Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome: My Running Journey

Wow, it has been a long time since I’ve written a blog post. Writing this one has been on my list for months, but life has been busy. I really wanted to share my experience with Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome (CECS) and everything I went through over the past year.

If you’re reading this and thinking “What is that?” — trust me, I thought the exact same thing when I was first diagnosed.

How It Started

Back in November 2024, I was running the Philadelphia Half Marathon with some friends.

During the race, I noticed that my foot started dragging while I was running.

Before the race, I had actually mentioned this to my podiatrist. I told her that my foot sometimes felt like it was dragging during runs. I specifically asked her if this was something that could affect the race because I didn’t want to push through something serious. Running a half marathon wasn’t worth risking a long-term injury.

She told me not to worry and cleared me to run.

So I ran the race.

The next day, everything changed.

When I tried to run again, I couldn’t run at all. Within 20–30 seconds of starting, my foot would completely stop picking up. I had drop foot.

The strange part? I had no other symptoms.

At the gym I could:

• Do box jumps

• Jump rope

• Lift weights

• Do CrossFit workout

The only thing I could not do was run.

It was extremely confusing.

The Long Road to Diagnosis

Over the next few months, I went through multiple MRIs of my leg.

Everything came back normal.

I also had EMG testing, which also came back normal.

Finally, one doctor suggested that it might be Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome, and recommended the official pressure testing.

If you’ve never heard of this test before — let me tell you — it was the most painful test I’ve ever done.

The process involved inserting needles into all four compartments of my leg to measure pressure levels. They numbed the area slightly, but it was still extremely uncomfortable.

First, they measured the pressure while I was at rest.

Then I had to run on a treadmill until my symptoms appeared.

Once my foot started dropping again, they inserted the needles again to measure the pressure after exercise.

The results came back positive for compartment syndrome.

At that point, the doctors explained that the traditional treatment would be a fasciotomy surgery. However, they did not want to perform this surgery on me because:

• I was still able to do CrossFit and other activities

• I was relatively young

• The surgery would leave a large scar on my leg and the recovery would be a long road

Trying Botox Treatment

The idea behind the Botox injections was that they could relax the muscles inside the compartment and relieve pressure.

We started with 200 units of Botox.

After the injections, I had to wait two weeks before trying to run again.

When I finally tested it out, I could run maybe one or two miles, but it didn’t feel like the issue was actually improving.

Three months later, we tried again with 300 units of Botox.

Unfortunately, it still wasn’t working.

The doctors admitted that I was somewhat of a case study, and there wasn’t a clear next step.

Meanwhile, I had now gone almost 10 months without being able to run.

Searching for Other Options

Eventually, after a lot of frustration, I started doing my own research.

I discovered that the Mayo Clinic specializes in Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome, and they offer a minimally invasive ultrasound-guided fasciotomy.

There are very few doctors in the United States who perform this procedure — only about eight.

I called the Mayo Clinic and was fully prepared to fly to Minnesota for treatment.

But when I called, I learned there was a 32-person waitlist, which meant waiting several more months.

So I added myself to the list. But I kept researching.

Eventually, I found a doctor in Virginia who had trained at the Mayo Clinic and specialized in the same minimally invasive procedure.

So I drove three hours to see him.

I brought all of my records, imaging, and test results, and I basically told him:

"I just want to try the procedure. Nothing else has worked."

He agreed.

The Surgery

We scheduled the procedure, and my partner came with me for support.

The surgery itself was surprisingly easy.

It lasted about an hour, and it honestly was not painful at all.

The doctor was fantastic. I even got to play my favorite music station — Bad Bunny — during the procedure. I had my phone with me and was texting people while everything was happening.

Recovery was also quicker than I expected.

For the first two days, I couldn’t walk. After that, I was allowed to slowly start walking again and doing upper body workouts.

Eventually I started adding lower body movements back in as well. Everything seemed to be going in the right direction.

A Setback

Unfortunately, about five weeks after surgery, I had a setback.

During a physical therapy appointment, I had a dry needling treatment that resulted in nerve damage.

After that appointment, I suddenly could not walk for 3–4 weeks.

I had another EMG test, which confirmed that the nerve had been slightly damaged.

The doctor told me that this was the best case scenario, because nerves do regenerate — but they grow back very slowly.

Rebuilding Strength

After that setback, I focused on staying positive and doing what I could.

I continued upper body workouts, slowly rebuilt strength in my leg, and eventually started walking normally again.

Then came the moment I had been waiting for. I started running again.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

But running nonetheless.

Where I Am Now

Fast forward to now — I’m still working through some challenges.

The leg that didn’t originally have drop foot has been compensating for so long that it now needs some extra attention and strengthening.

But there is good news.

In December, I was able to run 8 miles.

Since then, I’ve consistently been able to run 4–5 miles. And honestly, I couldn’t be happier.

Even if it’s slower than before, I am just grateful to be running again.

My ultimate goals are still there — I would love to run another half marathon or marathon one day.

But I’m not rushing my body.

I’m listening to it and taking things day by day.

Gratitude

I want to thank the people who helped me through this journey.

My physical therapist and sports massage therapist have been absolutely crucial in helping me return to running.

And my partner, who supported me through some very dark days.

Losing the ability to run — something that has always been my outlet — was incredibly difficult. Going through surgery, setbacks, and months of uncertainty was emotionally draining.

But I kept pushing forward.

For Anyone Dealing with an Injury

If you’re reading this and dealing with a serious injury, or if you’ve been diagnosed with

Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome, please know that you are not alone.

There are resources.

There are specialists.

And there is hope.

This is just one chapter of your life — not the whole story.

And I’m proof that even after setbacks, you can come back stronger.