Do I Have Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome?

Do you experience tightness in the affected limb?

Do you experience weakness of the affected limb?

Do you experience an aching, burning or cramping pain in a compartment of the affected limb?

Is there swelling or bulging?

Do you experience numbness or tingling in the affected limb?

Do you have foot drop (if legs are affected)?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have chronic exertional compartment syndrome. This is a muscle and nerve condition, induced by exercise, that causes one or more symptoms including pain, swelling, and disability in the affected muscles. The condition is commonly found among young adult runners and people who do activities with repetitive impact.

Based on your answers, you are displaying one or more signs of chronic exertional compartment syndrome. Our limbs have different compartments, or specific areas of muscle. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome often happens in the same compartment of an affected limb on both sides of the body. Usually, you feel pain after you start moving the affected limb. As you keep moving, the pain worsens, then it decreases or goes away within 15 minutes of stopping the exercise. Recovery time can increase over time. If you stop exercising, the symptoms may go away, however, once you start exercising again, they may come back.

Based on your answers, you are displaying the signs typically seen among individuals who have chronic exertional compartment syndrome. If you have unusual pain, weakness, swelling, and/or loss of sensation while exercising, visit your doctor. Treatment options for chronic exertional compartment syndrome include both nonsurgical and surgical methods. Sometimes, chronic exertional compartment syndrome is mistaken for shin splints.