Has anyone here had Chronic anterior compartment syndrome? What were your symptoms and what did you do to treat it? How long did it last?
Has anyone here had Chronic anterior compartment syndrome? What were your symptoms and what did you do to treat it? How long did it last?
Yes. Extreme pain and a feeling of fullness in my anterior compartment while running, normally about two miles into any run at any pace. My feet would slowly go numb as the blood supply was cut off. Things were back to normal 30-60 minutes after the run. Compartment syndrome is not something you can "power through", because you will quickly grind to a halt from pain and the inability to put your heel on the ground first before the ball of your foot.
I did long ice baths up to my knees for a month before I discovered I had it. Once I realized it, I went to the docs, got the pressure test done which confirmed it, and was two days away from surgery when I decided that I needed to take a long break. After six months of no running, a friend recommended me to one of the top ART guys in the area. Two months of advanced chiropractics and microcurrent technology fixed the problem.
I had anterior CS back in 1999-2000. There was a full tightness in the calves shortly after I'd start into my runs. My calves are quite large. I had the pressure test done to confirm the CS--I think my readings were in the mid-high 30s. Went with conservative treatment first--active release therapy. Spent lotsa money outta pocket for that, but it didnt get better.
Next option was surgery. I was too eager to continue running/training, but wanted to get rid of the problem. Didnt really think twice about surgery--made a quick decision to have it done. The surgery worked, and I was running again at 5 weeks. No real problems since, although there does seem to be some tightness again in the calves, similar to what i experienced before. Is it possible to have a relapse of CS? I dont worry about it, though, b/c im not running as much now as i was then.
Despite the surgery working, and my surgeon doing a good job (he's also done knee surgey on me), I do regret getting the surgery done b/c of "complications" related to suspected blood clots after surgery and incompetent doctors at the ER. Caused me ALOT of stress and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldve just cut back on my running and waited it out, instead of getting surgery and dealing with all the crap I went through.
I had bilateral Compartment Syndrome of my lateral and posterior compartments. After unsucessful treatment by a PT for unexplained cramping from the knees down, I discovered CS and had a pressure test done to confirm. I eventually had surgery, but not with the doc that diagnosed. The surgeon can make or break the success... it is important to find someone who has ample experience with the surgery. I found a physician out of Madison by the name of William Turnipseed that is an expert on the procedure. Had a total of four compartments released and was running again after 6 weeks. I have met others that have had lesser results resulting in scar tissue build-up which can cause syptoms to return. All in all, I would do the surgery again as it has made a difference in my ability to run in comfort, but I would seriously research surgeons in your area to find one that does quite a few release surgeries (experience).
Hi, I actually was just diagnosed this past Monday, Oct.12, 2004 with anterior compartment syndrome in both legs. I am not a runner, just a casual walker that thought I had shin splints. The pressure test was done Monday and my right leg was 77, left leg 75 and also 30 in the calf. My ortho told me to take it easy for a month , start walking gradually, and then we'll see! Gotta say, the pain is almost equal to labor!!!! I am trying to learn the pros and cons of surgey, anything you know would help!
thanks and good luck to you, too!
Has anyone had Chronic compartment syndrome with symproms on brisk walking and none on running? Any treatment? Cheers
Hi,
I had compartment syndrome diagnosed back in 2002 from pressure tests. The worst exercise for inducing pain was bike riding (especially with resistance), but also with brisk walking, walking uphills, running and anything else that involved moving my toes up and down. I had a bilateral anterior fasciotomy on 22 Oct 2002 but the doctor was not experienced enough and it didn't work out for me. I had a 25 cm cut down both shins and they took about 12 months to heal properly - before that wearing high socks would break open little parts of the scar resulting in bleeding.
I had further pressure tests performed Aug 2003, and my pressures were still in the mid 30's after 5 minutes rest. It's only now that I have decided to undertake more surgery because I feel as though there isn't anything I can try with physios, reduced activity etc.
