Tessa has chronic exertional compartment syndrome.
This link describes the condition:
http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/archive/compartment-syndrome.html
Here's how it works:
The muscles in our limbs are split into sections or ‘compartments’ bound by strong and relatively unyielding membranes of fibrous tissue (deep fascia), which also attach to bone, in effect wrapping up the different muscle groups. Every compartment has a blood and nerve supply.
Compartment syndrome arises when the pressure inside this enclosed space increases to the point where it interferes with the blood supply to the structures. A cascade of injury follows, with disruption to the metabolic processes of the muscle, cell death and leakage of fluid from capillaries, which further increases the excessive pressure.
A person with this syndrome may be relatively pain-free when not training.
It is characterised by muscle pain that repeatedly occurs with vigorous exercise and subsides with rest. The pain gradually worsens as exercise continues, ultimately restricting performance. There will often also be swelling and abnormal sensations in the affected limb during and immediately after exercise.
To relieve the pressure, the muscle fascia is cut in a surgical operation called a fasciotomy.
There are four muscle compartments in each of your lower legs.
Last year, Tessa had 2 cut in each of her legs.
According to the Universal Sports link, fasciotomies (cutting the muscle fascia) were just done on the other 2 (posterior, or back) compartments in both Tessa's legs It is somewhat optimistic that they did not have to go back and do anything to the compartments that were already operated on in the 2008/2009 season.
For those interested in the surgery, here's a link.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3912/is_200605/ai_n16452295/
After surgery 70-85% of patients are able to return to pre-treatment levels of activity, symptom-free. Patients with Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) in the deep posterior compartment respond less well than those whose anterior or lateral compartment is involved
All four of Tessa's compartments have been involved in both legs, so that is something that has to temper optimism, especially as the surgery this time was on her posterior compartments in both legs.
I expect Tessa & Scott and their coaches will have very positive press releases, as that is what they did before, even when her continued pain was evident, as in the 2008/2009 season. However, I expect that training will always have at least some pain for Tessa, and that she will continue to require a physiotherapist as part of her training regimen.
Tessa's bravery and tenacity in the face of pain are truly inspiring, but this whole story makes me very, very sad. I hope that even if it is against the odds, that she completely recovers.
But that doesn't mean I am unsympathetic to athletes injuries, no matter what country they come from. Therefore, I wish Tessa well, as I do anybody that has suffered an injury.
