Compartment syndrome - lower leg

nice_guy80

My physio reckons I may have mild compartment syndrome in my lower right leg - he believes it is from training and the heavy loads i've been moving lately. strange I don't have it in my left leg.

anyway, as I told him, I'm getting shooting pains up the extensor digitorum longus, especially when I am not exercising (usually lying in bed actually)

Has anyone else ever experienced this?? (this is not a request for medical advice, but more to hear how/if people got over compartment syndrome if they had it)
Cheers

magicherbs

I wasn't aware 'mild' compartment syndrome existed. Compartment syndrome is a medical emergency, it's not a cause of chronic leg muscle pain.

Will Heffernan

nice_guy80 wrote: »

My physio reckons I may have mild compartment syndrome in my lower right leg

Everyone does.

- he believes it is from training and the heavy loads i've been moving lately.

From training AND from the heavy loads? I am wondering if you are an Egyptian slave who works building pyramids by day and hits the gym after a hard day in the quarry shifting 10 tonne blocks of stone around?

These issues are not usually training related unless they are related to over training.

strange I don't have it in my left leg.

Not that strange actually...like I said it is usually an exposure factor and believe it or not you are not perfectly symmetrical...so intermittent exposure doesn't usually cause a problem. High frequency or high duration exposure on the other hand usually exposes and weakness or dysfunction.

anyway, as I told him, I'm getting shooting pains up the extensor digitorum longus, especially when I am not exercising (usually lying in bed actually)

Ouch.

Has anyone else ever experienced this?? (this is not a request for medical advice, but more to hear how/if people got over compartment syndrome if they had it)
Cheers

Yes...try different shoes. Do some self massage.

nice_guy80

Will Heffernan wrote: »

Everyone does.


From training AND from the heavy loads? I am wondering if you are an Egyptian slave who works building pyramids by day and hits the gym after a hard day in the quarry shifting 10 tonne blocks of stone around?

These issues are not usually training related unless they are related to over training.


Not that strange actually...like I said it is usually an exposure factor and believe it or not you are not perfectly symmetrical...so intermittent exposure doesn't usually cause a problem. High frequency or high duration exposure on the other hand usually exposes and weakness or dysfunction.


Ouch.


Yes...try different shoes. Do some self massage.

thanks. I go from shoes at work, to runners and in socks around the house to other runners for the gym
yes I use foam roller

I've been reading up about it all evening

Will Heffernan

nice_guy80 wrote: »

thanks. I go from shoes at work, to runners and in socks around the house to other runners for the gym
yes I use foam roller

I've been reading up about it all evening

Ahh...I only just realised in was your post. I recognise the username...do we hate each other or do we like each other? Are we in the middle of an interweb war or not? I need to keep a spreadsheet of all my boards enemies and allies

Anyway...the issue you described is usually a prolonged exposure issue...i.e some sort of issue/problem with your feet or footwear in most cases.

nice_guy80

Will Heffernan wrote: »

Ahh...I only just realised in was your post. I recognise the username...do we hate each other or do we like each other? Are we in the middle of an interweb war or not? I need to keep a spreadsheet of all my boards enemies and allies

Anyway...the issue you described is usually a prolonged exposure issue...i.e some sort of issue/problem with your feet or footwear in most cases.

good man

yeah, been doing a lot of reading this evening about it

moneymad

I've had it. And it used to limit me from only being able to run for exactly 13-15minutes without me not being able to flex my ankle.
I got new shoes, did straight leg dead lifts, lunges, massaged and acupuncture. It went away somewhere in between doing all of them. I've gotten iit once in 6 months while on a run a few weeks ago. Irritating injury to have.
goodluck

Maztech26

Hi there,

I have been diagnosed with compartment syndrome in both my legs. I have had pain in both legs while playing sport over the last 3 - 4 years. The pain got so bad last Summer that it was stopping me from playing any sport.

