How long is it supposed to it take for symptoms of compartment syndrome to set in?

Very dangerous: Symptoms can occur quickly or slowly and depends on cause. Trauma leads to faster symptoms and exertion all may take a while. All compartment syndromes are true emergencies.

Acute CS: It is a very severe and serious condition that can result in nerve and muscle damage if not treated. It results from pressure on those tissues, often from fracture, crush injury or lack of blood flow to the tissue. Symptoms will usually be apparent in a few hours. It is a surgical emergency.