Intermittent Claudication: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

If someone is suffering from peripheral arterial disease then they will likely show signs of intermittent claudication. In intermittent claudication when a person walks they experience cramps, burning or aching sensation in their legs. This pain occurs due to poor blood circulation in your arteries. The pain however, goes away with rest. This pain can occur in either both the legs or one of them and in most cases the pain keeps getting worse over time. People oftentimes complain of pain when walking. Sometimes they also feel a sensation of tiredness in the buttocks area. Impotence is often a common complaint when it comes to men.

When the arteries are narrowed, the supply of oxygen-rich blood that flow to the muscles of the leg is reduced. As a result pain occurs when walking or doing any kind of exercise. This claudication condition can either be temporary or permanent as a result of complete closure of any one of the arteries of the leg. According to studies, it has been seen that this condition is more common in men. About 1-2% of people below 60 years of age, 3-4% in the age group of 60-70 and 5% of the population above 70 are seen to suffer from intermittent claudication.

Aside from lifestyle changes the medical treatment for intermittent claudication includes taking of medications, angioplasty treatment and vascular surgery. In order to reduce the occurrence of blood clots you will be advised by your doctor to take a dose of aspirin. Other drugs that prevent chances of blood clots are clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine and dipyridamole (persantine). In order to better the supply of blood flow you may be asked to take cilostazol (pletal). Sometimes, in place of cilostazol your healthcare provider may advise you to take pentoxifylline (trental). Based on your condition, the doctor may also advise you to take a cholesterol-lowering medication additionally, like statin.

More serious conditions of claudication may necessitate the need for an angioplasty surgery. This method of treatment expands the injured arteries by using a narrow tube. This tube has a balloon attached at the very end to better circulation levels and travels via the blood vessels. The moment an artery has widened the doctor will put a tiny plastic or metal stent (mesh tube) within the artery to keep it unblocked. In the vascular surgery method the doctor will replace the damaged vessel causing the claudication with a healthier blood vessel from a different part of the body. By doing this the flow of blood is redirected to go around the artery that is blocked.

People who experience pain or burning sensation in the arms or legs on walking or exercising should make it a point to visit the doctor. Everyone is eligible to for an intermittent claudication treatment in general unless told otherwise by your healthcare provider based on your condition, health and age.

People who are allergic to medications should avoid taking drugs for treating their intermittent claudication condition. The surgical methods such as angioplasty are not advised to those who suffer from heart conditions as you stand a chance of having a heart attack.

If you are taking medications such as Trental to treat your condition then you may experience side effects such as vomiting, dizziness, diarrhoea, nausea, headache, insomnia, constant feeling of drowsiness and hazy vision. Other adverse reactions include heartbeats, jaundice and hepatitis.

If you have or are undergoing angioplasty treatment then you stand the risk of- having your arteries collapsed; bleeding or causing injury to the blood vessels where the catheter had been inserted; causing an allergy to the stent, getting blood clots; of getting a heart attack, etc.

The common side effects of vascular surgery treatment include scarring, infection and clotting of blood.

Post-treatment guidelines include abstaining from smoking (both firsthand as well as second-hand) as that has a chance of worsening your peripheral arteries. Exercising helps the muscles to use the oxygen more effectively and efficiently. As a post-treatment guideline you need to maintain your cholesterol levels by having meals that consist of low-calorie foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, etc. blood pressure and cholesterol levels cumulatively stand the risk of contributing to atherosclerosis. You should avoid taking over-the-counter medications as these contain pseudoephedrine which has the tendency to tighten or narrow the blood vessels. Avoid causing any unnecessary injuries to your legs and feet by wearing protective and well-fitting shoes.

The results of the treatment help people increase their walking distance. The treatment methods provide solutions that prove to be long-term. But if you have undergone for surgical methods then you are likely to experience pain at night as well as gangrene or ulceration at the site of surgery.

The alternative treatments for intermittent claudication include ginkgo, propionyl-l-carnitine, L-arginine. Foods containing vitamin e and omega-3 fatty acids are other possible alternatives for treating intermittent claudication.