Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome Pressure Gauge

To diagnose chronic exertional compartment syndrome in the two posterior muscle compartments of my lower legs, a large needle is used.

First the doctor anesthetizes the area, then pushes the needle in until it punctures the fasciae. You can see when this happens in the video -- twice for each leg, though you only see one leg gauged here. The needle pushes then pops through, and I probably flinch :p. I am anesthetized, but still can feel the pressure. It doesn't hurt at first, but is distinctly uncomfortable, and once the needle goes deep into my leg, I can really feel it.

Saline is injected into the muscle compartment, and the back pressure is recorded in mmHg (millimeters mercury.)This is done before working out/aggravating the syndrome, and again afterwards.

When the doctor says at the end, "41 and 39, 38 and 30," he's telling me what the pressure reading was at the end of the appointment. Prior to working out, the pressure readings were between mostly between 15 and 18 mmHg.

=====

I had the fascial release surgery twice, for all of the compartments in my lower legs, with outstanding results. A month after, I was running again, and watching my muscles reshape and gain definition. Now I can engage in almost all physical activities without a hindrance. If you have more questions, please feel free to send me a message.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• medical
• physical
• therapy
• legs
• compartment
• syndrome
• calf
• needle
• medicine
• pressure
• gauge
• soleus
• gastrocnemious
• tibialis
• anterior
• posterior
• surgery
• fascia
• fascial
• release
• fasciotomy

[85305]

I'm in the Army and my Doc tells me I have chronic exertional compartment syndrome. I'm going in the 15th of this month (april) to have the pressure readings taken. He says they do a static reading, then one either during or after (dont remember) working out and agitating my legs.

Man I'm kinda doubting the whole surgery thing and testing thing now, seeing how big that needle is. And apparently after some people get surgery they never run again??? Ouch.

Can you give me advice and info please?

[ZipGoodie]

I'd be glad to talk to you about it. I'll send you a message soon!

[SIMACC1]

I had the surgey because I began running senior year of HS and after 2 months of went from a 6:00 mile to a 4:30 mile, afraid to take months off for recovery after pain began, I opted to have this surgey which I was told " you'll be back running in 3 weeks"

[ZipGoodie]

I'm sorry to hear that man. I've talked to a lot of people about this and haven't heard of any cases where the fasciotomy actually made things worse, only about times when it knit itself back together, negating the effect of the surgery. Sounds to me like your doc screwed you over. I ended up having the fasciotomy on all of my lower-leg compartments, and my performance and muscles are fine (though definitely larger and more defined).

Best of luck to you!

[ZipGoodie]

(Oh, and sorry for deleting your first comment. I meant to hit reply, but clicked "remove" by accident.)

[surgicalgown]

With respect:For acute compartment syndrome I recommend NOT to measure pressures but to base your decision to operate on your clinical exam.Measurements are fraught with error and I have seen too many disasters from ignoring clinical judgment and soley relying on such measurements

[ZipGoodie]

Yes, this would be a big "duh" for any licensed doctor, to be sure.

This is chronic, exertional compartment syndrome, the much less common form of compartment syndrome.

[habibigirl2011]

im 16 years old and I have had Chronic Exertional Compartment syndrome in both of my feet for 7 years now, i got it from playing basketball 6 times a week and exercising to much, my testing with the needle came out to be 73mmHg and after 5 minutes when down to 61mmHg, i had the operation for this on both of my feet at the same time and the success rate is 97% and it didnt work, i have the operation in 2007 and it has seemed to got worse over the past few years, dr's dont know how to fix it.

[johnsonx19]

i forgot i posted on this video haha finally i got the dr to get me an appointment to get my pressure tests to determine whether i need surgery and of course i know im going to. why hasn't anybody posted a video of the running or something b4 and after? i think i should. im an athlete and this bullshit has got me sidelined im so hungry to run again.

[filoo1]

So today I made the tests to see if the operations in the posterior muscle helped. And I got the same pressure as before the surgery, the pressure was 59mmHg (!) So the doctor asked me if I wanted to a second surgery. The question is if I should operate again?

[filoo1]

@felicito16 Recovery were about 3 or 4 weeks. I made the pressure tests today to see how high the pressure is. And it´s exactly the same pressure as before the surgery, the pressure is 59 (!) so the operation didn´t help at all. I will maybe operate again, but I´m doubtful.

