Compartmet Syndrome/ Fascioctomy

14-04-2008 11:40am #1

Hi guys, I have just been diagnosed with anterior compartment synd and have to go for a fascioctomy. It's a minor surgery procedure where the surgen mahes an incision to the lower leg dividing the fascia in order to release the underlying pressure.

Has anyone on the forum had the procedure done, whats recovery time like. Surgery is on at the Santry sports clinic. I most sya i'm impressed so far by the place.

Lizrc · 12-01-2009 5:00pm

Hi there,
Just wondering did you have your operation in Santry Sports Clinic for this condition and how did you get on. I myself will have this operation on 23/01/09 and was wondering if you were on crutches for long and how long before you could take up normal activities again. i would be grateful if you could answer these questions for me as I don't seem to be able to find out any more information on the condition. Thank you

gaz wac · 13-01-2009 10:49am

Hi,
I was also diagnosed with Compartments by my physio two months ago. Went to a few sessions with her where she would ice it but I didn't have much confidence in her so I was going to go to my Doc this week, until my mate told me about the clinic in Santry so going to give them a bell today.
Would be interested in how you got on with them?

Lizrc · 13-01-2009 1:11pm

Hi gaz wac,

It took me 1 1/2 yrs before i got diagnosed as most G.P.'s think it's shin splints, its just lucky I went to a sports doctor and he sent me straight to Santry Sports Clinic to have the Pressure test done. It's not the nicest of tests to have done as it involves sticking a very long needle into the muscles of the offending leg to gauge the pressure, then running on treadmill for 5km's and then repeating the needle test again. I unfortunately have the syndrome in both legs and have to have them operated on, as they are registering on the high side. People think you're talking about cramp when you explain what happens but they don't realise just how bloody painful it is. Mr. Moran will be operating on me Fri week. He's a very down to earth bloke. AS i'm living in Kerry, I'll be staying with my mam for a short time just until I get the all clear. They only do one leg at a time as you need at least one good leg under you. I'll let you know how I get on, but if anyone else out there has had it done could you please just let me know how you got on, aftercare and how long on crutches. Thanks

gaz wac · 13-01-2009 1:22pm

Jees Lizrc, both legs..how the hell are you walking !! :eek: I spend New Years walking around New York and the pain was unbelivable! I was even taking some very strong pain killers that wasnt even prescribed to me just to get some relief!! Waiting for Santry Sports to ring me back. Good luck with your op, hope everything goes well for ya.

Let us know how you get on

Gaz

Lizrc · 13-01-2009 2:17pm

Thanks Gaz wac,
My pain only kicks in when I've been walking for more than 20 mins or standing all day on my feet. I actually went out for 2 mile walk (slow walk) last night with my kids and regretted it straight away. Had to use my husband as crutch and when I got back home I used hot water bottle and then tried packing ice on legs but nothing worked. Can't wait to be finished surgery as I just want to be able to do normal things again. Will let you know how I get on. Be reassured though Santry Sports Clinic is the best place to get treated. Good Luck

Lizrc · 13-02-2009 11:08pm

Hi Gaz Wac,

Well I'm able to walk more than 2 miles without pain so I think op was successful. Had op on 23rd Jan. Worse part was actually fasting for op. Was told to fast from 11pm night before and op was suppose to be at 7.00am, unfortunately op didn't start until 5.30pm with no explanation. I was starving! I'm not a woman to be messed with if hungary. Although I was made feel relaxed by the staff of SSC. DR. Moran is a miracle worker, as a woman I was terrified of the scars I'd be left with, well there barely able to be seen unless you're on top of my leg searching for them. He cut two 4 inch cuts on either side of my leg and was able to cut into the fours compartments through these. I came to fine, if not a little bit sick, but was encouraged to walk with the aid of crutches the following day. It was not painful, just uncomfortable, and by the end of the week I was taking long walks. I do have a small limp which will subside, as its due to numbness in my toes and my ankle is not totally flexible yet but I am still seeing my physio once a week. I have tried jogging on threadmill but still not comfortable about it. I think its all in my head though. There s minimal amount of pain with this op, and anyone who says otherwise should try having two children. This op, I must state, is different than the op had for cs if it involves compression due to broken bones. I hope this helps with your op. Seriously though you should consider Dr. Ray Moran, in the Santry Sports Clinic, I can't give him enough praise. It's covered by health insurance also. Good luck I hope this has helped

