Is Your Leg Pain Actually a Vascular Problem? Watch for These 4 Clues 

It’s often easy to explain away leg pain. It could be related to aging, arthritis, injury, or simply overexertion. In many cases, these may be valid reasons, but they’re not the only causes of leg pain. 

Circulation issues can cause leg discomfort and pain, too, and these issues get worse over time without appropriate treatment. Knowing the warning signs of vascular problems can help you get the appropriate care promptly, thus preventing more serious complications. 

Vascular medicine and interventional cardiologist Dr. Enrique Hernandez of Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins in Miami, Florida, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of blood vessel disorders. In this blog, we’ll look at 4 clues that suggest your symptoms originate from vascular problems rather than other, more conventional conditions. 

1. Pain appears while walking and disappears with rest

When vascular pain occurs in your legs, it’s called claudication. It’s possible for you to experience a similar problem in your arms, but that is far less common. 

Intermittent claudication is a common symptom of reduced blood flow. It causes cramping, fatigue, or pain in the buttocks, calves, or thighs when you’re actively using your legs. Once you stop and rest, symptoms usually disperse quickly. 

Pain stemming from muscle use persists after you stop activity. Claudication is often an early warning sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD). 

2. Cold sensations, color change, or shiny skin

When blood circulation slows, both the appearance of your legs and the temperature sensations in your lower extremities change. Symptoms connected with this problem include:

• Your feet and legs frequently feel cool or cold
• The skin on your legs thins and takes on a shiny appearance
• Hair growth on your legs slows or stops
• Skin may become discolored, appearing pale, bluish, or red

These changes are due to the reduced supply of blood through the affected areas. 

3. Pain accompanied by heaviness or swelling

Vascular problems refer to both arterial issues like PAD and vein disorders like chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). One of the most common signs of CVI is fluid retention, typically in the form of swollen ankles. Other signs include: 

• Aches, discomfort, or throbbing
• Legs that feel heavy or leaden
• Leg fatigue
• Symptoms that worsen when you stand for long periods 

You may find relief from venous symptoms by elevating your legs to assist the movement of blood from your legs back to your heart and lungs. 

4. Slow or non-healing wounds

Cuts and scrapes on your feet and legs may take longer to heal as circulation begins to slow. Blood is the delivery method for the raw materials of healing, so restrictions in blood flow mean delays in receiving sufficient quantities. The process of healing slows or stops. 

If you have diabetes or other risk factors for vascular conditions, it’s important to have these wounds evaluated medically to prevent potentially serious complications. In severe cases, non-healing wounds can lead to amputation. 

If you have leg pain and you’ve noticed any of these conditions, or if your leg pain is persistent or gets worse over time, contact Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins at one of our two Miami, Florida, locations. Call 305-707-5688 or send us a message today to request an appointment.