Joe A Shaw PA-C - 9/28/2008

Question
Hi, thanks for taking to time to answer questions. I sit at a desk all day 3 days a week. A couple of months ago, my legs started aching so bad during the day and when I go home at night they continue to ache. They ache from my groin area all the way down, sometimes my abdomen even seems to feel achy and crampy. My ankles are always very puffy and my feet feel kind of sore if I am barefooted and I have to limp when I walk cause they hurt. The days I don't sit at work, my legs don't hurt. I try to stretch them and get up frequently but it doesn't help. Could it be a circulation problem?
Thanks

Answer
Sherry,
Yes, I would ck with an internal med Dr. Ck for beginings of CHF congestive heart failure (which can cause swelling in the hands and feet, peripheral Artery disease (PAD), vein disease and kidney function. Depending on your risk factors age and genetics you should be able to get some answers and relief. I would get up and walk every 30 mins for 3-5 mins to see if that helps until you get more tests.