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compartment syndrome; knowledge/ideas?
Topic Started: Mar 17 2007, 08:25 PM (248 Views)
african lion strength
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anyone heard of compartment syndrome in the forearms, and how to deal with it whilst continuing to train? Cheers
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DARKHORSE
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I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF COMPARTMENT SYNDROME IN THE ARMS, BUT I HAD IT IN MY LOWER LEGS 4 YEARS AGO.

I GOT THIS FROM TOO MUCH LEGS TRAINING, THE ONLY TREATMENT FOR ME WAS SURGERY AND HAD THE 4 COMPOUND MUSCLE GROUPS IN MY CALFS AND SHINS CUT OPEN TO RELEAVE THE TENSION IN THE MUSCLE SACK. GOT TO TELL YOU IF REALLY HURT BUT NOW MY LOWER LEGS ARE WIDER THAN MY QUADS, AND YOU CAN TRAIN THE HELL OUT THEM NOW.

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african lion strength
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Thanks for your response Darkhorse. Apparently it can occur in the lower legs as well as the forearms. This is common amongst bikers - long periods of 'death grip' on handle bars. I am considering non invasive options because my doctor has suggested that if I perservere it will eventually go away. He has also suggested ultrasound treatment in the future.


A few questions please; in your case, did you try any other options to no avail before considering surgery? Did you mean it hurt before surgery as well as after surgery? Also how long after surgery before you could be training your lower legs, and pushing really heavy?

Amazing thing about your lower limbs being bigger than your quads now! Maybe I can get popeye forearms! :P
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DARKHORSE
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ALS, in answer to your questions about my case.

The pains i had prior to the operation and evenmore after the operations.
Unfortunatley there was no other option for me but surgery, i perservered for a while with the pains, stopped calf training, consulted doctor who diagnosed shin splints, but thing just did not get better eigher with ultrasound and physio. eventually doctor sent me to hospital and was diagnosed with compartment syndrome, told by surgeon that if had left much longer could have caused serious problems, because of the muscles cutting off the blood flow and so to the lower parts of my legs and feet.

after the operation i took 6 months off of training to try and sort things out, got stuck into work and the 6 months became 4 years, and i have been back training for about a year now. and started strongman.
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african lion strength
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Thanks again Darkhorse for answering those questions. It just seems a bit more clearer and empathic coming from another athlete in the game. I will see how it goes but will be careful about not leaving it too long. Best of luck in your continuing efforts in the game :respect
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Dunkster
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I had it in both of my lower legs and had to have them operated on and now mine are also bigger and stronger than ever.
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african lion strength
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Cheers Dunkster, sounds encouraging. How long was your recovery?
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big pete

in the lower leg, what type of pain is it?

ive got real pain shooting up the inside of my calves (just under where the peak *should* be) very tender, throbs when touched etc etc, would that sound about right? or is it a differant thing?

cheers chaps!
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ballsofstone
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compartment syndrome is indeed a dangerous animal. Like posted earlier the blood supply can get cut of and also lymph vessels can get pinched creating edema thus compounding the problem. Nerve impingment is another issue because they are compressed for any length of time, the damage is permanent.

The surgery is quite simple and usually successful, the one problem being where the slice the fascia it can bind back on itself creating scar tissue and thus not enlarging the compartment.

If you wish to try non surgical intravention find someone who doe myofascial release, a good sports massage therapist do this or find someone who does something like Graston Technique to try and spread the fascia and make it more pliabe.

If you start getting pain and a pressurized feeling on a regular basis get it dealt with because the only solution for necrotized tissue is to cut it out
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big pete

^^^^

right then, definately gonna get a spots massage first, then see what happens from there
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