By STEVE MAZZONE

Sports writer

WORCESTER – Bethany O’Dell has always been willing to fight through any kind of pain in order to succeed.
On her way to becoming the all-time leading scorer in Lincoln High history (boys or girls), O’Dell knew that in order to help guide her team to victory, the aches and pains would have to come with it.
It’s a mindset she carried in her four years for the Lions, where she guided her teammates to a pair of Division II state championships. Also, it’s one she hasn’t lost sight of as a collegiate player for Holy Cross University where in her last year for the Crusaders this season she broke the Patriots League record for 3-pointers.
But the pain she experienced in late December was a little different. It wasn’t the same. In overtime of an eventual 87-80 loss to Howard University, O’Dell felt tightness in her calf muscles that was unlike what she had experienced before.
“I’ve had leg issues, but this was a different type of pain,” she recalled. “My feet were numb. I was feeling pins and needles in my legs. One leg was cramping and then the other would cramp up. I was taken out of the game. I wanted to go back into the game but I just couldn’t.”
As it turned out, there was a legitimate reason why O’Dell couldn’t get back on the court against Howard, and it had nothing to do with the extra minutes of playing time.
It appears that all signs and symptoms indicate that O’Dell is suffering from a condition known as compartment syndrome. According to the website sportsmedicine.about.com, “chronic compartment syndrome is an unusual condition that causes nerve compression and pain, most often in the front of the lower leg. It occurs due to excessive muscle swelling during activity that puts pressure on these blood vessels and nerves, and results in pain, swelling, weakness and possibly loss of muscle coordination.”
In essence, the muscles in O’Dell’s legs were trying to expand past the sheath covering them, but couldn’t and that put pressure on her arteries, blood vessels and “pretty much everything,” she states.
The condition could have all stemmed back two years ago when O’Dell had kidney surgery. Last year she experienced full-body cramping, which was due to a Vitamin D deficiency. These two conditions have kind of de-regulated the system in her body.
Competing at a high level in athletics also aids in the condition.  O’Dell’s mom, Sandy, who was a heptathlete at Springfield College, also had compartment syndrome.
“The idea is something is happening in my legs because something else is happening in my body,” Bethany said.
Due to the excessive pain she experienced after the Howard game, O’Dell was unable to practice with the team. She still was able to play in games but could only be on the court about 10-15 minutes. In between, O’Dell has been to a handful of doctors and physical therapists, which are doing their best to alleviate the pain. She’s even beginning acupuncture.
“It’s been frustrating for me because I have never been used to sitting on the bench,” she said. “It’s not like I can practice and work on my shot. I just have to go in and hope for the best.”
The only medical thing that can be done for compartment syndrome is surgery, but that would put an end to O’Dell’s season and is not 100 percent full proof. She indicates surgery wasn’t even an option.
“I’m not going to play after this year, so there’s no need to do surgery, so I do other things to manage it,” O’Dell said.
Presently, the former LHS great is managing the pain with daily visits to different physical therapist and with treatments of acupuncture. She also spends about two hours a day in the training room with the trainer, who uses ultra sound to loosen her muscles.
Even though the pain is still there, it is more manageable now. O’Dell’s minutes are also increasing. In a game against American this past Saturday, she played 24 minutes and scored 11 points. She played 26 minutes and netted 16 points versus Navy on Feb. 17.
Surprisingly, O’Dell is still the leading scorer on the Crusaders, averaging 12.8 points per game.
 “She’s not a kid that complains. She’s played through pain before,” said Bethany’s dad, Dale O’Dell. “It was one of the hardest things watching her play. (My wife and I) love watching her play, but we don’t like watching her play when she is suffering. She’s still playing quite a bit, but at least it’s more manageable.
O’Dell will play her final home game of her college career on Saturday when the Crusaders take on Lehigh University. Holy Cross is currently 4-8 in the conference and 8-19 overall with a majority of its setbacks by six or fewer points.
The determined O’Dell is confident she’ll be able to finish off her career on a positive note when Holy Cross begins action in the Patriot League Championship, beginning March 6. During her freshman year, she guided her teammates to the conference title and a date in the NCAA Tournament.
“I still have hopes we are going to win the championship,” she said. “We have been struggling in the league, but I’m just going to go out and do my best. I think we all want to go out on top. I’m still want to go out on top and that’s the only thing you can think about.”