Chandra's Latest Update

February 22, 2009

*warning: Compartment Syndrome Rant*

It's incredible how many people have this condition and have had the surgery. On the World Cup Team both Sara Renner and I have now had the surgery (she in 2004). Now just because Renner did it don't go thinking it's super cool... it's not. With Sarah Daitch and Stefan Kuhn on the Development Team both having had the surgery as well, it turns out that almost 25% of Canada's Senior National Team has had surgery for this condition. It's painful and frustrating and takes many people a while to get the real help they need. If you know someone who had Compartment Syndrome and found a way to cure it without surgery, I would be very interested to hear about it! From my understanding there is a large genetic component that predisposes one to the chronic condition (very different from the acute) and in fact Canada's leading surgeon for this procedure, Dr. Mohtadi, has operated on entire families. The genetic factor combined with the training load and repetitive movements of training day in and day out for a specific sport can cause it to escalate to the point where surgery is needed.

I have had Compartment Syndrome on and off for four years. At times it was so bad I would stumble from my hotel room at some World Cup race and kneel with my bare legs in the snowbank attempting to get some relief. No amount of stretching, strengthening, cryotherapy, acupuncture, IMS needling, voodoo, active release or massage really helped. The one thing that has been effective for me has been Myofascial Release Therapy administered in 90-minute weekly treatments by a very specialized therapist in Calgary. With religious dedication to getting these slow, gentle, fascia-specific sessions, the shin pain disappeared completely and I enjoyed 17 months without any limiting flare-ups.

Then the mega flare-up of a running time trial in Canmore in November led to the failing of the shins which caused the feet to slap down. As I continued to hammer enthusiastically while vividly imagining the world cup glory my hard work would soon be earning me in the bright sunshine of a crisp but snowless early winter day I was actually pounding a bone bruise and tendon problem into my right lower leg.

I missed all the races trying to resolve these issues but when I started trying to strengthen my legs again in January my shins really flared up. I finally got this pressure test and when the 15-minute procedure was over I thought: "That's IT?! Pump up the shins and get poked with a needle... Why didn't I do this a couple YEARS ago?!"

The reason it took so long to get this test it is of course considered better to be able to manage your symptoms and keep on truckin' then to get surgery. However, I now see this as a delaying of the inevitable. I don't think anyone escapes with Compartment Syndrome. For some people it even comes back a few years after surgery in other compartments, as in the case of American skier Kris Freeman who just raced to an amazing 4th place at the World Championships in the Czech Republic and will be having his second surgery next week. I now believe that athletes are wasting thier time, their money and physios time trying to treat something that cannot be cured with treatment alone. Not only that, the pressure test is relatively simple and you can go back to normal training in a day or two. The tough part is convincing a doctor to do the test, and naturally other lower leg problems with bones and whatnot must be ruled out.

At least I was finally able to make moves and get the surgery. It went really well on Tuesday the 17th. I spent the day at the Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary doing various pre and post op things, which consisted mostly of intravenous anti-biotics and dozing. The big decision of the day was whether to have the spinal or general anesthetic. The main difference seemed to be your level of awareness, and when I confessed to a certain level of anxiety while watching the tv show Grey's Anatomy we decided I would prefer to wake up when it's over.

My mom Louise and my physio Susan Masitti were a calming presence. Susan, Dr. Meeuwisse and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mohtadi looked so cool in scrubs that they made a good case for their inclusion in the aforementioned hospital soap opera. The anesthesiologist guided me to happy thoughts of skiing in Italy as I drifted off into oblivion. I awoke to two tensor bandaged wrapped lower legs having just undergone bilateral anterior and lateral compartment faciotomies (translation: entering by way of one small incision in each leg, 2 compartments in each leg were opened with a 15cm incision each). Neat-O!

I'm now living quite comfortably on the hide-a-bed in my living room enjoying the visitors very much as well as the flowers and food that they bring. Junior National Team member Emily Nishikawa came down for the Western Canadian Championships here in Canmore this weekend and although she is a fellow compartment sister and destined for the same surgery next month, she is right now really helping me hold down the fort. Together we are butchering random pop songs on the guitar. Our recent hits include "Paper Planes" by MIA and "All Good Things Come To An End" by Nelly Furtado.

The pain has been minimal and I'm able to walk a little better everyday. With the shin fascia all sliced up my foot hangs limply with each step and it feels as though I have 5 foot flippers on. By next week I hope to try a stationary bike and be back in action in 3-6 weeks after a very gradual progression.

With my compartments released I am optimistic that the new-found freedom of the nerves and blood vessels will help the other problems to heal up as well...

What a winter!!

Thanks for the support,

Chandra