Claudication: Frequently Asked Questions
What is Claudication?
Claudication is a term used to describe the discomfort felt in leg muscles that occurs when you walk because of a decrease of blood pressure in the leg.
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What is Intermittent Claudication?
Intermittent Claudication is a condition caused by arterial insufficiency. The patient may describe pain, tightness, or cramping sensation after walking small to moderate distances. These symptoms are "intermittent" because they occur with exercise and as claudication from the Latin claudictio , meaning to limp.
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Intermittent claudication (IC) is pain in the muscles of the leg which only comes on with exercise and which is relieved by resting.
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What causes intermittent claudication?
When you exercise the muscles of the leg they need more blood to work properly. This blood flows in the arteries from heart to the muscles in the leg. If these arteries are narrow or even blocked not enough blood reaches the muscles and the muscles "complain" by producing pain (see haemodynamics )
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What are the symptoms of intermittent claudication?
The typical symptoms of intermittent claudication are calf, foot, arm or thigh/buttock cramping or tightness with exertion (such as walking, climbing stairs, and running)the location of the narrowing of the arteries determines where it happens. The important sign of claudication is that it is reproducibleit tends to occur each time after roughly the same amount of exertion or exerciseand is relieved by rest. Tingling and possibly itching are, most likely, not part of this. ...
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How is Claudication Treated?
With the information obtained from your diagnostic tests, your physician will be able to determine the best treatment plan and course of action to take for your particular situation. Whatever you and your doctor decide will be explained to you in full detail. This can include: Angioplasty Bypass Surgery Diet Exercise Medication Stent
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How is Claudication Diagnosed?
There are relatively simple tests that can be performed to determine whether your arterial blood flow is normal: Arteries and Veins During this test, the technologist will place blood pressure cuffs at several points along your legs and take the blood pressure using a Doppler. You may be asked to walk on a treadmill, after which your ankle pressures will be taken again to determine if the pressures decreased when you walked. ...
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What are the Symptoms of Claudication?
Symptoms may occur in one or both legs and they are most often described as cramps. They may also be described as a burning sensation, an ache, or a feeling of heaviness in the leg. The most common place to feel the cramping is in the calf muscle, although cramping may also appear in the thigh or buttock. Typically, persons with claudication will be able to walk a certain distance, say three blocks, before the cramping becomes so severe they must stop and rest. ...
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What are the surgical options for treating intermittent claudication?
There are two main options for the surgical treatment of intermittent claudication:
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How can intermittent claudication be treated?
In many cases the problem is self-limiting because the collateral arteries slowly increase in size over several months and allow more blood to reach the muscles. However, intermittent claudication is a warning sign that the arteries are being damaged. There are a number of other common factors which aggravate arterial disease and these should be looked for and treated if found: Smoking Diabetes High blood pressure High blood fat (cholesterol) Provided that you don't have chest pain or severe shortness of breath on exercise (both signs of heart disease) then regular ...
Source: www.simondodds.com
How can ginkgo benefit those with intermittent claudication?
Intermittent claudication is the medical term that is characterised by pain (of the lower limbs) which develops during exercise and disappears at rest. This is due to poor circulation in the legs. Treatment with ginkgo has shown positive results. 13.
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Is bicycle riding good for eliminating pain from claudication?
While riding a bike is good exercise and good for your heart, it does not work the muscles that are impacted by claudication as well as walking. Walking has been proven to be the best form of exercise in treatment for PAD. It can increase the time before the onset of leg pain by one-half to three times.
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What do I do if I think I have intermittent claudication?
The first thing to do is to see your GP and discuss your symptoms. If your GP agrees it is worth seeing a specialist and having measurements of the blood pressure in your legs done to confirm the diagnosis.
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What is the difference between a "Charlie horse" and pain from intermittent claudication?
Pain from intermittent claudication is caused by your leg muscles not receiving the oxygen rich blood they require during exercise. The pain can be severe enough to hinder a person from walking. A "Charlie horse" is a leg cramp in the muscle and can normally be relieved by rubbing or massaging, and this may occur at rest or merely with stretching. The pain from intermittent claudication will always subside upon resting. If you are not sure if you have PAD, see your doctor! ...
Source: www.vdf.org
What can be done to prevent heart attacks, angina, strokes, claudication (leg pain due to poor circulation) and the ageing process?
Clearly, if many of these problems are caused by calcified deposits in the blood vessels, eliminating the root cause will dramatically reduce the risk of sudden illness and delay and prolong the ageing processes. This is what chelation does. Chelation therapy is especially effective in diabetic conditions.
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Is difficulty finding a pulse, except below the jaw, a symptom of intermittent claudication?
Difficulty in finding pulses is not unusual for people with PXE. However, if there is concern about its significance, Doppler studies (an ultrasound test) can measure the actual pressures in the arms and legs. These tests are readily available and painless and use sound waves rather than x-rays.
Source: www.pxe.org
What Can Be Done To Prevent Heart Attacks, Angina, Strokes, Claudication (Poor Leg Circulation) And The Ageing Process?
Clearly, if many of these problems are caused by calcified deposits in the arteries, eliminating the offending material will dramatically reduce the risk of sudden illness and delay and prolong the ageing processes. This is what chelation does, chelation therapy is especially effective in diabetic conditions. Who Is At Risk? ...
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Your Web site talks about the drug treatment for intermittent claudication but does not mention what the treatment is. What is it and where can I find more information?
The FDA has approved two drugs for the treatment of intermittent claudication. Pentoxifylline (Trental) has been available for several years. A new drug was approved in 1999 called cilostazol (Pletal). Cilostazol is prescribed by many doctors to help with the pain of walking caused by intermittent claudication. Your physician can tell you if either medication is right for you or in combination with exercise therapy or other treatments. You can find out more about cilostazol online or by calling 800.562.3974.
Source: www.vdf.org
In a patient at risk of arteriopathy, I find a low ABI but no intermittent claudication or trophic disorder. What should I do?
According to recent epidemiological data, patients with a low ABI (<0.90) and without any symptom have the same cardiovascular risk as those with an intermittent claudication (Hooi JD, Kester AD, Stoffers HE, et al. Asymptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease predicted cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in a 7-year follow-up study. J Clin Epidemiol. 2004 Mar;57(3):294-300).
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I have intermittent claudication, the cramping or pain I get in my legs when walking. What does this mean?
A Intermittent claudication is caused by narrowing in the arteries that carry blood flow to the legs. Cholesterol and scar tissue build up into a substance called ‘plaque’ that narrows or clogs arteries. When your arteries are narrowed, you can feel pain in the muscles of your calves, thighs or buttocks when you walk. Walking at high speed or uphill, makes the symptoms worse. The pain stops when you rest, and is not present you are sitting, standing, or lying down. ...
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