Cronic Compartment Syndrome?

wantnbbs · 07-09-2008, 01:24 AM

Anyone DX with chronic compartment syndrome or excersized induced compartment syndrom??
I guess it is not that common, but i am wondering if anyone has found any non-surgical options???
thanks

PinkJen · 07-09-2008, 02:30 AM

My husband actually has chronic compartment syndrome. He was in the military and hurt himself overseas, the pain in his shins turned out to be compartment syndrome. The doctors tried rest, physical therapy, etc, and nothing worked. While I can't give you any good recommendations, I can give you a warning! If it does come to surgery, please, get 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th...opinions, and go to the best doctor you can! My husband didn't know how uncommon this was, and was in the military, so a military doctor operated on him, during the operation, they cut a nerve in his leg, and he can't feel the front of his leg and he's in trememdous pain, doctors say he will have this for the rest of his life. All the doctor was interested in was being able to say he completed the fasciotomy(sp?) and to have his case published in a journal. I guess this operation is quite risky, so just be careful! I can tell you that sometimes, a nice warm bath makes his leg feel a bit better, he also has a T.I.N.S. unit that he uses on the non-operated leg, he uses it when he's in a lot of pain, he has a cane for bad days, and they made a brace for his leg to help support it. Once again, I'm sorry I can't give you a better non-surgical recommendation, but please be careful with whatever course you do take!

wantnbbs · 07-09-2008, 07:50 PM

Thank you thank you thank you. Mine is in my legs around my shins as well. It is probably one of the worst pain i have felt, and meds dont do the trick. I can only walk about 150 yds before it kicks in... whick limits my excersize as you can imagine. I have been putting off the surgery out of fear... mostly cosmetic... but your situation brought up relative concerns as well. Can I ask where he follows up? does he go to a pain clinic, or does the ortho help with this? If he had it to do all over again.. would he take the compartment syndrome pain over hte post surgery pain??? what did his scar look like?
Has he found any alternative excersize methods to get his heart rate up that is easier on his legs??
thank you.....

PinkJen · 07-09-2008, 09:40 PM

My husband hasn't found any meds that help either, Ibuprofen and other similar meds are too weak, and the meds they prescribed for the pain are basically narcotics, and since the pain will never go away, he doesn't want to become dependant on them. When the VA sends him for follow ups, he has seen orthos, neurologists, pain clinics, pain studies, podiatrists, and physical therapists. The orthopeadic surgeon is the one that actually operated, and all of the other follow ups have basically gotten us no where. The physical therapy has helped a little, they gave him a portable T.I.N.S. unit to help with the pain. The podiatrist had a splint made for his leg that was operated on (he now suffers from drop foot from the lack of muscle use in the leg), but he finds the splint is too uncomfortable to wear. He also has a cane, but once again, the problem with him is that it's in both legs, so he doesn't have a "good leg" to balance on. Hmm..if he had to do it all over again, would he? Well, in his case, he got the worst part of both, he has the compartment syndrome in both of his legs, luckily they only operated on one leg, so in one leg, he has excruciating pain from the compartment syndrome and in the other he has excruciating pain and the loss of feeling (only sensation) in his leg from the operation gone wrong. I think that after all we have learned, if it he had the opportunity to go back to before the operation, he probably would have gotten lots of different opinions, found the absolute best surgeon he could, and have the operation done. We have heard of success stories from the operation. He won't have it on his other leg because obviously, if it goes wrong on that leg as well, he won't be able to really walk anymore. The limping has also caused numerous knee problems in both legs, and foot problems from him walking differently. His scar is pretty large, I'd say it's about 10 inches and it goes vertically down the middle of his shin, now I don't know how a scar would look if a non-military doctor operated, they seem to "hack up" everyone they operate on. He had the operation back in 2005 and the scar is pretty noticable, and probably about 1/8 - 1/4 of an inch thick, now he has hairy legs, it would show a lot more for a woman who shaves her legs. He is constantly trying to find some sort of exercise to bring his heart rate up. We have a bowflex and he uses that everynight, he is sometimes able to ride a bike when the pain isn't too bad, but besides that, he is very limited, he can't walk long distances, nor run. We have considered trying water aerobics, but he hasn't gotten around to it. Lol, now that I've written a novel, I hope I have helped! Please let me know if you have any more questions, we are always more than willing to talk about his experiences because we have found that not many people know about it, and are unaware of the consequences and pain from compartment syndrome! Good luck!!

