When leg pain develops later in life, arthritis is often one of the first explanations that comes to mind.
Arthritis is common, but joints are not the only source of leg discomfort.
Reduced blood flow caused by peripheral artery disease, or PAD, can create pain that patients sometimes mistake for hip, knee, muscle, or age-related problems.
Here are five clues that circulation may deserve a closer look.
1. The Pain Begins After Walking a Certain Distance
Pay attention to the pattern.
If your calf, thigh, hip, or buttock begins to ache after walking approximately the same distance each time, PAD may be one possible explanation.
This occurs because active muscles require more blood. Narrowed arteries may be unable to supply enough oxygen-rich blood once activity increases.
2. Simply Stopping Makes the Pain Improve
Joint pain does not always disappear because you stand still for several minutes.
PAD-related claudication commonly improves when the activity stops because the muscles no longer require as much blood.
You may then resume walking until the same discomfort returns.
A predictable activity-rest-activity pattern is important information to share with your doctor.
3. Your Feet Are Cold or Changing Color
Arthritis can cause pain and stiffness, but it does not usually explain a persistently cold foot.
Poor circulation may sometimes cause one foot to feel cooler than the other.
Color changes, unusual paleness, reddish discoloration, or other skin changes can also occur when circulation is impaired.
4. You Have a Foot Wound That Is Healing Slowly
A sore on a toe or foot that is not healing as expected raises different concerns than ordinary joint pain.
Healthy tissue needs adequate blood flow to heal.
When blood supply is significantly reduced, injuries can take longer to repair.
Persistent wounds require prompt medical attention, particularly in patients with diabetes or vascular risk factors.
5. You Have PAD Risk Factors
Your medical history can provide another clue.
PAD is more likely in people with risk factors such as:
- Smoking or a previous smoking history
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Older age
- Cardiovascular disease
Several of these conditions may exist without obvious symptoms, making a complete health history important.
Can You Have Both Arthritis and PAD?
Absolutely.
A person may have knee arthritis, spinal problems, neuropathy, and PAD at the same time.
That is why symptoms should not be diagnosed based solely on where the pain occurs.
Vascular testing can help determine whether reduced circulation is part of the problem.
How Is Circulation Checked?
A vascular specialist may begin with an examination and an ankle-brachial index test.
The ABI compares blood pressure in your ankle with blood pressure in your arm.
If necessary, additional testing such as vascular ultrasound or other imaging can provide more detailed information.
Find Out Why Your Legs Hurt
Treatment for arthritis is very different from treatment for vascular disease.
Knowing the cause of your symptoms allows you and your healthcare team to make better decisions about the next step.
At Vascular Centers of America, we evaluate patients experiencing activity-related leg pain, difficulty walking, cold feet, and other possible symptoms of PAD.
If your leg pain does not seem to fit the typical pattern of arthritis, contact Vascular Centers of America to learn more about vascular testing.