العرج (Claudication)

Limping (Claudication)

This page will help answer your questions.

What is Claudication?

Claudication is pain in the thigh, leg, or hip that occurs during walking and causes difficulty in movement.. It happens when narrowed or blocked arteries reduce blood flow to your legs.

• Initially, claudication pain occurs when you walk a certain distance and disappears at rest. However, as the disease worsens, pain can occur when walking shorter distances. Over time, you may not be able to walk because the pain is extremely severe. The most common types of claudication are:
• Vascular Claudication: This is typically a significant symptom of severe blood flow issues, particularly peripheral artery disease.

Neurogenic Claudication: This occurs due to problems in the spine and nervous system.

What are the causes of claudication?

• The causes are divided according to the type of claudication:
• Vascular Claudication: This involves narrowing of the blood vessels in your legs. All cells in the body require oxygen to function. When oxygen or blood supply to the legs decreases, it causes pain or claudication in the leg or arm, which typically disappears at rest due to improved circulation.

Neurogenic Claudication: Also known as pseudo-claudication, this condition is caused by narrowing of the area around the lower spine, which can directly compress the spinal cord, resulting in claudication. It can also compress the blood vessels around the spine, depriving it of oxygen-carrying blood.

One of the main differences between vascular and neurogenic claudication is that pain can be relieved by leaning forward in cases of neurogenic claudication. This is called the “shopping cart sign” because it resembles the position of a person pushing a shopping cart, where the narrowing of the lower vertebrae and pressure on the nerves is reduced when leaning forward.

• The risk of developing claudication increases with age, along with the following factors that increase the risk of vascular claudication:
• Tobacco use.
• Diabetes.
• Kidney disease.
• High cholesterol.

 High blood pressure.

How is claudication handled? Tips that may help you overcome claudication.

• Treatment depends on the type of claudication:

• • Vascular Claudication: Treating claudication is crucial because it is often a sign of peripheral artery disease. Treatment varies depending on your condition, and your doctor may recommend one or more of the following:
  • Quit tobacco use: Tobacco use, mainly smoking, is one of the most significant risk factors for claudication.
  • Walking: The best type of exercise for claudication is regular walking.

• • Take prescribed medications, including:
  • Blood pressure medications.
  • Cholesterol-lowering medications.
  • Blood thinners.

• Angioplasty or catheter-based procedures in advanced cases.

• • Neurogenic Claudication: Treatment for neurogenic claudication includes:
  • Using medications to help relieve pain.
  • Physical therapy and steroid injections to help reduce inflammation.
  • Stretching, strengthening, and other exercises to improve the body’s support and function.

Surgery inadvanced cases.

When should you see a doctor?

Claudication is a symptom you should always discuss with your doctor because it is a key symptom of various diseases, like peripheral artery disease.

Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent or delay the worsening of claudication symptoms to the point where they affect your life.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are vascular and neurogenic claudication chronic and untreatable conditions?