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Claudication (leg pain)
Understanding
What are the risks?
As with all invasive procedures, there is some risk
associated with an Arteriogram. Your physician will
be able to inform you of any risk specific to your
particular case.
Redlands Community Hospital
How is claudication treated?
With the information obtained from your diagnostic
tests, your physician can determine an appropriate
treatment plan and course of action to take for your
particular situation. Whatever you and your doctor
decide will be explained to you in detail. Some of
these options can include:
• Diet
• Exercise
• Medication
• Angioplasty
• Stent
• Bypass Surgery
• Stop Smoking
Remember
It is important to be your own best health advocate.
A good way to do that is by committing to routine
physical exams and diagnostic tests as often as is
recommended by your doctor.
To learn more about our free
educational seminars call
909.335.5574
The Vascular Institute
Center for Surgical & Specialty Care
Redlands Community Hospital
255 Terracina Blvd. Suite 104B
Redlands, CA 92373
909.793.4336
www.redlandshospital.org
Outlined type
Early detection of circulatory problems is important
for effective treatment.
The Vascular Institute
Center for Surgical & Specialty Care
Redlands Community Hospital
What causes arteries to
become blocked?
How does the circulatory
system work?
Heart: Your heart is the pump for your circulatory
system. It is made of muscle and is able to contract in
order to pump blood through your body.
Arteries and Veins: The arteries and veins are the
roadways through which blood is transported to all
parts of your body. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood
from your heart to the rest of your body. Veins
return the blood to the heart after the oxygen has
been used.
Oxygen: Your body needs oxygen in order to
function. When you walk, your leg muscles need
increased amounts of oxygen in order to do their
work. If the arteries in your lower body are able to
carry blood unimpeded to your muscles, then you
are able to walk comfortably.
If you have blockages in your leg arteries, or in the
arteries leading to the legs, you may not be able to
get enough oxygen-rich blood down to your legs.
The decrease in oxygen to your legs can result in
claudication.
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.
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.
A common place to feel the cramping is in the calf
muscle, although cramping may also appear in the
thigh or buttock.
Arteries
in the leg
Veins
in the leg
Typically, people with claudication may be able to
walk a certain distance, say three blocks, before the
cramping becomes so severe they must stop and rest.
After they have rested and the pain is gone, they may
walk approximately the same distance again before
having to stop and rest. The distance a person is able
to walk varies with the severity of the blockages in the
arteries. Many people with claudication experience
no leg discomfort when they are at rest.
Arterial blockage, or
atherosclerosis, is caused by
a buildup of fatty deposits on
the inside of the arteries.
This fatty buildup makes the
artery narrow, which reduces
the amount of blood flow
through the vessel.
How can I tell if I have
arterial blockage?
Tell your doctor about your symptoms. After your
doctor has spoken to you and has done a physical
exam, you may need to have some testing done.
What tests will be done?
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, a microphone-like instrument. You
may be asked to walk on a treadmill, after which
your ankle pressure will be taken again to determine
if the pressure decreased when you walked.
Ultrasound scan: During an ultrasound scan, blood
flow is evaluated and the diameter of the arteries is
measured.
Arteriogram: During an arteriogram, dye is injected
into the arteries while X-rays are taken. The dye
“lights up” the arterial system allowing the areas of
blockage to be accurately pinpointed.