Claudication is muscle pain or cramping in an extremity, usually the legs, that results from insufficient blood flow. It occurs most often in calves, thighs and buttocks. Claudication is generally triggered by lack of oxygen to the muscles. Rather than being a disease itself, claudication is technically a symptom of a broader condition named peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD often results from atherosclerosis, an arterial disease in which cholesterol, fat, scar tissue, and other substances clog artery walls and obstruct blood flow. Though the relationship between atherosclerosis, PAD, and claudication isn’t always precise, there is a common progression to them. Blood vessels are clogged due to atherosclerosis, which leads to restricted blood flow in limbs (PAD), which then leads to pain from that restricted blood flow (claudication).
Claudication is often referred to as intermittent claudication because it usually isn’t constant. Most often, pain occurs when sufferers walk for an extended period and subsides after resting. These intervals can change over time as the condition becomes more or less severe.
Typically, claudication only occurs during exercise because limited blood flow is sufficient when at rest. As a result, people with PAD often abstain from exercise, believing it to be the root of the problem. This assumption often causes claudication to worsen.
Even before resulting in or being diagnosed as claudication, peripheral artery disease will present one or more of the following additional symptoms:
As expected, risk factors for claudication closely match those for both PAD and atherosclerosis.
Preventing claudication means stopping the problem at its source. Without obstructed blood vessels, atherosclerosis will not develop. Without atherosclerosis, PAD and claudication are far less likely.
Diagnosis is dependent on physical examinations, skin evaluations of affected limbs, and blood flow tests. Some specific tests include:
Because it is exacerbated by activity and rest is often prescribed, claudication can sometimes lead to a cycle of poor cardiovascular health. Treatment for claudication concentrates on relieving pain, preventing tissue damage, improving mobility, and reducing the risk of vascular disease through less painful exercise.
Your doctor will assess your symptoms, test your blood flow, evaluate the skin on your limbs, and conduct a physical exam to determine if you have claudication. A treatment plan may consist of a combination of periodic exercise to rebuild strength and improve the health of your limbs; medication to manage pain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other cardiovascular risks; and, in severe cases, surgery such as an angiogram with intervention or traditional open surgery can be required (arterial bypass or endarterectomy).
The team of specialists at CardioVascular Health Clinic is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of vascular pain and disorders. With a patient-centered approach and using the latest technology and methods, our physicians are committed to helping restore your quality of life.
You don’t have to live with pain. Call CardioVascular Health Clinic today at (405) 701-9880 to schedule an appointment or visit our website.