EastWallGirl · 13-02-2009 11:26pm

I have had trouble with my calves for years. I am alright if I am walking slow but if I have to walk at a certain pace and particularly in flats the pain is quite bad. It feels like I cannot get oxygen into my calve, I have to tap the top of my toes to get blood circulating.

I could never figure out what it was, and then last year I went to a bootcamp in England for a week (the one that is in the magazines), I used to blame being unfit and I thought a week of running and exercise woudl be a real jump start. anyway i was treated like I was faking my pain all week, all they suggested I do was calf raises (but as they had treated me like crap I was not really interested at that stage) but when I mentioned I did ballet for 10 years, they started to reaalise I perhaps maynot be faking. Why would i pay £900.00 to muck around?

Anyway can I refer myself to the Santry Sports Clinic to get this checked out?

No one realise how painful it is, have you had both operations yet?

Lizrc · 14-02-2009 7:00pm

Hi Eastwallgirl,

You probably have to get your G.P. to refer you. But before you have the op you'll be given a pressure test on both legs, to ensure you definitely have Compartment Syndrome. This test ,and I'm not going to kidd you, is extremely sore. The op is a breeze compared to this. it envolves a long needle being inserted into your calve muscles and gauging the amount of pressure, then you have to run on a threadmill for about 5 km or for as long as you can stand the pain, and then the needle pressure test is done again to take the pressures after exercise. If the are above 30mm Hg this shows that C.S. is present. Even though you are given local anesethic to numb the area, it still hurts, but this is the only way of diagnosing this syndrome. They won't do two leg at a time as you need at least one good leg to stand on. I hope this helps, but make sure your Doc rules out shin splints first. HTH

petergfiffin · 06-03-2009 2:57pm

Hi Lizc...did you get both legs operated on at the same time? Was it under general or local? Have to get it done myself soon on both legs and have to admit I'm a little nervous about it!! :eek:

I agree about the pressure test, not the most pleasant of experiences but not the worst either I guess but you'll definitely be limping for a couple of days after

Lizrc · 06-03-2009 4:19pm

Hi Peter,
Are you having op at SCC? They don't usually do both legs together as you need as least one good leg to stand on. I had my right leg, which was the worse of the two, done first and after the summer I'll have the left one done. I had it done under general. Nothing to be nervous about the pressure test was worse seriously, i was up walking on crutches the next day and out of hosp. the next day, was off crutches more or less a week later. Have no problem with the leg I've had done, as I went hiking and only the left leg has been playing me up. Scars are about 4 inches long, shorter than I expected.
Overall, I 'd say i have a very pleasant experience in SCC and Dr MOran is definitely the man to see. Hope this helps

petergfiffin · 06-03-2009 7:14pm

Not sure where exactly I'll be having it yet but glad to hear the pressure test was worse!! I'll let you know how I get on

petergfiffin · 31-08-2009 9:12pm

Well...finally had the op done (after a long wait!!), had 4 compartments done on both legs at the same time. Ended up with a scar about 8 inches on each leg. Was on crutches for a couple of days but to be honest it wasn't too bad (plenty of painkillers & anti-inflamatories!), the days after the pressure test were worse. Had the op done in the Mater Private & was NOT impressed, if I had my time over I'd have had it done somewhere else (like a vet's :mad:). All that aside I'm hoping to be back to normal over the next couple of weeks so looking forward to getting stuck into some sports again

brownbinman · 17-01-2010 8:29pm

Hi all

I know this is a bit of an old thread, but after getting the operation, has anyone begun jogging. I was a keen jogger in my late teens but have stopped in recent years.

