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Peripheral Vascular Disease

Peripheral vascular disease refers to a condition caused by abnormalities in the arteries and veins in the body’s extremities—the arms and legs. It most commonly occurs in the legs, where conditions like peripheral artery disease (restricted blood flow through the arteries) and deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in a deep vein within the leg) may be present.

What is “claudication?”

Claudication is pain caused by too little blood flow to muscles during exercise. Most often this pain occurs in the legs after walking at a certain pace and for a certain amount of time — depending on the severity of the condition.

The condition is also called intermittent claudication because the pain usually isn’t constant. It begins during exercise and ends with rest. As claudication worsens, however, the pain may occur during rest.

Claudication is technically a symptom of disease, most often peripheral artery disease, a narrowing of arteries in the limbs that restricts blood flow.

peripheral artery disease PAD treatment
Vascular Imaging Brochure

Symptoms of peripheral vascular disease

Not everyone experiences the symptoms of peripheral vascular disease, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about your risk factors, including family history. If symptoms do occur, they may include the following:

  • Pain, ache, discomfort or fatigue in muscles every time you use your leg muscles (claudication) and that gets better soon after resting
  • Pain in the calves, thighs, buttocks, hips or feet
  • Pain in shoulders, biceps and forearms
  • Cool skin on the legs
  • Severe, constant pain that progresses to numbness
  • Skin discoloration
  • Wounds that don’t heal
peripheral artery disease healthy leg
peripheral artery disease

Treatment options

Treatments performed at Champlain Valley Vascular focus on lowering the risks of vascular disease, reducing pain, increasing mobility and preventing damage to tissues. These include:

Angioplasty (with or without atherectomy and stenting)

An effective treatment option for localized blockages in larger arteries, this minimally invasive procedure involves the insertion of a special balloon into the artery, which is then inflated to open up the vessel. A small metal sheath or sleeve (called a stent) may be placed within the opened artery to keep the vessel open and blood flowing.

Endarterectomy

This surgical procedure removes plaque from the wall of an artery. It is typically used in an area of the blood vessel where a stent cannot be placed. At the end, the artery is closed with a patch. Recovery is fast, usually within a week or two.

Bypass Surgery

If an artery cannot be treated with angioplasty, atherectomy, stenting or endarterectomy. A bypass surgery may be required. This is where another blood vessel or a synthetic tube is implanted as a “detour” for the blood to travel around a narrowed or blocked artery. This surgery does require a hospital stay and recovery.

Know your risk… and your options!

If you have pain in your legs or arms when you exercise, talk to your doctor. Claudication can lead to a cycle that results in worsening cardiovascular health. Pain may make exercise intolerable, and a lack of exercise results in poorer health.

Peripheral artery disease is a sign of poor cardiovascular health and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Other conditions involving the blood, nerves, and bones can contribute to leg and arm pain during exercise. It’s important to have a complete exam and appropriate tests to diagnose potential causes of pain.

Call us today at 518-562-7557 or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation.

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