Do you experience leg pain when walking? (Claudication)

Imagine that you are walking down the street for a short distance. Suddenly, you feel a sharp, stabbing pain in your legs, especially your calves. You have to stop at a point where you can't stand it anymore. Surprisingly, when you stop for a few minutes, the pain gradually subsides. When you start walking again, the pain reappears after walking a short distance. Have you had this experience? Then this article will be very important for you. Today we are talking about this condition, that is, claudication.

What is Claudication?

Simply put, claudication is not a disease, it is a symptom . Just like a fever is not a disease, it is a symptom of an infection. It is a condition where you experience muscle pain when you are active, such as walking, and the pain goes away when you rest. This pain is most often in the legs.

Think about it this way. When we work, when we walk, our muscles need more oxygen than usual. This oxygen is carried to the muscles by the blood. So, what happens if the blood vessels that carry blood to the legs become blocked or narrowed for some reason? When we walk, the blood cannot supply the extra oxygen that the muscles require. That's when the muscles feel pain and give you a signal that "I don't have enough oxygen." When you stop and rest, the muscles don't need as much oxygen. So they have the normal amount of blood flowing to them. Then the pain goes away.

In most cases, the main cause of this is a condition called Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) . This is the narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the limbs, especially the legs. The main cause of this narrowing of the arteries is Atherosclerosis , which is the gradual hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to the deposition of substances such as cholesterol in the artery walls.

What are the symptoms of claudication?

Some people may not have any symptoms at first, but those who do have symptoms usually experience these symptoms in their legs or feet.

Who is most at risk for this condition?

There are several risk factors for claudication. If you have these, you should be a little more careful.

• Smoking: This is the main and most serious risk factor . Smoking damages blood vessels and increases the rate at which they become blocked.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes are more likely to have blood vessel damage.
• High Cholesterol: When cholesterol levels in the blood increase, it deposits on the walls of the arteries and clogs them.
• High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure damages blood vessels and increases the risk of atherosclerosis.
• Kidney Disease: Decreased kidney function can also affect this.
• Age: The natural tendency for atherosclerosis to develop increases with age.
• Family history: If someone in your family has conditions like heart disease or PAD, you are also at higher risk.

How does a doctor find this?

If you have these symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor. He will first ask you about your symptoms in detail. Then he will examine your legs.

• Have the legs changed color?
• Do you have any wounds that take a long time to heal?
• Has the hair on your legs fallen out?
• Can you feel the pulse in your legs and feet?

After looking at things like this, several tests may be done to confirm the condition and determine its severity.

What are the treatments for this?

There are several treatments available to manage this condition, starting with simple things you can do yourself.

1. Lifestyle changes (this is the most important thing!)

This is the best medicine for claudication. These things will help you more than the medicine your doctor gives you.

• Quitting smoking: If you are a smoker, you need to quit today, right now . That is the biggest help you can do for yourself.
• Walking: "It hurts when I walk, so I'd better not walk?" You might think. But you're wrong. The best exercise for this is walking. A doctor will tell you to walk 3-5 days a week, for about 50 minutes a day. Stop when the pain starts, and walk again when the pain subsides. Gradually, you will notice that the distance you can walk without pain increases.
• Heart-healthy foods: Eat a diet low in oil, salt, and sugar, and high in fruits and vegetables.

2. Medications

Along with lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe you medications like these.

• Blood pressure lowering medications (e.g. ACE inhibitors)
• Cholesterol-lowering medications (e.g., `Statins`)
• Medicines that prevent blood clotting (e.g. Aspirin, Clopidogrel)
• Medicines that open blood vessels and improve blood flow (e.g., `Cilostazol`)

3. Special Treatment Methods (Procedures)

If the condition is severe and difficult to control with medication, the doctor may resort to this type of treatment.

• Angioplasty: This involves inserting a small balloon into the blocked blood vessel and inflating it to open the blockage.
• Stent placement: After angioplasty opens the artery, a small mesh-like tube (a `stent`) is inserted to keep it from getting blocked again.
• Bypass Surgery: If the blockage is severe, a new blood vessel is created by using a piece of vein taken from another part of the body or an artificial vein to bypass the blocked area. This is only done in very severe cases.

Are there other things to be concerned about besides claudication?

Yes. There are several other conditions that cause leg pain that can have similar symptoms to claudication, but can be more serious. Therefore, leg pain should not be ignored.

• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): This is when a blood clot forms in a deep vein in the leg. If this clot breaks loose and lodges in a vein in the lungs, it can be a life-threatening emergency . It is called a `Pulmonary Embolism`. Therefore, if you suddenly experience swelling, redness, and pain in your leg, you should see a doctor or go to an ETU (Emergency Treatment Unit) immediately.

• Chronic Compartment Syndrome: This is when pressure builds up inside a compartment around a muscle, restricting blood flow. This can also cause pain during exercise.

Therefore, you should leave it to a doctor to determine exactly what condition you have.

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