Your limbs have specific areas of muscle (compartments). Your lower leg, for example, has four compartments. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome often occurs in the same compartment of an affected limb on both sides of the body, usually the lower leg. Signs and symptoms can 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.
limbs specific areas muscle (compartments)  lower leg  example  compartments  chronic exertional compartment syndrome occurs compartment affected limb sides body  lower leg  signs symptoms can include:  aching  burning cramping pain compartment affected limb tightness affected limb numbness tingling affected limb weakness affected limb foot drop  severe cases  legs affected occasionally  swelling bulging result muscle hernia  pain caused chronic exertional compartment syndrome typically follows pattern:  begins consistently time  distance intensity exertion start exercising affected limb progressively worsens exercise intense stops completely 15 minutes stopping activity time  recovery time exercise may increase  taking complete break exercise performing only low-impact activity relieve symptoms  relief only temporary  once take running again  instance  familiar symptoms come back
chronic exertional compartment syndrome