A Lancaster Work Injury Lawyer Discusses Compartment Syndrome and Workers’ Comp

The Mayo Clinic defines chronic exertional compartment syndrome as “a…muscle and nerve condition that causes pain, swelling and sometimes disability in the affected muscles of the legs or arms.”

Again according to the Mayo Clinic, the signs and symptoms may include:

• Aching, burning or cramping pain in a compartment of the affected limb
• Tightness in the affected limb
• Numbness or tingling in the affected limb
• Weakness of the affected limb
• Foot drop, in severe cases, if legs are affected
• Occasionally, swelling or bulging as a result of a muscle hernia

Pain caused by chronic exertional compartment syndrome typically follows this pattern:

• Begins consistently after a certain time, distance[,] or intensity of exertion after you start exercising the affected limb
• Progressively worsens as you exercise
• Becomes less intense or stops completely within 15 minutes of stopping the activity
• Over time, recovery time after exercise may increase

Taking a complete break from exercise or performing only low-impact activity might relieve your symptoms, but relief is usually only temporary. Once you take up running again, for instance, those familiar symptoms usually come back.

Compartment syndrome is usually associated with athletes or crush injuries, and certainly may be a type of work-related injury, qualifying you for workers’ comp benefits. If you have developed compartment syndrome through work, let a Lancaster workplace injury lawyer help with your workers’ comp claim, so that your employer or their workers’ comp insurance company doesn’t talk you into an undervalued settlement.

The Serious Nature of Compartment Syndrome

If you’ve ever disregarded a simple sprained ankle or stubbed toe suffered at work, but then began to feel a fairly severe and uncomfortable pressure around the area hours later, this inflammation-type pain could easily turn into compartment syndrome. This complication can be deadly.

Generally speaking, compartment syndrome is an injury complication that causes increased pressure and bleeding within muscle tissue groups, which are surrounded by strong connective tissue called fascia. When this fascia is injured, blood and fluids rush toward the muscle tissue group, causing pressure. Any dangerously high pressure in the muscle tissue may impede the flow of blood throughout the affected tissues, and if the pressure is not released, it continues to build up and cause severe pain and muscle deterioration.

Compartment syndrome is a common complication with crush injuries. However, compartment syndrome isn’t confined to one area but may be caused by any number of work-related injuries. 

Our Lancaster Workplace Injury Lawyer Can Help With Workers’ Comp Claims Related to Compartment Syndrome 

Although compartment syndrome is relatively obscure, any number of work-related injuries may lead to it. After even a seemingly minor injury at work, you should ask your doctor specifically about it during your post-injury exam. The last thing you need is the discovery of compartment syndrome after your case has been settled.

A Lancaster workplace injury lawyer at Vanasse Law LLC understands the dangers of compartment syndrome and can help you be sure your workers’ comp claim accounts for this dangerous condition. Contact us for a same-day response and a free consultation.