Chronic/Exertional Compartment Syndrome Anyone?

You need to have compartment pressures measured to truely diagnose exertional compartment syndrome.  Its not plesant but will give you your answer.  If you truely have exertional compartment syndrome then the fasciotomy should take care ofthe problem.  WHere do you live? I may be able to reccomend someone.

I'm always "borderline" so they waiver on giving me the test. we'll see if the symptoms resolve, if not, yes, I'm headed for it. they wouldn't do it before b/c the one ortho (that I didn't care for) said i wasn't presenting true symptoms after i'd gotten better w/pt and that it would be a waste. i may also have been pregnant by then and everyone freaks out about touching your when you're pregnant!

In in Atlanta by the way.

Couple people in Atlana Letha Griffin...she is so totally amazing..sports med ortho I think whe is with Peachtree ortho.  Also Jon Minter.  He is in Atlanta I think too.

Thanks. I have an appt with my guy this Thrs. Depending on what he says I may need a second opinion! Did you have it? A fasciotomy?

My sister had it. She's here on BT, but she doesn't check in very often. Her screen name is cwagener. Send her a PM and I'll let her know you have questions. She had a long long long road with this, but after a BOATLOAD of ART and a couple of surgeries, she's gotten much better and is going to be making her return to racing this summer sometime.

Hi! I am Whizzzz's sister. I have had all 4 of my compartments released. Like you, mine got progressively worse. First doc said 16 weeks of PT would fix it, I did that - and ran a marathon - did not fix it. I took a year off, did not do anything. By the time I went back to someone, I could not run, bike, limited swimming, could not wear heels and was becoming a really slow walker. I had chronic compartment syndrome in all 4 compartments - however the swelling of the muscle had moved up my leg and was cutting off the blood flow to my legs - it had progressed very badly. I had my first two surgeries to correct the blood flow issue - something called popliteal artery entrapment - they basically remove a huge chunk of the gastroc muscle. Once that was healed, then they told me to run - and the legs still hurt. After a positive pressure test in every compartment in both of my legs, I got the fasciotomies on both legs.

I have had CT scans with contrast show nothing, MRI's show nothing - you must have that pressure test. It does not hurt that badly - I can email photos if you would like - it is just an 18 gauge needle that is about 2.5 inches that they stick in your leg to see how much pressure is in the compartment. I have photos of all of the surgeries too - if you are interested is seeing - the incisions are not that bad - but I will not be winning a hot legs contest any time soon.

Since I was so far gone, I have had to have a lot of PT and ART and Graston. I am finally able to run again and am doing a sprint this summer. It has been a long road. Get a good doc - just this past April we re-tested my legs (before ART) and the pressure was back up in both of my lateral compartments and they suggested another surgery - this time from ankle to knee - and I choose the ART and it seems to be helping a lot. I have a lot of scar tissue. Like the other poster, I lost a lot of feeling in one of my legs from them moving the nerve - nerve damage is not fun, but it can happen. I could not feel the anterior aspect of the lower leg and top of my foot for a year. But it is coming back slowly.

Find someone good, and find someone that does this surgery OFTEN. This is not that common and a different beast than acute compartment syndrome. And good luck. Feel free to send me an email/PM if you want to see these marvelous photos....

Thank you for the great input. I tell ya, my injury is weird. It really flared up after a bit swimming of jogging on Sat, did the trainer on Sunday and it's ok today....Odd. I did some SI joint stretches (chiro said I had dysfunction).

My non-MD mind has narrowed it down to either SI problems (not sure if that would cause such issues in my leg though), CCS, or peroneal nerve issue (tendinitis, tear, etc.)

I will push for the test though. It needs to be ruled out (or confirmed) given my history. I admit I'm a bit protective about my gams and any scars but I'd rather have a big old scar if it meant i could run without pain.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU! If it is CCS, I'll be PM-ing you.

Hi Sue,
Do you have any opinions on Dr. Jon Hyman? that's who I'm seeing Thrs. he was convinced it was coming from my back. the mri is normal so i'm not sure if he is still going to think this. I don't know if SI joint dysfunction would cause such leg symptoms ,especially b/c it doesn't go down the thigh...

I'll check out Griffin it the dx if confirmed. I'm a work comp defense attorney so I know the practice she's in pretty well.

Did any of you out there with the diagnosis have the tightness/fullness and possible pain AFTER you stopped running?

Hi,

 I only have pain after I exercise.  Now the pain is bad that I can't run or bike or swim!  Some docs think its superficial posterior CS -- others think it's stress reactions.

 Have you had a CS test?  What are your pressures?  What are your thoughts about pain after exercise?

 Thanks!

Edited by Aberry20 2008-06-20 9:19 PM

Hi i was just told by my doc that he thinks i have exertional compartment syndrome.  Was wondering how bad the compartment test is?  Also how long the surgery is for both legs at the same time?  any feedback would be great
chris

Thought I'd share my story about c.s. in case anyone stumbles across this thread. I just had a compartment release on both legs two weeks ago. I have not shown any signs of nerve damage, and to answer that burning question: the pressure test is NOT that bad!

I'm blogging about my surgery and recovery to help answer some questions that I had prior to the fasciotomy. You can read it: http://mynewlegs.wordpress.com/>
Good luck! 

Hey all - I have had many a frustrating experience with CS over the past year, and just had surgery releasing all 4 compartments on each side yesterday.  I decided that in order to convey my experience in more helpful detail, I would start a blog - Please read and make comments!  I really believe that interactive blogs, in addition to forums like these is what will really allow fellow CS'ers to have more information - because, let's face it, there is not enough information about it on the web.