Before I get completely banned or manage to extricate myself from RW...I thought I would move a few of my more valuable (in my opinion) posts over here. Here's one about Compartment Syndrome that was my answer to someone's question who thought they might have it and was considering surgery to correct it. I'll get my pictures moved over soon.
I was diagnosed with compartment syndrome in both legs a few years ago. After about 2 years of the military (best doctors you can get with little or no experience whatsoever) misdiagnosing it as shin splints, I went to a civilian sports medicine clinic. He was pretty excited to find a case of true compartment syndrome and brought in his medical students off of their rounds so that he could show them and allow them to ask me questions about it. I was a rockstar for a few weeks. Anyway, I guess it's pretty rare and the only way to truly diagnose it is to induce the symptoms and then jab a big a$$ needle in your legs to check the pressure. So, are you sure you have it???
Anyway, they presented me with two options: 1) stop running forever and the problem will go away or 2) have surgery to "release" the fascia surrounding the muscles on the front and back of the leg from ankle to knee. I opted for the surgery. I have some nice scars on the outside of each lower leg. I'll try to find the pictures and post (they are especially ghoulish). They basically split the fascia and it allows the muscles to expand out and not have the pressure build up inside.
The day after the surgery, I thought perhaps I had made a mistake. My legs felt like they were on fire for about two weeks. The recovery was a bit of a pain, but I followed the prescribed exercises closely and I haven't had any problems since. Looking back I'm glad I did it.
Oh, this was before I was running barefoot. I don't know if this matters to you.
I was diagnosed with compartment syndrome in both legs a few years ago. After about 2 years of the military (best doctors you can get with little or no experience whatsoever) misdiagnosing it as shin splints, I went to a civilian sports medicine clinic. He was pretty excited to find a case of true compartment syndrome and brought in his medical students off of their rounds so that he could show them and allow them to ask me questions about it. I was a rockstar for a few weeks. Anyway, I guess it's pretty rare and the only way to truly diagnose it is to induce the symptoms and then jab a big a$$ needle in your legs to check the pressure. So, are you sure you have it???
Anyway, they presented me with two options: 1) stop running forever and the problem will go away or 2) have surgery to "release" the fascia surrounding the muscles on the front and back of the leg from ankle to knee. I opted for the surgery. I have some nice scars on the outside of each lower leg. I'll try to find the pictures and post (they are especially ghoulish). They basically split the fascia and it allows the muscles to expand out and not have the pressure build up inside.
The day after the surgery, I thought perhaps I had made a mistake. My legs felt like they were on fire for about two weeks. The recovery was a bit of a pain, but I followed the prescribed exercises closely and I haven't had any problems since. Looking back I'm glad I did it.
Oh, this was before I was running barefoot. I don't know if this matters to you.