[Randomname80510]

I've had compartment syndrome in both calf muscles for over twenty years. Most doctors haven't got a clue to how to treat it let alone how to conduct a surgical procedure for it. I went to the Steadman clinic in Vail Colorado. To my amazement they had a surgeon there who was quite experienced in the issue. Its rough surgery and only time will tell but I'm hopeful one day I can run again.

[MrPhipper]

oh my god thats a big fuckin needle

[johnsonx19]

this horrible syndrome destroyed my football career and my doc put me through stupid physical therapy which was a big waste. please tell me what steps u take to get this all checked out and eventually healed. my doctors are being difficult 4real

[surkvey]

@filoo1 Yep. I had compartment releases in all of my compartments in both legs. It hasn't changed much.

[felicito16]

@filoo1 how long was recovery?

[filoo1]

I made surgery in both right and left leg last year. I had compartment syndrom in posterior(back calf) and the Dr. told me that surgery were the only solution for me if I wanted to go back to play soccer. I made calf raises, and after one minute the mmHg were on like 40-50. Well the operations have helped, but I still get symptoms when I play indoors or running treadmills, do anybody have the same problems?

[yana2815]

@kyle12man I had bruises from the test. More like little black and blues actually. The MD stuck me 12 times in total and though it wasn't pleasant, it wasn't terribly painful. What was amazing to me is that after this test, my calves felt incredible. I ran the day after my test and it was the best run I've had in over 2 years. The test seemed to have released a lot of pressure.

[pepe23581]

i got this test done and it messured 30 before i ran then 140 after... just got the surgery done on my left leg.. it sucks haha.. dont know if it is going to work yet. but i can tell u it hurts

[nkl1201]

I had the compartment pressure test today (on both legs,) and it was no big deal. Yeah, a bit of a "pinch" here and there, but nothing to worry about. I was starting to freak out after seeing some people's reactions during their test, but I did NOT have any local anesthetic and was fine. Don't worry, folks!

[EdudLufetips]

does anyone find that the symptoms just go away for a long period of time? i have this condition, but have always been reluctant to get the surgery because it'll put me out of commission for at least a month and sometimes goes away for many months.

it's frustrating because it often reoccurs when i reach my peak cardiovascular fitness... having to stop every 3 minutes due to sharp burning, swelling, and pain.

i guess i have 2 questions:

1. is it covered by insurance?

2. how long was recovery?

[Excecutioner147]

@m1am1can3sfan had the surgery myself in 2004, was great after, spent one nite then home, was running 5 times aweek with no prob but 15months later prob again.....whoever has the surgery good luck hope all works out

[m1am1can3sfan]

2) what did recovery consist of? was it outpatient? were you on crutches? physical therapy? etc.

[m1am1can3sfan]

just had this test today, and i've got it everywhere but the two posteriors. at first while watching this i was like "crap, 41? that's much higher than mine!" but then i kept reading and saw this was after the working out. i didn't even get to the workout part, as the pressure was in the 30's in every compartment other than the posterior, so it wasn't necessary to keep going.

couple questions:

1) i've been dealing with shin splints caused by this for 4 years now. what was your reason? and

[ddaavvoo1]

THAT SUCKS! im getting testing done this upcoming monday...

[MattCW158]

@freemnfl sorry this is pkrdude158 on a new avatar.

I had mine done on private health care. In a hospital in London (cant remember which one). My compartment syndrome was chronic (brought on gradually from too much regular, intense exercise) NOT acute (from trauma)! Maybe people who had a LOT of pain were acute cases? I have to say, although it looked a bit gross, it wasn't very painful for me!

[freemnfl]

@pkrdude158 where did you go? I have seen both done...and prefer your method hands down!

[tsns1]

@rysewell1 Dam,

[britbrat01316]

ahh,, i got this done yesterday, i got needles stuck in my legs 18 times then they finally diagnosed me with it.. They say i need surgery on both of my legs now, i really think i am going to wait til after soccer season.

bak to the test it hurt like hell so whoever says this is not painful is a liar lol

also my pressures at the start were 8-13 and by the end after exercise it was between 40-80