Intermittent claudication occurs when leg muscles do not get enough oxygen while walking. As a result, you will experience a cramping feeling in the calf or buttock after a certain distance. This pain quickly resolves when you stand still.
This is caused by a narrowing (also called stenosis) of an artery in your leg. As a result, the blood supply to the muscles cannot increase during exercise and there is a lack of oxygen. If narrowing is pronounced, there is a risk of complete blockage.
Blockage is caused by atheromatosis. This happens to everyone as we age. However, there are a number of factors that can speed up this process:
See our brochure here for more information about intermittent claudication
Your treating doctor will discuss the treatment options with you.
