Has anybody been able to fully recover from compartment syndrome without surgery???
paul
If it is an acute case, surgery is generally required and quickly in some cases. I’m a Certified Athletic Trainer and seen about 6 or so cases of anterior compartment syndrome. I know three recovered without any problems. I have seen several chronic case. One had surgery and still had problems on and off. She was a sprinter and triple jumper symptoms appeared with increased activity and general resolved with rest.
If you legs are shinny and you have lose of sensations or have problems pulling you toe up, you may have anterior compartment syndrome. Do not use ice to control what you think is swelling. You already have compromised blood flow to the area.
From my experience, the answer to your question is yes you can recover.
What to the Doctors have to say???
I have had the problem for about 12 weeks now. I was only able to run for about 6-10minutes before the pain in my left lower leg became too much. I could not even pull my heel up to my glutes to stretch it was that sore. I stopped running completely. 12 weeks later Ive now started getting the pain in the same area while I ride. I’m booked in for a pressure test soon, but would like to try out all other possible remedies first before I consider surgery.
Possible casues:
I’m a supinatar and have been running in ascics keyano’s for a long time. My physio has changed me into Nimubus’s, so I think that is an improvement. I have very stiff calves and achilles which I have been getting massaged 1 pw. My core strength is quite poor and I’m now doing core strength 3 pw. Ive never taken any complete rest from this injury and have decided to take 2 weeks off completely to see what hapeens.
do you have any other suggestions??
Paul
The shoe change is probably good for you. I think you are in the correct shoe for a supinator. Sounds like you are doing everything to prevent surgery. Core strengthing and stretching should be a part of any training program. I am not the best foot biomechanics person, but is sounds like you PT or Physio is on the right track. Custom inserts fitted by someone who really know what they are doing maybe helpful. What is you previous injury history? With tight achilles, I am suprised you haven’t had more problems -although some now say stretching in not important.
See what the test results say. If you symptoms are getting better, you can probably get by without surgery. As per training,listen to you health care provider. If you had general overuse as tendonitis, I would say keep running. I generally think why rest, because sometimes pain goes away and you wasted time by resting. My husband rest at the first sign of pain and it really annoys me. But with compartment syndrome, there can be serious complications. If you have only pain and not vascular problems with the training you can do, I would train.
I am not a doctor. I generally tell the doctor what is wrong with my athlete. Doc treat them and I do their rehab. Hope this info helps. Good Luck and hope surgery is avoided.
I have read some literature about acute compartment syndrome caused by truama. I don’t know much about chronic compartment syndrome like what you are describing. I know that with the acute version, emergency surgery is required within hours to have a chance at saving the limb. If memory serves, Karen McKeachie (a Michigan/National standout triathlete) suffered from compartment syndrome and had surgery to correct the problem. I seem to remember reading it in a magazine article. She seems to have recovered, but I really don’t know the details. Her husband Lew Kidder posts here regularly, perhaps he can give you some insight.
Bernie
A good friend of mine had this. She was completely phobic about the surgery and couldn’t stand the idea of taking any time off from running. Nonetheless, surgery was her only option if she wanted to get back to her marathon running. She came through it with flying colors. Early on – maybe a couple of weeks after surgery – she was back on the elliptical. A few weeks after that, she was back on the road. She’s now up to full strength with no further problems.
I had anterior compartment syndrome on one leg and tried all the usual remedies - shoe change, rest, ice, physio, NSAIDs… None worked. So I booked in for a fasciotomy last year. Since then I’ve done 2 IMs & 2 HIMs with no problems whatsoever.
A bit of a horror story here: http://www.fast-women.com/athletes/interviews/ericapalmercordes.html.
I developed an acute case overnight following a horrific ankle sprain…I was 30 min from having my ankle sliced open and drained…just be glad that’s not your predicament
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Nope.