Over the last number of years I had been getting it treated by physios and I also got accupuncture which relieved the pain, however this was only a short time solution as the pain would come back again after 1/2 training sessions. The pain would start in my calf and I would lose feeling in the soles of my feet, predominately my right foot. I would have to cease playing and remove my football boots to allow feeling back into my foot.

I eventually got referred to Dr. Pat O'Neill in the Mater hospital, who I could'nt praise highly enough. He sent me for a pressure test in Cappagh hospital to confirm his diagnosis of compartment syndrome.

I am getting the operation on the 30th of this month, my right leg first. I only hope that it is a success and I can be back playing pain free before the summer.

Zombienosh

Just reading up about CS after seeing this thread and on wiki, one of the main causes is listed as Creatine use.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compartment_syndrome

heres a linked study also.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1421498/

FrankGrimes

Poster earlier in the thread is misinformed: there are two types of compartment syndrome - acute (can happen in car crashes) and chronic (gets worse with impact exercise).

I had severe compartment syndrome in all 4 compartments in both legs - took several years of excruciating pain before getting a successful diagnosis in Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry. Had 4 fasciotomys, got inside and outside of left leg done together, then got right leg done a couple of months later. It worked, but the recovery was horrific - having staples on inside and outside of leg at the same time meant when I was vertical, the blood rushing to the lower leg put a lot of pressure on the wound as the skin was taut, so I had to be horizontal all the time for 4 weeks. Worth it as I'm grand now, but it was a major ordeal, though maybe they've found a better way to manage it now. Doubt getting only one side of the leg done at a time would be anywhere near as nasty to recover from as there'd be less pressure on the wound. Good luck with it Maztech26.

Maztech26

@Frank Grimes, God that does not sound nice at all, but im glad to hear it all worked out for you. I actually have to get the 4 compartments on each leg done too, but my surgeon has not explained it the way you have. Im hoping they have found a less painful method since you got it done :rolleyes:!!

I was just wondering how long were you laid up for and when could you get back running etc. Were you on crutches long? I have to get back to work asap and when I asked my surgeon he just said everyone differs but this operation is not that comman so I actually havent spoken to anyone who has got it done before.

nice_guy80

just to post an update, my condition has improved significantly

the solution?
I started wearing my orthotic insoles again. I forgot I had stopped using them in my shoes last summer, as I felt the issues I had originally got them for had been rectified (hip mobility and knee problems)

guess I was wrong.

salmon1

Maztech26 wrote: »

Hi there,

I have been diagnosed with compartment syndrome in both my legs. I have had pain in both legs while playing sport over the last 3 - 4 years. The pain got so bad last Summer that it was stopping me from playing any sport.

Over the last number of years I had been getting it treated by physios and I also got accupuncture which relieved the pain, however this was only a short time solution as the pain would come back again after 1/2 training sessions. The pain would start in my calf and I would lose feeling in the soles of my feet, predominately my right foot. I would have to cease playing and remove my football boots to allow feeling back into my foot.

I eventually got referred to Dr. Pat O'Neill in the Mater hospital, who I could'nt praise highly enough. He sent me for a pressure test in Cappagh hospital to confirm his diagnosis of compartment syndrome.

I am getting the operation on the 30th of this month, my right leg first. I only hope that it is a success and I can be back playing pain free before the summer.

Hey

Im in a similar position to yourself,my physio is in the middle of referring me to a doctor for the presure test,im just wondering how long did it take from the pressure test to you actually getting the operation appointment?cheers for the help I just cant wait to get it sorted

Maztech26

Hi there,

I got the pressure test done in Cappagh hospital in September 2012 and on the day I got the test done the Dr confirmed there and then that it was compartment syndrome.

I was then referred to the Surgeon Prof John O'Byrne in the Mater. I met him in November 2012 and he scheduled me in for operation in early Dec. However due to work I was not able to have it done in Dec so was rescheduled for the 30th of Jan.

