Compartment Syndrome

birdy247

Hi

I may have this (although not affected by running, only by cycling when going hard). Has anyone had this/the surgery, if so, how did you find it?

Radioactiveman

Yes

Discovered by the fact my lower leg would no longer move and was full of blood, i.e rock hard . Had to have emergency surgery and a significant amount of calf muscle removed.
pretty close to amputation if I had been delayed going to hospital. Caused by a pedal strike to the back of the leg.

This condition requires emergency intervention to prevent necrosis(death) of the associated tissue.

If you are writing on the forum about an ongoing symptom/condition caused by cycling hard I doubt it is compartment syndrome. If you have any health doubts see a doctor not a forum quack.

birdy247

Already seen a specialist surgeon, who thinks it may be this compartmental syndrome. Have MRI and the lovely compartmental syndrome test to come, where i get the muscle to cramp, they then push a needle with a pressure gauge attached to work out if I have it or not.

toab

Chronic Compartment sydrome: where inflexible fascia between muscles impinges on the muscle and casues pain, stiffness etc. but rarely permanent damage.

Compartment syndrome: Often sudden accumulation of fluid (usually blood) in the body (often between the fascia and muscle in the leg) causing pressure high enough to restrict bloodflow, damage nerves and require nasty emergency surgery as mentioned above.

(think I've got those roughly right)

I had shin-splint type problem that the Dr and physio both thought was probably to do with fascia and the thing that sorted it in the end was sticking to a very regular exercise regime (in my case swimming every day for one hour) - even now if I havn't exercised for a while it can be very painful. My Dr. at the time explained it as the fascia taking longer to adjust to the type of exercise you do than the muscle, meaning that if a muscle expands or swells through exercise the fascia may not be able to flex/expand with it.

Probably all stuff you've heard before but never know - might help

Splottboy

I was getting it in the front of the shin, playing squash. GP I was playing with suspected it might be it, and he was quite switched on with sports injuries etc.

Gave up playing for other reasons, but does give some gip if I run on very hard surfaces.
So, not run for ages, but hoping to get back into it in April.

Radioactiveman

I stand corrected

I Didnt realise there was an acute one, sounds more irritating than limb threatening but probably worse as it drags on for ever.

Dont like the sound of the needle and pressure gauge

Alex_Simmons/RST

Acute CS is what I had before my leg was amputated.

Radioactiveman

Hmm getting confused between chronic and acute.

Chronic is minor and long term and acute is rapid,severe,requiring surgery ?

Sorry to hear about the leg Alex,how did yours happen? I was lucky enough to get to hospital quick enough to get away with muscle removal.

birdy247

If i have it, mine is defiantly chronic. I don't really understand how I developed it (if I have). I can run fine, it only raises its head when I cycle around threshold.

Radioactiveman

So how does it manifest itself? Syptomes ,duration etc

birdy247

So if I start riding at a threshold like pace (i.e TT or up a long gradual hill), after about 3-4 mins my toes feel like they want to curl up, my foot wants to twist inwards and I get an uncomfortable cramp like sensation in my calf. If I back off/un clip my foot and move it around, it then eases very quickly and the then the same thing happens after 3-4 mins etc.. I notice that after a long ride, after around the 2-3 hour mark, the symptoms ease a bit and I can go for slightly longer, but ultimately it will still cramp at some point. for the past 5 months I have had this problem.

p.s Only happens on my left hand side.

TheWasher

Had surgery for anterior compartment syndrome 2 years ago now. Never looked back. Used to get cramp in my shins from walking fast. Straw that broke the camels back was when I developed knee problems from a weekend in Jersey walking with some friends,
Pressure test was easy, not very painful at all. Surgery was OK, I had bi-lateral CS release performed and was unable to walk for a day.
Taken a long time for my knees to heal. Still weak but partly my own fault for not pushing my exercise regime. That is why I have joined this forum as I intend to buy a bike to help build knee strength. Walk lots now though without any problems
Find a good surgeon who specialises in sports medicine.

Alex_Simmons/RST

Radioactiveman wrote:

Sorry to hear about the leg Alex,how did yours happen? I was lucky enough to get to hospital quick enough to get away with muscle removal.

http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/2007/09/ ... pened.html

I've made a successful comeback so far but I'm not finished yet.

Team Banana Spokesman

OMG this thread scares me. :shock:

You had to have your calf removed because it hit a pedal??? :shock:

what are the chances of this happening to me? please tell me this is a very freak/rare condition! :shock:

jgsi

Team Banana Spokesman wrote:

OMG this thread scares me. :shock:

You had to have your calf removed because it hit a pedal??? :shock:

what are the chances of this happening to me? please tell me this is a very freak/rare condition! :shock:

Personally, I think you should filter out any posts like this immediately just like me.
I really don't want to be in a position to 'have to find a good surgeon in sports medicine' - not based on my lowly status, not being a premiership pampered footballer/sportsperson and having a crappy ST postcode.

blaire

birdy247 wrote:

So if I start riding at a threshold like pace (i.e TT or up a long gradual hill), after about 3-4 mins my toes feel like they want to curl up, my foot wants to twist inwards and I get an uncomfortable cramp like sensation in my calf. If I back off/un clip my foot and move it around, it then eases very quickly and the then the same thing happens after 3-4 mins etc.. I notice that after a long ride, after around the 2-3 hour mark, the symptoms ease a bit and I can go for slightly longer, but ultimately it will still cramp at some point. for the past 5 months I have had this problem.

p.s Only happens on my left hand side.

Hi there,

Realize this post is a bit old but I've only just discovered it. I have the exact same thing - foot numbness/pain while cycling, foot feels like it contracts into a claw, shaking it out eases the discomfort but it returns right away, etc. Used to only impact cycling but eventually crossed over to running as well causing drop foot and foot numbness that shut down all training. Did you ever find out if it was compartment syndrome and if so, how did things wind up? I'm having the test in a couple weeks after dealing with this for upwards of 2 years during which I've tried everything in the book without getting a proper diagnosis or relief!