On a side note, I found yoga to be an excellent way to help with the pain...my physio told me to basically stretch the crap out of them,

Thanks

petergfiffin · 18-01-2010 9:29am

Had started to get back into jogging after the op and had no problems (well none related to my legs!) although stopped because of other committments. Have you had the op yet? The advice I got from the specialist after the op was after my checkup to basically just go for it with regard to sports.

trotter_inc · 25-02-2010 4:51pm

I have a question which I hope someone can help answer...

I started training for my first marathon at the beginning of this year and throughout my training I got various injuries. The main one was whereby my anterior shins would cramp up and cause me to run quite flat footed. The cramping would start after about 15 - 20 mins for running, then continue for about another 30 mins of running and would then gradually ease off and I could run without pain free for over 90 mins.

I visited my local chartered physio (who was also a very keen runner) for about 8 sessions, during these sessions he would do some light massage and connect my shins up to one of those machines which sent electric pulses through the muscles (apologies I don't know the exact machine name) He did mention that it could be compartment syndrome but he never once mentioned surgery, he just kept telling me to come back to him each week

Anyway, I completed the Cork Marathon just fine and was delighted with my result. Since then I have been doing 2 - 3 runs per week but now I am increasing the intensity. I still get the above shin cramping above and it is beginning to really annoy me as it takes the enjoyment out of my running. The pain does not happen at all while running on a threadmill. I don't want to start going back to the physio and paying out €45 per week, I simply can't afford it right now.

My question is to the people here who have suffered with CS, were these symptoms the same as yours?

Mods, I'm not asking for medical advice here and I hope I'm not breaking any of your rules with my question above

petergfiffin · 25-02-2010 5:37pm

I know it's probably different for everybody but for me it was only ever when I was walking that it happened, running was fine. Also from my (very) limited experience CS doesn't ease off unless you actually stop doing what's causing it and apparently it can be dangerous to keep going because of the risk of rupturing the fascia (NOT good!!!). The only definitive way of knowing if it is CS is by having the pressure test but it is pricey if you're going privately. Maybe it would be worth talking to your GP to see if you can get a referral to an orthapedic specialist

mpl · 29-05-2010 9:52pm

Hi

Had the surgery done in SCC on 15th March 2010. Had anterior compartment syndroms on both legs. Ended up getting two legs done at the one time. operation went well was on crutches for a few days and after four weeks back in the gym doing some light work on excercise bike. Attending physio once a week. since started back running having problems with the back of my calves. getting dry needle treatment from physio but not working.

Has any one experienced this problem?? Dont fancy getting another op!!

petergfiffin · 30-05-2010 11:11pm

When I had my front compartments done I was warned this could happen with the back ones and may need to go back to get them done. Basically the way it was explained to me is it's like the front ones act like brakes and because they were slowing you down the back compartments don't get sore but once the front ones have been released the back ones lose that buffer so can now start to trigger (hope that makes sense!!). I found it a little bit myself after the surgery but nothing that would encourage me to go back for more.

When you got the pressure tests done were the back compartments high? Hate to say it but I'd suspect you will have to get the other ones done too

mpl · 31-05-2010 11:02am

yeah it makes sense. The results for the pressure study test had a very high reading for all compartments in my lower legs. I was told this was because my anterior compartments had the syndrome so the back compartments were taking more pressue because of the side ones. Hope that makes sense? I am getting physio once a week and in the last couple of weeks there has been no improvement. After your op were you pain free straight away?

sc76 · 11-09-2014 9:39am

hi all,
i am dying to get this test done, i have pain in both calves, i posted in this thread awhile ago below, but after months of physio stretching exercises, rest (2 months off completely) i still have the pain, had to pull up in a light recovery run last night, and have a half marathon this sat morning(prob not now!!)!!!

Can i ask how much the test costs to get done in SSC?

sc76 · 11-09-2014 9:40am

hi all,
i am dying to get this test done, i have pain in both calves, but after months of physio stretching exercises, rest (2 months off completely) i still have the pain, had to pull up in a light recovery run last night, and have a half marathon this sat morning(prob not now!!)!!!

Can i ask how much the test costs to get done in SSC?

Compartmet Syndrome/ Fascioctomy

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