Understanding chronic exertional compartment syndrome

[@bradleymcintire814]

I’m in the military and I developed this over the first few months in (following an increase in body weight and running distance). Very uncomfortable if I push through it I get drop foot and tingling in my feet. Very frustrating.

[@NKActiveClinics]

Sorry to hear you are suffering from this. Yes, military recruits are one of the most common groups we see this in, especially new recruits, I think part of it is with basic training and tabbing, a lot of people don't do a lot of the physical prep work prior to joining. The biomechanical overload syndrome was actually developed in the military as they found if they made the soldiers stronger, in some work on the way they walked, things got better. This is partly also where the rough guidelines of squatting body weight and dead lifting 1.5 X body weight came from. In the clinic during the rehab process, we get the military patients to do rehab with their kit (or equivalent weight) on. Hope your symptoms get better and hope you are getting the required support. If not we can help. Thanks, Nick

[@theavalanchman]

This ended my army career. Even though I was a pt stud I couldn’t pass a pt test to save my life. Listen up. When you get out make sure you get 30% for chin splints. Don’t forget this. Make them pay.

[@blakeraustad7674]

@@theavalanchmanI have this and am in now I can run like 2 days a week any more and my feet go numb what’s ur advice?

[@ViloAfi]

Hi thank you for this video. I get this in both legs whether I am walking or running or skateboarding or snowboarding . I have to sit down in pain after about 10 mins of exercises, if I stop and rest for 15 mins often it stops and doesn't come back but if I don't stop long enough it starts up again. So annoying.

[@NKActiveClinics]

Sorry to hear about this, yes those symptoms would fit, my advice would be to see a medical professional to get an assessment and help build a treatment plan

[@travismondalk]

I’m a high school cross country/track runner who has dealt with shin splints and other overuse injuries before. Recently, when I’d get about 15 minutes into a run my lower legs would start feeling tight and ache sort of like a shin splint so then i’d stop running. The pain would usually continue for about 10-15 minutes and then would usually settle after that. I also feel the ache towards the end of a school day sometimes after I’ve walked around for a while, but it’s usually not as bad. I took 3 weeks off thinking it was shin splints, went on a run, and then the same pain and tightness came back. I had an MRI to rule out a stress fracture and I have no stress fractures. Could CECS be a possibility?

[@NKActiveClinics]

Thanks for the message. Yes CECS could be a possibilty or Biomechanical over load syndrome, however I would expect the pain to be more intense, did the MRI scan show any boney bruising?

[@rayralf90]

I do have the pain after exertion. Burning pain in the two calves. But I have another type of pain that's constant and feels like my legs will blow up. Everyone with CECS seems to only report the first kind of pain after exertion. I'm seeing doctors but can really use the advice. Do you think this can happen with CECS? The constant pain?

[@NKActiveClinics]

Thanks for the question. with CECS pain will not continue, with Biomechanical over load syndrome (BOS), pain will not continue after, however as with BOS it is often related to reduced strength in the legs and calf you can get muscle pain after. The other option to consider is popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. Happy to have an appointment face to face or video if you are not local

[@rayralf90]

Thank you for your quick response. My doctor suggested we look into that too. Will reach out if I need an appointment. Thanks a lot🙏🙏