Millions of Americans suffer from intermittent claudication, many without even knowing exactly what it is. While most people are aware of the severe effects of atherosclerotic heart disease ("hardening of the arteries" or "coronary artery disease"), many patients are unaware that hardening of the arteries in the legs can have severe and devastating health effects.

The most common first symptom of diseased leg arteries is intermittent claudication: this is a type of pain that occurs in the legs during walking. This type of pain may severely affect a patient’s quality of life, not allowing the patient to walk as far or as often as they want to. Untreated arterial disease of the legs can also lead to much more serious consequences, including ulcers on the legs or feet which will not heal, constant pain in the legs or feet, gangrene or severe infections of the feet, or even amputation.

Vascular surgeons are experts in diagnosing and treating diseased leg arteries. While patients may have leg and foot pain from a variety of causes, a vascular surgeon is the best type of specialist to determine if diseased arteries are responsible for the pain. Evaluation generally begins with an office visit with one of our surgeons. Detailed ultrasound examinations are usually performed to determine the severity and location of any narrowed or blocked arteries. Occasionally, other sophisticated testing, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is required.

Treatment for intermittent claudication and diseased leg arteries can take any one of a number of forms depending on the underlying causes and the severity of the illness. The major goals are to preserve patients’ quality of life, maximize their walking ability, and prevent amputation. Different forms of treatment are often required, and may include physical therapy, exercise programs, medications to begin with. For more serious cases, surgery may be recommended. However, currently there are several "minimally invasive" options such as balloon angioplasty and stenting which are often considered and performed before surgery is necessary. Treatment is individually designed to meet each patient’s particular needs, and usually encompasses a variety of techniques.