Can anyone talk to me about compartment syndrome please?

[Charliegirl21]

Hello

Briefly, I started running about 6 weeks ago. I am really unfit, but I have lost weight before that and am also doing exercise classes too.

I have found running hard, not a natural runner at all, but I have stuck with it and the hardest thing has been how difficult I find it to breath when I'm running!

However, last week I ran and I got a pain in the bottom of my legs, sort of in the bottom of my calves at the front. Really painful, I couldn't keep running. It felt like my skin was too tight for my legs. I didn't run for a few days but did again this morning and the same thing happened, I had to stop it hurt so much.

I have looked online and compartment syndrome came up. It mentions pins and needles which I do get in one foot when I exercise sometimes and did again this morning.

It says to go to the doc but I feel I should wait to see if it eases off and is just a muscle strain. I don't know if because I am fat and unfit I have just overdone it.

Thank you for any replies.

sounds more like shin splints

Thank you for replying.

Sorry I should have read my OP properly, the pain is at the back of my calves not front. Which doesn't seem to tie in with shin splints. Someone else has suggested Achilles' tendon. Thank you again for the response.

Definitely not compartment syndrome! Sounds like Achilles tendonopathy previously known as Achilles tendonitis. You need rest, consider anti-inflammatories and look at your footwear, seek specialist running help.

Thank you Beaver! Appreciate the reply and advice.

I got proper running shoes fitted with gait analysis etc at the weekend thinking it would help so was disappointed when it appeared not to. Thank you again.