Cramping Leg Pain keeping you awake at night?

Is leg discomfort waking you up in the middle of the night? It might be more than just a natural part of growing older. Peripheral artery disease might cause pain in your legs and feet at night or when you're attempting to sleep (PAD).

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that affects the arteries. Leg discomfort can occur anywhere on your leg, but the most frequent locations are the calf, thigh, and buttocks muscles. The discomfort might be minor or severe, to the point where you can only walk a short distance. PAD is a condition that worsens with time. Some people only experience discomfort throughout the day. Others have pain when sleeping or relaxing.

Claudication is the term for the leg discomfort or muscular cramping produced by PAD. Claudication symptoms can be induced by physical exertion, such as walking or climbing stairs. It's pretty unusual for the discomfort to go away when you stop and relax for a few minutes.

Leg discomfort at night might indicate the most severe type of PAD, critical limb ischemia (CLI). The pain episodes in your legs or feet caused by CLI can last anywhere from minutes to hours. Leg discomfort at night can be a symptom of a dangerous disease, and PAD can only be diagnosed by a healthcare expert. At PACE, this is our specialty. 

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular condition in which clogged arteries restrict blood flow to the extremities, most often the legs and feet. PAD is a rather prevalent illness; in fact, an estimated 8.5 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with it, accounting for over 15% of those over the age of 70.

Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, causes PAD. Coronary artery disease, which may lead to heart attacks, and peripheral artery disease, which, if severe enough, can result in amputation of a limb or even death, are both caused by arterial hardening. PAD is a severe disorder, just as coronary artery disease.

We are just a call or click away. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with PeachState Advanced Cardiac & Endovascular. We have several locations in Georgia: Newnan, Atlanta, & Griffin.

Author

Kelly Miles Current Director of Business Development & Operations at PeachState Advanced Cardiac & Endovascular- PACE. Kelly has a passion for helping others navigate the healthcare industry and ensuring quality outcomes. She lives in Newnan, GA with her husband and children.