Recovery Rate from Fasciotomy?? Does it work?

Ask for a mri to rule out osteomyelitis, bone infection. You described how i felt too after surgery and my surgeon and stupid infectious disease doctor, both brushed it off as overactive nerve pain. It grew for months until the pain was completely crippling. Had to have surgery and antibiotics for a year, including iv fusion at home. Definitely get it checked. Hope this helps

Hello there! Who is the guest that mentioned Popliteal entrapment? My daughter (16) is also dealing with that and just had her first leg done in August. I would love a chance to talk with you about your experience with this. Could I give you my email?

Our daughter was a ballerina who was in the studio every day on pointe until she had such chronic pain she had compartment release surgeries in her lower legs. She had to give up dance - the surgeries didn’t help the pain. it is 9 years later and she doesn’t have pain because she doesn’t trIn at anything but her legs are now heavy in comparison to the rest of her body and I wonde4 if it’s because of the fascia release. Anyone else have weight gain in the area where the fascia was released?

My advice as a mom of a daughter who had a Fasciotomy in both legs in high school for chronic compartment syndrome is give up your sport. Our daughter had her Fasciotomies 9 years ago but still had pain afterward and ultimately had to gave up her spor anyway. She doesn’t have pain any more but probably only because she no longer does the sport that made the muscles swell. Looking back on it, I think she would have been better off not having the faciotomy since it didn’t help and she had to give up her sport anyway. It’s not what kids who love their sports want to hear, and we gave into our child and let her have the surgeries but in the long run, the outcome was the same. No more sport

i Sympathize with you having a daughter who had the surgeries in both legs but ultimately gave up the sport anyway. Her legs are now heavy and I wonder if it’s becUse of the surgery but she doesn’t have pain. Your daughters issue sounds serious, it seeems the best thing would be to give up the running if that’s what’s causing the chronic fasciitis. How is she today, a year after your post? I hope doing better

Can you email me link to you blog? I am about to undergo surgery in all 4 compartments and looking for any info. Thanks ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** posting of private information such as name, phone number or email address is not allowed in order to protect your privacy*** Please read our Terms of Use

I am a former soccer player who suffered from what many doctors told me was “shin splints”, but was eventually diagnosed with chronic compartment syndrome during my first season of college soccer. My symptoms were so bad that I would experience pain when walking quickly. In fact during the pressure testing they only did the at rest and exercise pressures because my pressures were so high, so they were confident that I had compartment syndrome. I had my first fasciotomy to release all four compartments in both legs that same year. However, the surgery did not work and I had to quit the sport I loved. I eventually had a second one done two years later due to a continuation of symptoms. Neither surgery worked and if anything I felt as though my symptoms had progressed and gotten worse. I can no longer walk without pain and numbness or climb stairs. I recently saw some amazing medical personnel at Mayo Clinic who found that not only did I suffer from compartment syndrome, but I also had popliteal artery and vein entrapment syndrome. Which is probably why my surgeries didn’t work. I am slated to have a fascietomy and popliteal entrapment syndrome surgery this summer. Hopefully this does the trick because it has greatly impacted my life. Although it is a horrible condition and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone it is comforting to know that I am not crazy when I tell the doctors the surgeries didn’t work. So many doctors told me “oh well the compartments are released so it can’t be that anymore”. I am so thankful for Mayo for believing and helping me. I wish you all the best in your roads to treatment for compartment syndrome!

okay this is so upsetting. They say this is rare but why am I seeing tons of posts of people with this syndrome. I had a faciotomy I didn't spell it right, but it worked for about a year as I have never really been a runner mine I think is hereditary because I have not really faced trauma on my leg. I have gained a TON of weight due to not being able to exercise or even walk without extreme pain and feeling like my muscles are cramping so badly. I want something done because I have lived with this since I was a teen. I remember never being able to truly run because of it. Sadly I'm kinda relieved to see that the faschiotomy didn't work permanently because I have told doctors I had it and it came back and they think I'm crazy. They say it's not possible but my pain begs to differ. I have a high tolerance for pain too and I had lived with it for so many years and I thought the surgery was the answer and now I am severely overweight and can't even walk long distances. What is a faschietomy?

had a fasciotomy from a broken fibula/tibia, and knee fracture. Driver was texting when he hit me. At 60, now 70, recovery has been a long long continuous road of pain. During the 10 yrs.a huge scar from tissue overlapping has developed. Surgeon has tried to diswaye me by proscribing expensive 6 weeks + of in-office wrapping, unwrapping, rewrapping of leg. This is to see if there is sufficient circulation to heal??? He's the orig. plastic surgeon.I asked if he would require an emergency patient to do likewise in order to see if they were a good candidate for surgery? I think NOT.Original cost of 30 days in ICU, the 30 days in a recovery facility came to a wapping $325 K. Searching elsewhere for a surgeon.

There are actually 4 compartments in the lower leg.

I am a former marathon runner, (Three sub-3 hour marathons, among other distance races) and started having compartment syndrome issues around age 22. The problems became increasingly worse until I could not even run 1/2 mile without cramping/stabbing pain in both calves. I had the fasciotomy surgical procedure done (4 incisions, each leg) around 2005. I found the procedure fairly useless. It did NOT resolve the issue, despite that the surgeon's claim that he had performed many of the same procedures with good results. I tried to start running again a few times after the procedure, and continued to cramp. I just tried to jog again a few days ago, out of curiosity...building up with walking then a very slow jog over a few days...same cramping issues occurred, which then take 2-3 days to stop limping from the pain. I became a road cyclist 20 years ago, and am happy to report that I have never had compartment syndrome issues while bike riding. I miss running, but don't think I will ever be able to run again (age 59, now).

I need help and have questions as I have just had chronic compartment syndrome surgery, thank you.

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Hello dear one, have you had any replies to your post that were helpful. I am in the exact same situation.

I had all four compartments release on lower leg and one on upper leg. (All on the left leg) has been 5 weeks since and I started walking unassisted after 2.5 weeks. I had paralysis in the left foot and recieved an afo brace for foot drop. I am almost back to normal. Best advice I can give is KEEP MOVING!!! I cannot stress this enough. Laying in the hospital I would go through all leg movements even before I was closed up. Keep moving stimulate those nerve get those muscles working don't give up fight through the pain and keep pushing. You didn't learn to walk in a day and this is the same. It's depressing I know but don't give up. I stopped using the brace after a week and I'm now jogging. Eat PLENTY OF PROTEIN AND CALORIES. this is important because a fasciotomy requires alot of nutrition to heal. I am at 3500-4000 calories per day AND STILL LOSING WEIGHT! Set reminders to eat and drink plenty of fluids keep moving and pushing yourself physically and mentally. You will be back to normal if you take care of yourself and wound management.

Had fasciotomy on lower leg 2 years ago. Worse decision of my life. Have constant pain on top of my ankle where the tendons cross. Surgeon cut too low. My ankle snaps everytime I walk now. Has anyone else had this problem. I regret ever doing this and can barely walk now