Who has heard of chronic exertional compartment syndrome

[Amy23]

Hiya all! I have been diagnosed with CECS and I am considering the surgery. I'm active duty military, so we do quite a bit of running for PT. It took me about 2 years to get the correct diagnosis. But thanks to a great ortho specialist/surgeon, I finally have it. For years I was told it was severe shin splints and to do the standard ice, heat, anti-inflammatory routine to no avail. I've been putting off the surgery, but it's getting to the point that even walking for fitness is painful. I can still do machines and weights, but I feel so limited. I am by no means a runner, but I ams still so frustrated with the pain, numbness, and foot drop that I experience even after a brisk walk.

I have a question for all you that have experienced the surgery. What was your post op recovery like? How long did it take until you felt somewhat normal? Did you have any complications or side effects? Any information would be greatly appreciated. I know I can talk to my doctor, and I will, but I'd really like to hear about those that have undergone the surgery and if it's helped them. Thanks in advance and take care!

Thanks,
Amy

 

[shirlene29]

look into myofascial release through a D/O not an MD, I'm not positive its a solution but worth a shot maybe?

its worth a shot before going under the knife anyway...
Ive only ever had super bad shin splints, I cant imagine the agony of compartment syndrome...
I have a friend that got into a car accident and acquired the acute version of it...
he's missing a third of his calf, one whole muscle, because of the effective exploding of the muscle.

 

[cryptosporidium]

wow.. you know, ive never heard of CECS either and i have been extremely frustrated over the past few months by lower leg pain. i rested for a few weeks and attempted a return to running, but after an hour i start getting really f'n sore. in the following days i cant push more than 20 minutes before my form starts to suffer and eventually i walk off the pitch (soccer/futsal.)

ive been putting off a visit to the doctor to get a proper diagnosis, but after reading this thread, i realize that its unavoidable now.

ive had so many problems with misdiagnosis in the past, thanks so much for putting this info out there.. now i know that i can raise this question with the docs.

 

[UncleBee]

This may seem a bit odd or too good to be true, but some studies have shown that supra-stretching and inversion for extended periods of time may have some benefit,However,there is no substitute for surgery.

 

[kx250rider]

I've had a couple of rounds with acute compartment syndrome in my forearms (motocross racing). It's not fun, and I can only imagine how frustrating a chronic condition of it would be! In my case, I didn't know what it was, and a friend of mine had just had half of his deltoid amputated due to some kind of a weird cyst. I went to get my arms checked out, and they used an instrument to measure the pressure at rest, then had me work out for 20 minutes until the swelling started, then checked it again and confirmed the CS. The test is about as much fun as the pain itself.... A giant (about 6 gauge) needle stabbed right into the compartment, and they inject saline through another needle, and watch how long the pressure takes to go down (or something like that). In my case, I don't compete in motocross, so I just take a break when I feel the pressure building up. That doesn't help you though... I sure wish you the best, and I'd say the surgery is the best idea.

Charles

 

[bexxc]

I was a cross country runner in middle school and high school. There really is no substitute for surgery, the pain is unbearable without it and it only gets worse over time... I had it for nearly 2 years before it was properly diagnosed (my junior year) and it ruined my running completely, I went from running an 18 minute 5K my freshman year to a 19:30. The pain was intolerable, keeping me up at night, making everyday life painful beyond belief, and making me want to constantly scream out. Then I had a fasciotomy done on all four compartments of each calf in the fall of 2006 and for awhile it was better. However, the fascia scarred back over and I redeveloped CECS shortly after surgery, although this is apparently very rare to have happen. This summer I had the fasciotomy re-done along with a partial fasciectomy where they actually remove part fo the fasica to try and ensure that the tissue will not scar back over the cuts in the fascia.

Now, for once (4 years after developing it) I have finally been able to enjoy exercise without those same nagging pains. My suggestion to anyone that has this develop and has been diagnosed thoroughly via the pressure tests, to get the surgery and not give up! Honestly, it has made a world of difference, I had some of the highest pressures that my surgeon and sports med doctors had ever seen and really I shouldn't have been able to run when I had it and if it hadn't been treated I can only imagine the effects it could have had. The pressures that are exerted on the nerves in the calf could result in permanent damage. The surgery done this summer has had much better results than my first round, three months since my surgery I have had only slight discomfort every now and then, but it feels only like muscle soreness rather than the indescribable pain prior to surgery. Directly after surgery (with all compartments being released) I was able to walk albeit very painfully and only a short distance, but over the week after surgery, the distance grows greater and the pain slowly subsides and is slight comparatively to CECS itself. I had to take a month off from all exercise aside from walking of course, which is suggested during that time to strengthen the muscles (only walking with mild to no pain of course, don't try anything crazy) but after that month I spent two weeks of biking and light exercise, weights, and swimming and those other sorts of cross-training. After those two weeks I started running again very slowly, building up to actually going on 5 mile runs today and making sure to stretch plenty before and after, which I have found to be very helpful in relieving tightness and any pains in my calves.

The surgery is wonderful but I recommend finding a surgeon who has done the procedure plenty because if they don't know what they are doing with this it is easy to hit a nerve and mess it up. My surgeon has performed this procedure hundreds of times and was wonderful in explaining everything to me along with the follow-up and of course advice on how to get stay healthy post-operation and getting back into running, something which for awhile I was afraid I would never be able to do again.

 

[JannaD]

I have exertional compartment syndrome in both my shins. It looks like a bunch of bubbles all over my shins ranging from a cm in diameter to 1-2 inches.
I have been banned from all exercise for almost a year now, and have difficulty crouching, squatting, crossing my legs and walking. Which has been hell. Getting out of shape after being a roller derby force and rookie weight lifter who ran all the time.

The surgery i have been concerned to agree too seems odd. Please tell me if this is similar to any the surgery descriptions youve heard:
"Instead of a bunch of bubbles, we'll make one big one. We make 2 incisions, one hole at the top of the shin and one nr the ankle. We insert a wire type material in one hole and loop it around the facia, and back up. Then pull and it will slice the facia from top to bottom, releiving the uneven pressures on the muscle so it can 'go where it wants to'."

Apparently this surgeon is a good doctor and doesnt like to do surgeries on a whim. He was however unable to satisfy my curiosity as to what could go wrong and how bad that could be.
When i voiced my concerns he simply said 'well you know nothing goes perfectly'. What the heck!

I live in the very far north of canada. I live 1.5 hrs from my mail box and grocery store therefore a Wheelchair is not an option. I live in a cabin where i cut my own fire wood, and haul my own water. I cannot risk the use of my legs, even though they arent functioning properly now - i still have them.

I am open to any and all feedback i can get! Thank you so very much.