Health Conditions
Leg pain while moving: Intermittent Claudication
If one or – less common – both of your legs are aching while you are walking or exercising but the pain gradually disappears as soon as you rest you probably suffer from intermittent claudication. The name of the syndrome derives from “claudicare” the Latin word for “to limp”. Intermittent claudication is a symptom of peripheral arterial disease. It causes discomfort, weakness, pain and cramps mainly in the calf muscles on the back of the lower leg less common in the muscles of the thighs, the hips or buttocks. Without treatment, the leg pain is getting worse over time and occurs even while resting.
What causes Intermittent Claudication?
Most often, a reduced supply of oxygen-rich blood causes the leg pain and the intermittent claudication. The circulation disorder is usually due to a narrowing or a blockage of one or more arteries by arteriosclerosis. Other symptoms of a bad circulation are cold, pinkish, blueish or pale skin, numbness, poor wound healing or ulceration.
When do I need to see a doctor?
If you experience one of the mentioned symptoms please contact a physician as soon as possible. The physician will execute several specific tests to diagnose or to exclude peripheral arterial disease as a cause of your leg pain. An early treatment of the circulation disorder and of the narrowing of the artery due to arteriosclerosis is crucial to prevent further damage.
Intermittent Claudication is a clinical sign of peripheral arterial disease. Find out more about the causes, risk factors and diagnosis. click here