Compartment Syndrome In Colorado Springs, CO
When pressure within the muscles builds up to dangerous levels, it can cause a painful condition known as compartment syndrome. This condition decreases blood flow throughout the body and often affects the lower legs. Compartment syndrome can be acute or chronic and treatment is necessary to reduce pain and relieve some of the excess pressure buildups.
Dealing with Compartment Syndrome
Compartment syndrome can happen anywhere in the body but is most common in the lower legs. You might experience symptoms like muscle pain, swelling of the muscle, numbness, and tightness. It can be difficult to move the affected body part and it can cause you severe pain.
Symptoms might start suddenly after a specific cause. This could be if a bandage or cast is wrapped too tightly. This is an example of acute compartment syndrome. If you’re dealing with chronic compartment syndrome, you might notice that symptoms appear gradually after exercising and start to fade after resting.
Compartment syndrome can be severe and might need immediate treatment. If you’re dealing with acute compartment syndrome, surgery is needed to relieve the pressure that has built up in the muscle. Once the surgery is done, you’ll need to undergo physical therapy to help restore movement in that area of your body.
You might just need to make some lifestyle changes to deal with chronic compartment pain. You should avoid activities that might cause pain and switch to low-impact exercises. Anti-inflammatory painkillers and orthotics can also help relieve pain and discomfort. If your symptoms continue to persist, you may need surgery.