There are several reasons for leg pain, and among the most common are injuries, overuse and exertion and simply aging. Over time, the joints experience wear and tear, but it's not just hips, knees and ankles that ache. Other medical conditions can cause pain throughout the leg.
Some of these conditions include thrombosis, or blood clots within the veins; varicose veins that bulge and become painful; restless leg syndrome; Fibromyalgia; Bursitis, which is pain classified by the degrading of the supportive, fluid-packed pads around the bone, muscle and tendons surrounding the joints; bone cancer; muscle cramps; arthritis; and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), among other things. Out of these, we are going to focus on PAD, as it is common, affecting eight to ten million Americans.
What is PAD?
"People have PAD when the arteries in their legs become narrowed or clogged with fatty deposits, or plaque. The buildup of plaque causes the arteries to harden and narrow, which is called atherosclerosis. When leg arteries are hardened and clogged, blood flow to the legs and feet is reduced. Some people call this poor circulation," says the Peripheral Arterial Disease Coalition.
What are the symptoms of PAD?
The most common symptom is pain - also called claudication - during exertion. The pain typically subsides with the person stops physical activity. However, tingling, numbness, coldness and ulcers can result in the lower leg and toes if the condition goes untreated.
If you suffer from leg pain, consider being tested for peripheral arterial disease if you are:
1. Above the age of 50
2. Suffer from diabetes
3. Lead a sedentary lifestyle
4. Have a personal or family history of vascular problems
5. Suffer from leg pain at night
6. Have a family history (or personal history) of high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke
How is PAD treated?
There are several different approaches vascular specialists take to remedy peripheral arterial disease, and depending on the severity and progression of the problem, most will begin by recommending lifestyle changes.
You must stop smoking and begin a specially devised exercise program and diet - often, over time, these changes will lead to improved blood pressure and cholesterol, thus alleviating PAD symptoms and thwarting the progression of the condition.
There are also surgical, but minimally invasive, options to correct PAD. The most common two treatments are angioplasty and stenting.
A catheter is inserted through a small incision, and using x-ray, a professional will guide it to the clogged passage, inflate a small balloon and expand the affected area allowing for improved circulation. It is sometimes necessary to hold the newly expanded area open with a small metal stent, or tube.
Because these procedures are performed in an outpatient setting and are minimally invasive, very little anesthesia is needed; there is typically no need for an overnight stay at the hospital or surgical center; and recovery time is minimal.
If you have leg pain and are unsure of its origin, be sure to talk to your doctor or vascular specialist about peripheral arterial disease. When detected early and treated though changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle, surgery is often unnecessary to correct the condition.
