claudication

{{main|Intermittent claudication}}

Intermittent vascular (or arterial) claudication (Latin: claudicatio intermittens) most often refers to cramping pains in the buttock or leg muscles, especially the calves. It is caused by poor circulation of the blood to the affected area, called peripheral arterial disease. The poor blood flow is often a result of atherosclerotic blockages more proximal to the affected area;{{cite journal |vauthors=Simon RW, Simon-Schulthess A, Simon-Schulthess A, Amann-Vesti BR |title=Intermittent claudication |journal=BMJ |volume=334 |issue=7596 |pages=746 |date=April 2007 |pmid=17413176 |pmc=1847882 |doi=10.1136/bmj.39036.624306.68}} individuals with intermittent claudication may have diabetes — often undiagnosed.{{cite journal |vauthors=Burns P, Gough S, Bradbury AW |title=Management of peripheral arterial disease in primary care |journal=BMJ |volume=326 |issue=7389 |pages=584–8 |date=March 2003 |pmid=12637405 |pmc=1125476 |doi=10.1136/bmj.326.7389.584}} Another cause, or exacerbating factor, is excessive sitting (several hours), especially in the absence of reasonable breaks, along with a general lack of walking or other exercise that stimulates the legs.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

{{main|Neurogenic claudication}}

Spinal or neurogenic claudication is not due to lack of blood supply, but rather it is caused by nerve root compression or stenosis of the spinal canal,{{cite journal |vauthors=Comer CM, Redmond AC, Bird HA, Conaghan PG |title=Assessment and management of neurogenic claudication associated with lumbar spinal stenosis in a UK primary care musculoskeletal service: a survey of current practice among physiotherapists |journal=BMC Musculoskelet Disord |volume=10|pages=121 |year=2009 |pmid=19796387 |pmc=2762954 |doi=10.1186/1471-2474-10-121 |doi-access=free }} usually from a degenerative spine, most often at the "L4-L5" or "L5-S1" level. This may result from many factors, including bulging disc, herniated disc or fragments from previously herniated discs (post-operative), scar tissue from previous surgeries, osteophytes (bone spurs that jut out from the edge of a vertebra into the foramen, the opening through which the nerve root passes). In most cases neurogenic claudication is bilateral, i.e. symmetrical.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Jaw claudication is pain in the jaw or ear while chewing. This is caused by insufficiency of the arteries supplying the jaw muscles, associated with giant cell arteritis.{{cite journal |vauthors=Reiter S, Winocur E, Goldsmith C, Emodi-Perlman A, Gorsky M |title=Giant cell arteritis misdiagnosed as temporomandibular disorder: a case report and review of the literature |journal=J Orofac Pain |volume=23 |issue=4 |pages=360–5 |year=2009 |pmid=19888487}}{{cite journal |vauthors=Rieck KL, Kermani TA, Thomsen KM, Harmsen WS, Karban MJ, Warrington KJ |title=Evaluation for Clinical Predictors of Positive Temporal Artery Biopsy in Giant Cell Arteritis |journal=J Oral Maxillofac Surg |date=July 2010 |pmid=20674120 |doi=10.1016/j.joms.2010.02.027 |volume=69 |issue=1 |pages=36–40}}

Vascular (or arterial) claudication typically occurs after activity or ambulation for a distance with resultant vascular insufficiency (lack of blood flow) where the muscular demands of oxygen outweighs the supply. Symptoms are lower extremity cramping. Resting from activity even in a standing position may help relieve the symptoms. Spinal or neurogenic claudication may be differentiated from arterial claudication based on activity and position. In neurogenic claudication, positional changes lead to increased stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal and compression of nerve roots and resultant lower extremity symptoms. Standing and extension of the spine narrows the spinal canal diameter. Sitting and flexion of the spine increases spinal canal diameter. A person with neurogenic claudication will have worsening of leg cramping with standing erect or standing and walking. Symptoms may be relieved by sitting down (flexing the spine) or even by walking while leaning over (flexion of the spine) a shopping cart.

The ability to ride a stationary bike for a prolonged period of time differentiates neurogenic claudication from vascular claudication. Weakness is also a prominent feature of spinal claudication that is not usually present in intermittent claudication.

Blocking agents of the adrenoceptors alpha 1/alpha 2 are typically used to treat the effects of the vasoconstriction associated with vascular claudication. Cilostazol (trade name: Pletal) is FDA approved for intermittent claudication. It is contraindicated in patients with heart failure, and improvement of symptoms may not be evident for two to three weeks.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Neurogenic claudication can be treated surgically with spinal decompression.{{EMedicine|article|1913265|Spinal Stenosis|treatment}}

The prognosis for patients with peripheral vascular disease due to atherosclerosis is poor; patients with intermittent claudication due to atherosclerosis are at increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (e.g. heart attack), because the same disease that affects the legs is often present in the arteries of the heart.{{cite journal |doi=10.2147/vhrm.2007.3.2.229 |author=Shammas NW |title=Epidemiology, classification, and modifiable risk factors of peripheral arterial disease |journal=Vasc Health Risk Manag |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=229–34 |year=2007 |pmid=17580733 |pmc=1994028 |doi-access=free }}

The prognosis for neurogenic claudication is good if the cause of it can be addressed surgically.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

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{{Medical resources

| DiseasesDB = 2777

| ICD10 = I73.9

| ICD9 = {{ICD9|443.9}}

| ICDO =

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| MeshID = D007383

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{{Vascular diseases}}

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Category:Diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries