Rest pain and intermittent claudication, differences and similarity
Rest pain and intermittent claudication, differences and similarity
Rest pain and intermittent claudication are both symptoms of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is a circulatory problem in which narrowed or blocked arteries reduce blood flow to the legs. However, they are different symptoms that result from different stages of the disease.
Rest pain is a symptom that occurs when the blood flow to the legs is severely reduced. It is characterized by a burning or aching pain in the feet or toes, which occurs at rest and is usually worse at night. The pain can be so severe that it interferes with sleep. Rest pain is usually a sign of advanced PAD and can be caused by critical limb ischemia, which is a severe reduction of blood flow to the legs.
Intermittent claudication, on the other hand, is a symptom that occurs when the blood flow to the legs is partially reduced. It is characterized by pain, cramping, or fatigue in the muscles of the legs, which occurs during physical activity and is relieved by rest. Intermittent claudication is usually caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD) and can be caused by a narrowed or blocked artery in the legs.
Both rest pain and intermittent claudication are caused by the same underlying condition (PAD) and are caused by the narrowed or blocked