Claudication

When you exercise, it’s common that your blood flow could decrease to your muscles and cause pain. This often occurs in the legs after you’ve been walking for a while and will depend on the severity of your condition. This condition is known as claudication. Pain isn’t usually constant and normally ends with rest. As the issue worsens, pain may continue occurring during rest and it may be difficult to find relief for your pain. It’s important to treat the cause of claudication, as it is normally a symptom of something more severe.

Symptoms and Signs of Claudication

Claudication is usually a symptom of a disease, usually one that narrows the arteries and restricts blood flow. Pain can feel like a cramp that is triggered by activity and tends to go away once you rest. Common symptoms of claudication include:

  • Pain in the muscles with use
  • Pain in the legs and buttocks
  • Pain in shoulders, biceps, and forearms
  • Cool skin
  • Pain that turns into numbness
  • Skin discoloration

If you notice that you often have pain in your arms or legs while exercising, it’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Ignoring this pain can lead to it becoming worse and it can make exercise almost impossible to do. Claudication often occurs because of peripheral artery disease, which can lead to further complications if it is left untreated.

Treatment can include certain walking programs, and medications to treat the cause, and in severe cases, surgery might be needed.

Contact Your Doctor Today!

Don’t ignore pain after exercising, especially if it’s consistently occurring while you exercise. Claudication should be treated so that you can continue to live a healthy and functional life! Contact your doctor at Pennsylvania Vascular Institute in King of Prussia, Philadelphia, Bethlehem, and East Stroudsburg, PA, for more information today at (800)296-9294.

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