Comments on: Leg Pain: A Symptom Not to Ignore

By: Cindy W

Cindy W — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:28:12 +0000

the past month I have been having sharp pains in my legs, mostly my left. It is from my shin up through the outer/front side of my thigh to my buttock area. It is worse at night. The pain is so severe, it wakes me up. Heat and rubbing help for awhile, but it comes back. Tonight I am having difficulty walking because of the pain in the buttock area. I have the pain most of the time, but nights are so much worse.

By: Denice Ferrarelli

Denice Ferrarelli — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:27:54 +0000

Dear Mary,
I understand your concerns and leg symptoms are confusing at times. Peripheral vascular disease is the reduction of blood flow to the legs caused by blockages in the arteries. The blockages are caused by smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol (same risk factors that cause blockages in the heart arteries). Typical PVD symptoms are weakness of legs, cramping with walking and night time restless legs. Other signs can be hair loss, poor nail growth and discoloration of lower legs and feet. However, PVD can exist when there are no or limited symptoms. Given your symptoms and the atypical nature of your symptoms, I would consider vascular testing to rule out both lower extremity and aortic disease. Non-invasive testing is painless and can determine whether any reduction in blood flow exists and whether it is significant enough to cause symptoms. I hope this helps and wish you good health.”

Be well
Leo
Dr. Iliadis
Elias A. Iliadis, MD, FACC, FSCAI, RPVI
Medical Director, Noninvasive Vascular Lab; Clinical Cardiologist; Director, Vascular Intervention Program
Cooper University Hospital
________________________________________

By: Mary Anderson

Mary Anderson — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:49:14 +0000

A few years ago my legs and feet began feeling “heavy” when I walked. My feet would feel almost like lifting cynderblocks when I tried to walk. Once I got down on the floor to clean something and found I could not get back up. The feelings I was having in my lower back and my legs was indiscribable. I felt totally helpless. Could this be PVD? An MRI of my lower back didn’t show anything.

By: Seth

Seth — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 21:23:49 +0000

Good info by Dr. Iliadis. So, many may think they have common RLS if they don’t have the testing done.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:27:12 +0000

I went to the doctor for a pain in my thigh two months ago and the doctor said it was a pulled muscle. She said it would heal in a month and told me to stay off my bike for a while, which i did and it still has not healed. I now have a little pain in my knee. Does anyone know what this is? Thanks

By: Kristen

Kristen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:25:19 +0000

My calves always seem to be swollen however, when I go to the doctor to get it checked, they tell me I don’t have edema in my legs (I’m happy about), but I must have some type of circulation problems. I’m always walking around and on my feet and my legs always look swollen but not edemic. I have cankles for goodness sakes. I doesn’t matter how much I work out, it is always there. Either it’s genetics or I have some type of problem. I will probably make an appointment to put my mind at ease.

By: James Nagle

James Nagle — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 15:13:12 +0000

I have pains and tingling sensations mainly in my feet and the back of my calves, with general tirdness of my whole legs, this happens not only while climbing stairs but also while sitting and is only relieved by raising my leg to the straight position, there also seem to be a relationship with having pains in my legs and stiffness of my neck, Does PVD effect other parts of the body?

By: Denice Ferrarelli

Denice Ferrarelli — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:31:39 +0000

Judy, your symptoms are very atypical for Peripheral Vascular Disease. The PVD symptoms are usually cramping of the calves or thighs/buttocks with walking or exertion and relieved with rest. Though nighttime cramps are common in many diseases, your symptoms sound less like PVD and more like deconditioning. The symptoms of myalgias from statins (atorvastatin aka Lipitor) are diffuse muscle aches of the upper arms and upper legs and feels like one has the flu. Lastly, depending upon your risk factors, your doctor may wish to confirm the presence/absence of PVD with simple, painless non-invasive vascular testing such as ankle brachial index. Good luck.
Be well,
Elias A. Iliadis, MD, FACC, FSCAI, RPVI
Associate Director, Cardiac Cath Lab
Cooper University Hospital
Assistant Professor of Medicine
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
856.342.3016

By: Judy Hozalski

Judy Hozalski — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:43:14 +0000

I get pain in the back of my legs only if I climb ALOT of steps. (Several flights). I get really bad pain in the back of my legs when I am sleeping and I go to stretch by legs. The back of my legs pops out and the pain is awful. I have to rub my leg to get it to go back down. Is this a charlie horse or is this being caused by my Lipitor or something else.

By: Denice Ferrarelli

Denice Ferrarelli — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:23:01 +0000

Good and common question. PVD causes leg pain with walking (usually cramping of calfs, thighs or buttocks) and releived with rest. PVD can cause night-time leg pain that reselmbles restless leg syndrome but usually has activity component. Your doctor can help make the diagnosis through the non-invasive testing. A simple ankle brachial index may help make the diagnosis and help define the degree of disease if any. This will help clarifiy the benefits of medical therapy or further testing. Good Luck.
Be well,
Elias A. Iliadis, MD, FACC, FSCAI, RPVI
Associate Director, Cardiac Cath Lab
Cooper University Hospital
Assistant Professor of Medicine
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
856.342.3016