This time I am seeing two different surgeons and I am definitely going to ask about what success they have, what method of incision they use, how many patients they treat etc. I want to get all the compartments released this time, because my specialist told me that the latest thinking is that this will improve the chances of successful surgery (has anyone else been told this?).
Good luck
HI KELLY, THIS IS NANCY, MY MESSAGE IS POSTED ABOVE YOURS. SO, YOU DID HAVE THE SURGERY ,I GUESS THAT IS MY QUESTION....I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS SYNDROME IN BOTH LEGS FOR 1 1/2 MONTHS, AND IT COMES ON IN ME AFTER MEDUIM PACED WALKING AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES. AS I SAID, MY RESULTS WERE 77 IN THE RIGHT ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT, AND 75 LEFT, WITH 30 IN THE CALF. DO YOU KNOW IF THIS WILL GO AWAY IF I WALK SLOWLY AND TAKE TINY WALKS? I FEEL LIKE A SISSY CAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT STARTED AND I CAN'T EVEN WALK AROUND TWO BLOCKS!!!, HOW DID THEY DO THE SURGERY AND WERE YOU AN OUTPATIENT....HOW LONG WAS RECOVERY?
ANY INFO WOULD BE APPRECIATED!
THANKS
injured....just wanted to see how you were doing? my ortho said surgery, so we'll see. let me know, please, what info you have!
thanks
I had a rare form of compartment syndrome in that there was no pain, however I experienced all the other symptoms of compartment syndrome due to lack of blood flow. When ever I ran fast for a while I had problems lifting my toes off the ground, and would pretty much just lost control of my leg. I went through 6 years of running with this and was fine during cross country because of the uneven soft surface. I was referred to Doc. Turnipseed because he was one of the only doctors I was told who has treated this before, the only problem was my insurance wouldn't let me see him. A year earlier I went through one unecessary operation because they thought my peroneal nerve was the problem. The doc. I eventually saw did a great job with my second operation and removed all the fascia in my compartments. The leg has yet to bother me however I am still not totally positive that I will be fine once I get back in better shape. Has any one else heard of a case like this before?
It's been a year since I had the surgery in both legs and I still have swelling in that area. Can anyone tell me if they've experienced the same or if it goes away? Is this scar tissue buildup? Thanks.
I caught CS early in its development on me a few years back and was fortunate enough not to have to go through surgery. However, while I was taking time off to recover from this, I researched the hell out of compartment syndrome. I discovered that in many cases, surgery isn't the answer. The smartest thing to do is take 2-3 months off and beging running again. If there is similar pain still occurring in the area, see your doctor again. If you are re-diagnosed, i have been told that you should seek surgery. However, I have heard many stories of people with CS. Some were cured by one surgery and others have had several surgeries to try and fix the problem.
The one thing that you have to clarify is if it is the motor nerve or the sensory nerve that is getting infringed upon. If it is the motor nerve, then you have to take extreme caution with whatever you do.
My doctor diagnosed me early enough to where he believed surgery wasn't the best option. Instead, I got a deep tissue massage every other day for 6 weeks and i was running after 2 and a half months. The massages at first are a real pain, but you get used to it.
WITH PRESSURES AT 75 AND 77, IS IT STILL POSSIBLE TO NOT HAVE TO GET SURGERY? RIGHT NOW I AM FEELING MORE NUMBNESS AND SORENESS THAN ACTUAL PAIN. CAN THE NERVE DAMAGE TAKE AWAY THE FEELING OF ACTUAL "EXTREME PAIN"?
I never experienced pain with my compartment syndrome.
I had two surgies to try and fix my leg which was believed to be compartment syndrome. The first operation they also performed a peroneal nerve entrappment procedure, but that wasn't what was wrong. The second time they made three big incisions and removed all the fascia. I really just experienced loss of control of my foot, it wanted to stay on the ground after a period of fast running. The doctor said my fascia was very thick.
I think I've caught my case early and hope to get rid of it without surgery. Besides cutting back on running, can anybody name some good therapeutic treatments.