, the injuries only got worse and progressed, and lasted longer. By the time I got to my junior year of high school, I quit track in the beginning of winter season, I just couldn’t handle it any longer. It was one of the hardest things to do, but I just could not run! I felt like I had tried everything. I had gotten orthopedic soles for my shoes, I had gone to my same sports doctor over and over again (whom I trusted because he is the doctor of the Giants team), I constantly bought new sneakers, I tried different running strategies, but I was so hopeless! Every time I ran I was in searing pain. It was also heart breaking for me because the track team at my school has one of the strongest bonds of all the sports teams, and we were a family that I had been with for already 7 seasons. So after that I started managing instead, but only for Spring Track. I busied myself with other stuff, like the gym and yoga where I would only sometimes get pain. In yoga however there were certain poses that would put a lot of strain on my legs and I would always have to come down into child’s pose because i just couldn’t handle it.
Anyway, comes senior year where probably in around February I attempted to go on a run again, for the first time in a while. I had been going to physical therapy for about 5-6 weeks, so I assumed I would be fine. I got up to less than a mile where I had to stop and I started crying because my legs were so, so, so tight. Remind you that my sports doctor over and over again told me that what I had were shin splints. I really thought I would never be able to run ever again because I knew something was wrong with my legs. I knew there was no way it was just shin splints. People don’t have shin splints there entire life, it’s typically an injury that comes and goes. So I went home and sobbed for a while which wasn’t abnormal after a run for me, it had become the norm since my legs would get so tight. I researched everything on google and looked at symptoms of shin splints and reasons to getting them, one being bad biomechanics (which I have/ I have high arches apparently and over pronate insanely, and some say I run like a horse). So I was basically like, well I’m screwed, there goes the one thing I am really compassionate about. I was at the point where I had tried to convince my mom to bring me to an acupunturist! My mom though persuaded me to see another doctor first. An incredible orthopedic surgeon in town who had helped my mother with her herniated disc. I went to him, and he brought up “Exercise induced compartmental syndrome” or “exertional compartmental syndrome”. I cried when he brought up the possibility. To have an actual answer, with a solution, I was SO HAPPY. He sent me to another doctor for a second opinion, and then that doctor who had the same theory, sent me to another doctor who performed the test. All my pressure test results pointed to me having the condition since everything was above 30mmHg (or whatever the unit is lol). This was all in March. I wanted the surgery right away, but my parents wanted me to wait until the summer, which now I am grateful for.
So like I said in the beginning, I got the surgery on Thursday, July 16th. It has been 10 days so far, and currently I am typing this all up from the yoga studio I work at!!! The first few days after the surgery were awful. Like you, they gave me pain killers (Vicodin to be exact) and I took them for a few days, and then on Friday night I took off the ace bandages. Sunday night I took off the gauze pad and clear sticky thing over it off, which left my stitches with the three tape things over each one which are still on. After three or four days I was able to sleep more comfortably. Before I was sleeping supine, on my back facing the ceiling with my legs on two pills. On the 6th day I was able to take a shower standing up all by myself which was probably my proudest moment because my older sister was bathing me every other day lol. It was kinda sad. By that day anyway I was able to shuffle around my house. I can’t take real walking steps, but I sort of drag my feet, and socks help! I had post op on Thursday, and my doctor said I looked really good. I walk around on crutches which help a lot, pressure wise. My right leg to be honest could be almost back to normal. When I hobble and shuffle at home I walk with my right leg and drag my left behind me. My left leg is all bruised up, and swollen, it the stitches on my left leg hurt a lot for some reason, but my doctor said it was just because different body parts react differently for some reason, and it was perfectly normal. I also have slight numbness under the stitch on the inside of my left leg down to my ankle, but he also assured me that it was just a post-op symptom which was also completely normal. I was terrified until I went into the appointment, after walking out I was very rest assured. He told me to keep the ace bandages on to alleviate the pressure, so now I wrap my legs every day, and I don’t know I’ve been much better! I still can’t walk normally, I have to use crutches if I’m actually trying to get somewhere, or when I wake up (it usually hurts most the in the morning after sleeping with them elevated all night). But yesterday I actually left the house for the first time and it felt really good to just get out. If I keep my legs down for too long I will definitely feel it, and I try to keep them elevated, but it’s still not as bad as it used to be. I’m just waiting for my left leg to get better because the bruising is definitely not getting better. It actually looks like it’s gotten worse from probably traveling down my leg, so now it’s every where on my leg rather than in a couple of spots. I haven’t been in PT, or prescribed it because my doctor said I don’t really need it, but if I feel that I do I could ask him and he’ll write me up for it but he said it’s really not necessary since I’m a young healthy girl and walking basically will do the same thing as PT anyway, and just some simple stretches, etc. He told me that by 3 months/12 weeks, I should be able to start running again and that’s currently the hope, but after reading so many of these posts I’m terrified that won’t be the case! I am more than grateful I found this blog though because like many others, I really thought I was the only person with this and that of course I would have it out of anybody. So it’s nice to know that there are others! I wish there were just some more positive outcomes. I hope this has helped somebody!!! I will definitely post updates, and read others new posts. Good luck to everybody who is recovering and going through this! It’s definitely not easy!!!
Zeynep
You’re in lots more pain because you didn’t baby it enough. Naturally you will feel the full effect of the inflammation by day like 3. I’m a month in recovery. Even when you’re at the point later where your muscles can handle walking, the inflammation will pool up even if you sit too long without elevating. It’s disheartening when you feel like you can do more. But please, you need to ice and elevate more. You were on your legs doing too much way way too soon. The inflammation process lasts 6 to 8 weeks. It blew my mind when I was elevating almost all day and at the point where my legs didn’t look swollen at all (3 weeks in) walked on it a BIT and had them down like sitting for several hours. Bam, CALVES AND ANKLES SWOLLEN AS LARGE AS THE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER SURGERY. LYMPH FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF AN INCISION. PAIN PAIN PAIN. Got to be more careful.
Hi Katherine,
How is your post surgery experience? Like you, I had the first surgery, but it did not work well. I am thinking to get a surgery for second time if nothing helps. Are you able to get back to running after second time surgery? Please share your experience. Email me @ sungwoon916@gmail.com
Thank you so much.