The pressure test is very straight forward so dont worry about that. You run on a treadmill until you experience the pain in your legs and then the pressure is taken.

Hope you get it all sorted now. I will let you know how my op goes, im praying to God it all works out.

salmon1

Maztech26 wrote: »

Hi there,

I got the pressure test done in Cappagh hospital in September 2012 and on the day I got the test done the Dr confirmed there and then that it was compartment syndrome.

I was then referred to the Surgeon Prof John O'Byrne in the Mater. I met him in November 2012 and he scheduled me in for operation in early Dec. However due to work I was not able to have it done in Dec so was rescheduled for the 30th of Jan.

The pressure test is very straight forward so dont worry about that. You run on a treadmill until you experience the pain in your legs and then the pressure is taken.

Hope you get it all sorted now. I will let you know how my op goes, im praying to God it all works out.

Thanks very much for the reply.Hope the op goes well and your back on your feet in no time,let ous know how it goes

whowantstwoknow

My story to date:

Pretty much all of my adult life, I've been unable to run as an exercise with servre pains in the lower legs. I just avoided impact exercise.

About 12 months ago, I decided to get a diagnosis. Like above I got the pressure test done in Cappagh hospital where they confirmed it was compartment syndrome. At the time they only confirmed the one leg (which had the worst symptoms) but stated it was more than likely in the other leg. (PS they had no treadmill, had to run outside around the grounds/area)

Got the fasciotomy done on the outside of the leg. Since the new year have been doing a C25K programme. The leg has improved to the extent its now the other leg that is giving me more trouble!! The running isnt easy, some days better than others, but the "burning" sensation isnt as bad but I find it hard to "point"/flex the toes/ankle up on each leg. This makes it hard for me to lift the leg up during the running stride. Sometimes I wonder if I'm actually running at all with the lack of pace :-)

Might see what the physio thinks about orthotic insoles before contemplating any more surgery.

Thoughts?

salmon1

Maztech26 wrote: »

Hi there,

I got the pressure test done in Cappagh hospital in September 2012 and on the day I got the test done the Dr confirmed there and then that it was compartment syndrome.

I was then referred to the Surgeon Prof John O'Byrne in the Mater. I met him in November 2012 and he scheduled me in for operation in early Dec. However due to work I was not able to have it done in Dec so was rescheduled for the 30th of Jan.

The pressure test is very straight forward so dont worry about that. You run on a treadmill until you experience the pain in your legs and then the pressure is taken.

Hope you get it all sorted now. I will let you know how my op goes, im praying to God it all works out.

Hi

Im just wondering how the op went?was it very painful?hope the recovery is going well

Travelchick

Hi,
I'm just wondering if you had the operation and how long it takes to recover? Have you been able to return to sports without any reoccurrence? I've been diagnosed with this recently also while training for a marathon. It has become so painful now that I can barley walk if I try to run & it's so frustrating. I've spend a fortune on different physio's, physical therapists. accupuncture, different runners, specialised insoles etc but nothing has helped. I feel like people think I'm making it up my leg is only affected when I run. I'd prefer to not have to resort to surgery but I'm not sure if there's anything else that I can do without giving up running altogether .... Which I really don't want to do. I was hoping to sign up for the Dublin marathon but that's looking unlikely now. I live in Cork, would anyone know if there's anywhere in Munster that does this surgery as Dublin will be difficult for me.
Thanks!

salmon1

Just to BUMP up to thread again

Im going for the surgery in a few weeks and getting both legs done and just wondering how long do ye reckon it will take from the day of the op to the day ill be able to start running again??

Alf Veedersane

salmon1 wrote: »

Just to BUMP up to thread again

Im going for the surgery in a few weeks and getting both legs done and just wondering how long do ye reckon it will take from the day of the op to the day ill be able to start running again??

Might be better to ask the surgeon who knows a bit more about your individual situation.