wantnbbs · 07-09-2008, 09:56 PM

Just out of curiosity where did he get it done. My family is military and we have lived all over the country, including cali. I had a bad expierince in a military hospital when i was 10 with my appendix.
I too have it in both legs, seince i was 5, told my whole life it was in my head,growing pains, or shin splints. I was a avery active person. The elptical is better for me than hard surfaces, but still cant do alot. I have it inn both legs as well, on the outside of my shins. It only hurts when i walk, and a few hours after. but if i just sit, i am ok, but i dont like to sit!!!!! Anywa, the pool really helps me for swimming, BUT if i WALk in a shallow pool, it is horrible, comes on almost imediatly, i dont know if it is the resistance or what.... but so far swimming does work. I am going to ask about a TINZ unit, as my mom uses one i might try hers first. Thanks for all your help, i am so sorry for your husband, do you know if he developed a pain syndrom called RSD after word??????

PinkJen · 07-10-2008, 08:56 PM

He had his operation at the Naval Hospital on Camp Pendleton. Trust me, my husband knows how frustrating it can be to be misdiagnosed. While the compartment syndrome was diagnosed immediately, the neuropothy took a lot of effort. After the operation, everyone just assumed it was in his head and he was trying to get out of the military, it took them almost a year to do the nerve conduction study that showed complete loss of feeling in his leg! I'm not sure if this might work, but have you ever tried yoga or pilates? I tried getting my husband into some yoga, at least light yoga without too much of a lower body workout, but he wouldn't try it. I've also thought that one of those little pedaler things that go on the floor that you pedal like a bike might help too. You don't have to put pressure on the legs, but you can get a small workout...just a thought. I have been using a T.I.N.S. unit lately, I just had my wrist operated on not too long ago, and it really helps with the pain. I guess the TINS unit is supposed to send some sort of nerve receptors or something that stops the pain. It helps my husband on bad days, so it's worth a shot! I asked my husband about RSD, I had never heard of it, but he said that a few doctors have mentioned it to him but I don't think he's been officially diagnosed with it.

wantnbbs · 07-11-2008, 12:45 AM

RSD ( Reflux Sympathetic Distrophy or some refere to it as Chronic Regional Pain Syndrom) is a very painful disease. My husband got it from a motorvehicle acciedet. It was a combo of the leg injury and the brain injury. You should do some reserch on it. You get it from nerve trauma to the sympathetic nervouse system. I know of someone who got it from breaking their toe, had surgery, and the doc hit a nerve. It can be debilitating, and so painful that people with it have a high suicidal rate. THE GOOD news is that it can be treated.... minor to moderate with narcotics ( powerful ones) anti epileptic drugs, and drugs that act on the central nervouse system. Bery severe cases you can do a sympathectomy. My husband had his done 2 weeks ago today.... and would you beleive that he has no pain??? he has had pain for 3 years and woke up from hte surgery pain free!!! He is also able to wear sandals and walk around barefoot which is something he has not been able to do!!! It is an invasive surgery.. but well worth it. There are a lot of risks and side effects, but you have to way your options. I wouldnt say your husband has it, but it wouldnt suprise me..... You can look it up on wikki, google, web md, or mayo......... it has its own website that will pop up on google. Good Luck!!!!!!

PinkJen · 07-12-2008, 02:36 PM

I'm glad to hear your husband is pain free! That's amazing! I know what you mean by how the little things like walking barefoot are something to look forward to now! I get excited when my husband has a good day and can go for a little walk on the beach with me or go to the fair! Lol, it sounds like you and your husband have the same luck when it comes to health that my husband and I have! Just one thing after another! I'll have to talk to my husband more about the RSD, he told me he had heard some doctors talk about it, and he knew the general info on it, but he should seriously talk to a doctor about it, you never know, there may be something they can do! Thanks for sharing the info!