Good News! Swelling in my right foot went down dramatically over the course of yesterday (Day 11), and like magic, my right leg's ability to carry out normal walking functions vastly improved. It is still not quite up to the left leg's recovery yet, but hopefully it will continue to catch up. Also, although it might be wishful thinking, tt seems as if I am regaining some feeling in the 4 square inch swath of leg that has been lacking any sensation for the past 4-5 days.
Also, a little comically, I tried to take an actual shower 2 days ago for the first time (rather than just washing my hair in the sink - yeah, do the math, it means I didn't really wash my body for 11 days - It was an experience). I was warned not to get the incisions wet and was told garbage bags could provide the necessary protection - MAJOR MISTAKE- By the end of the shower, both legs were pretty soaked, and since I kept my ace bandages on during the shower, the incisions were to a certain extent being continually kept in water. Since it was already day 11, I hope it wasn't to damaging (and it was also a pretty quick shower), but a word of advice - If, unlike me, you need to actually be a real person during the initial 10 days of your recovery, and thus actually shower, I would recommend investing in something like this - It seems a tad expensive, and I'm sure if you look around you could find something cheaper - But really, it's not worth putting your recovery in jeopardy by screwing with your incisions, so be careful.
My first post-op appointment with the surgeon is tomorrow, and I am hoping he will tell me I can begin physical therapy - We'll see how it goes....
Sounds like recovery is going well! I'm 26 and just had all 4 compartments release in both legs on April 6. It seems like advice is different surgeon to surgeon. Mine told me I don't have to worry about getting the incisions wet, just to use mild anti-bacterial soap. My recovery sounds much like yours. About day 3 I was walking like a champ, didn't need my crutches much, apparently I over did it, because the next day my right left was swollen like crazy. Seems like I went backward after that.
ReplyDeleteTom
I think you're doing the athletes of the world a service by blogging and wanted to add my own story, if you don't mind.
ReplyDeleteI pretty much self-diagnosed Compartment Syndrome while training for my first marathon last year. I could run no more than 0.75 miles, rarely 1 mile, before the pain and numbness started setting in to my shins. It wasn't excruciating pain, but enough to discourage further running. I saw a sports doctor and he agreed with Compartment Syndrome as the diagnosis. He performed X-Rays to rule out stress fractures and did an MRI which was inconclusive. I did not have a pressure test done (which left me somewhat uncomfortable, as we were proceeding with surgery on a symptomatic diagnosis rather than having clinical evidence).
On Wednesday (4/13/11; I'm writing this on 4/18/11), I had the lateral and anterior compartments released in both of my legs. The surgery took about an hour; I was wheeled into the OR about 8:30AM and left the hospital before 1PM. The hospital wouldn't let me leave until I urinated. When I woke up the nurse gave me a walker to go down the hall to the toilet. The thing was such a pain that I carried it back to my bed. I went home with crutches and pretended to use them until my followup appointment with the surgeon the next morning. He checked the incisions and told me that if I didn't feel I needed the crutches, I didn't have to use them. So, essentially, I didn't use crutches at all after my surgery.
The incisions are somewhat tender, as you'd expect, but not greatly so. Worse is the bruising I have just below each knee and above each ankle. That's still sore. I went to work on Friday after my Wednesday surgery and walked around the local street festival with my kids on Saturday. I can pick up the kiddos and move pretty much normally. My legs are somewhat swollen (which is obvious after taking off white cotton socks) but by now I'm using my regular walking gait, not the shuffle I was doing the first few days after surgery. I do find that I get a little sore after standing for a while, but heck, I'm only four days post-op. I used compression bandages for 2 days and have tried to keep my feet elevated when I can but I haven't been a fanatic about that.
I have one incision on each leg, about halfway up my calf, on the outside of my (sexily shaved, I might add) leg. The incisions are about 3 inches long, I'd guess... I can't really see them under the bandages and tape. The doctor explained that he'd insert a long pair of scissors into the incision and nick the fascia. Then, like you'd cut Christmas wrapping paper, he'd just slide the scissors down the leg to open the fascia, retreat, then do the same thing up the leg to the knee. Apparently he was able to do both compartments from the same incision.
I am quite honestly astonished at my recovery. I don't feel confident enough to run yet, but I may go out on Saturday and at least walk. I did not need the use of any pain medication at all, though I've been taking naproxen (Aleve) religiously (as prescribed) for its anti-inflammatory properties.
My doctor was Dr. Keith Meister of TMI Sports Medicine in Arlington, Texas. He's the team doctor for the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Stars, so he's got some credibility (at least in my opinion). I'd certainly go back to him if I had to do it all over again.
Of course, I don't know yet whether or not this procedure has relieved my symptoms. That's where the rubber meets the road and I do harbor some nervousness about that. If this doesn't solve the problems, I'll be pretty bummed out.
Everything about your experience sounds encouraging! My only question is, how were the superficial posterior and deep posterior compartments ruled out for releasing? Was there some other diagnostic that the doctor used to decide they were not the issue?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input!
I see you all wrote on this blog a while back, but I would love any advice, etc you can give m. My 9 year-old was diagnosed with Compartment Syndrome this evening and is having a fasciotomy on both legs Tuesday....any info would be great! She is the youngest they have seen so I am a bit nervous!
ReplyDeleteMy 16 year old daughter, who is a competetive HS runner, had a faciotomy 8 days ago on all 4 compartments of one leg. She was doing well on day 5, but then relapsed with the PT. Hasn't been able to come close to walking on her leg yet. Swelling in the ankle is way down, but still plenty of pain and bruising and some numbness. My advice is to not be in a hurry and be sure the person has lots of help the first week.
ReplyDeleteI really wonder about the posts I read in which people write they are walking the same day, or within a couple days. After what I see with my daughter, I find that astonishing that someone could walk to the restroom right after the sugery....I don't see how that is possible.
My daughter is now 6 weeks from the first surgery and has been doing some light running and has been walking fine for a couple weeks now. The recovery really sped up after week 3. Other leg being operated on this week.
ReplyDeleteAdvice: Go to PT, go to PT go to PT!!