Download About Leg Pain - Podiatrist, Foot Clinic

ADVANCED FOOT AND ANKLE SPECIALISTS, PA
Jay S. Weingarten, DPM, FACFAS, FACFAOM
Podiatric Physician and Surgeon
Board Certified Physician – Treating Pediatrics to Geriatrics
ABOUT LEG PAIN
Some people mistakenly think that leg pain is a natural part of getting older. You
might be surprised to learn that leg pain that develops during walking-and then
goes away only with rest-can be caused by intermittent claudication (IC), a
potentially disabling yet treatable medical condition.
IC affects roughly 3 million people, most of them over age 55. Unfortunately, an
estimated 75 percent of all IC sufferers fail to seek medical help, often because
they don't realize that IC is a treatable medical condition.
IC is a symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD-also known as
"hardening of the arteries," or atherosclerosis of the legs-has been estimated to
affect approximately 10 percent of people over age 55. PAD occurs when arteries
in the legs become clogged with fatty deposits.
It's not uncommon for people who have PAD to also have atherosclerosis in other
parts of the body-especially in the heart and brain. Atherosclerosis is a serious
health problem that can lead to heart attack or stroke if left untreated.
The symptoms of IC may be felt in the:
Constructed footwear; or being overweight.
 Calf
 Thigh
 Buttock
 And the symptoms may be felt as:
 Aches
 Cramps
 Heaviness
 Numbness
IC symptoms may be felt in one or both legs and may occur during walking or
exercising. The pain is characterized by aching, cramping, tiredness, or tightness
of the affected muscle group. Once you stop walking or exercising, the symptoms
subside within minutes. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, see your
podiatric physician. He or she can diagnose your condition and suggest
treatments that may help you walk farther without leg pain.
Controlling Your Risk
You can decrease the risk of developing leg pain due to intermittent claudication
(IC) if you take steps to control its risk factors. Risk factors are conditions that
increase your chances of developing IC.
Risk factors and other conditions that may complicate IC include:
 Smoking
 High cholesterol
 High blood pressure
 Physical inactivity
 Obesity
 Diabetes
 Smoking
Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors for IC. If you smoke, your risk
of developing peripheral arterial disease is two to seven times greater than
nonsmokers. Smoking increases the risk of IC by:
 Narrowing blood vessels, which decreases blood flow to the legs.
 Reducing the amount of oxygen in your blood, which can increase leg pain.
 Irritating the lining of blood vessels, which can speed hardening of the
arteries (atherosclerosis).
People with IC who continue to smoke also have a 10-fold greater risk for limb
amputation.
Most podiatric physicians include an antismoking component as a routine part of
their encounters with all patients regardless of the diagnosis and no matter what
age.
High Cholesterol
High blood cholesterol is another risk factor for IC. Cholesterol is a fat-like
substance made by the liver, and it also enters the bloodstream from the food
you eat. When cholesterol builds up in the walls of the arteries of the legs, blood
flow is reduced, causing pain when you walk. Studies suggest that lowering the
amount of fat in the blood, including cholesterol, may slow the progression of IC
and possibly relieve symptoms.
Some steps you can take to control high blood cholesterol include eating a hearthealthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active. These
lifestyle changes are the same as those recommended for people with IC, giving
you even more reason to undertake them. When diet and exercise aren't enough,
medication may be needed. Your doctor can determine what treatment is best for
you. For more on what you should know about cholesterol, visit the National
Cholesterol Education Program on the Web.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for IC. It contributes to hardening of
the arteries (atherosclerosis), which is the basis of peripheral arterial disease and
IC. Although clinical studies have not yet been performed to determine if
lowering high blood pressure relieves IC symptoms, it's wise to take steps to
control your blood pressure. For more information on lowering high blood
pressure, visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Web site.
Physical Inactivity
Doctors have found a link between IC and an inactive lifestyle, which means that
people with IC are most likely not getting enough exercise. A sedentary lifestyle
can result in muscle loss, lower endurance, and higher blood pressure-all of
which complicate IC.
To become more active, people with IC can begin by walking every day for 20
minutes, alternating walking with periods of rest. Your podiatric physician can
ensure your feet will be up to the task of starting a walking regimen. The goal is
to increase continuous walking to 30 to 45 minutes each day for at least six
months. Ask your doctor before you start or significantly increase an exercise
program.
Exercise yields many rewards. Research has shown that regular exercise can help
control IC risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes-as well
as almost double your pain- free walking distance.
Obesity
Excess weight can make other IC risk factors much harder to control. It raises
blood pressure and blood cholesterol,and increases the risk of developing
diabetes. A commitment to losing weight and maintaining that weight loss can be
challenging, but by losing even 10 to 20 pounds, you can help reduce your risk of
developing cardiovascular disease. Your doctor can help you begin a healthy
weight loss plan which may include both diet and exercise.
Diabetes
If you suffer from diabetes (high blood sugar), your risk for developing IC is two
to three times greater. Steps to help control diabetes include quitting smoking,
eating a heart-healthy diet, being physically active, and controlling sugar intake.
By controlling diabetes, you may also be able to delay or prevent its
complications, such as IC. For more information on controlling diabetes, visit the
National Diabetes Education Program Web site.
Patients, especially those with diabetes, should pay extra attention to their foot
and nail care and obtain regular foot examinations from their podiatric physician.
See your podiatrist at the first sign of any changes in the foot.
Managing the Condition
Your podiatric physician will undertake a careful examination and diagnosis of the
condition. Foot and and ankle care is of critical importance to patients with IC,
because seemingly minor injuries to the feet may result in infection, nonhealing
wounds, and other complications. Patients, especially those with diabetes, will
receive explicit instructions regarding foot and nail care. Smokers need to stopimmediately. Exercise programs, particularly walking, can help the condition, and
safe, effective drug therapy may be prescribed by your podiatric physician.
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