Compartment syndrome?

[PNWbrit]

Got cracked in the side/back of calf last weekend... just above top of ski boot. Carried on skiing for a couple of hours until it became increasingly painful and a liability to rely on.

Vitamin I, ice, elevated , rested.

Sore on Sunday & Monday. Very Sore. Eased on Tuesday some and walked on it quite a bit. Felt like a common or garden bad calf strain.

Continued ice and heat, anti-inflams.

Wednesday discoloration and some (nothing crazy but definite) swelling spread around onto shin. By Friday pm swelling around Achilles and onto ankle lower leg somewhat ballooned above sock.

Intense pain almost all time, very tender to touch, hurts more when stretching calf, step awkwardly or off balance and it tends to collapse.

Going to see doc later today...

Fear compartment syn anything else should be appreciably better by now? Sounds fucking horrible and only treatable by surgery? Long rehab?

FUCK. FUCK, FUCK.

Any ideas?

[systemoverblow'd]

Sucks so close to the start of the season. Let us know what the Doc says as it doesn't sound good.

Heel up!

[The AD]

Good luck! I made the mistake of Googling compartment syndrome and it does not look pretty. Hopefully it's something else. In any event it's a good thing you are going to see a doctor.

[Maker]

dude if you even think you have compartment syndrome, get to an ER. that is some bad sh#t. I was a high risk of getting that earlier this year and the doc said my leg would have died if I had bc swelling blocks blood flow to the area

they need to cut little slits in your leg to reduce the pressure....that is what they did for me.

[coldfoot]

I would go to an emergency department at a hospital with a good trauma center ASAP. They can do a pretty simple test to see if the pressure in your leg is dangerously high and if necessary do a faschiotomy (sp?), which, while a pain in the ass, beats the hell out of amputation. Hopefully it's just a nasty bruise. Best of luck.

[PNWbrit]

Family Practitioner yesterday and more thorough exam from Orthopedic surgeon at ER this morning both gave it the CS all clear. Much relieved. Xrayed ok too.

[spindrift]

Sucks to have that kind of injury. Good to hear it does not look like the nasty stuff. Hope you heal fast.

Regarding coldfoot's post - if you ever need weird and crazy stuff diagnosed or done in a hurry, Harborview Medical Center is your go-to place...