Leg pain that is not caused by an injury may be the product of a circulatory issue. Suppose you are experiencing unexplained leg pain in New Brunswick, New Jersey; Ramzan Zakir, MD, of Cardiac & Vascular Interventions of New Jersey, is a board-certified expert who can help. Dr. Zakir treats vascular disorders that cause leg pain, such as peripheral arterial disease and deep vein thrombosis, at his practice. To schedule a consultation, call the office today or use the online booking tool.
What Are The Causes Of Leg Pain?
Leg pain is often caused by musculoskeletal injuries or arthritis, but vascular problems are also common. Dr. Zakir often sees the following conditions:
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaque) in your arteries, causes PAD. PAD harms your legs by narrowing and hardening your arteries, depriving your feet and legs of oxygen.
Claudication is a common symptom of PAD caused by inadequate oxygen in your muscles. When you walk, claudication triggers leg pain that subsides with rest. Ultimately, claudication pain might persist even while you are resting, resulting in continuous, serious discomfort.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
A blood clot in your deep veins causes DVT. Clots in the vein that returns blood to your heart are most likely to affect your legs, with clots blocking it wholly or partially.
DVT is a serious concern because clots will break off and move to vital organs, resulting in a possibly deadly condition like a pulmonary embolism in your lungs.
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
CVI is a condition that affects the valves in your veins. These valves help blood return from your legs and feet to your heart. However, if they stop functioning correctly, blood pools in the veins. Varicose veins manifest CVI.
With each of these health concerns, you may notice other problems besides pain. These include leg swelling and skin discoloration. Both signs may develop once fluid accumulates in the tissue as they begin to deteriorate. Leg discoloration might also be caused by staining from hemosiderin – the pigment produced once hemoglobin in your blood disintegrates.
How To Diagnose the Cause Of Your Leg pain?
Dr. Zakir examines your fitness, lifestyle, and medical history before performing a physical test to determine the source of your leg pain.
Dr. Zakir may use diagnostic tests such as angiography or Doppler ultrasound to determine how well your blood is flowing within your arteries and veins, as well as to detect any blockages.
What Are The Treatment Options For Leg Pain?
The treatment for your leg pain is based upon the actual cause of your concern. These include:
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
A variety of lifestyle factors cause PAD. Thus, changing your nutrition, losing weight, and exercising regularly will help prevent it from worsening. To reduce cholesterol levels in your blood, you will need to take statins or have a minimally invasive angioplasty procedure to expand the arteries.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
DVT necessitates immediate care to prevent blood clots from spreading across the body. You will usually need to take an oral or intravenous (IV) anticoagulant to thin your blood. Thrombolysis, a catheterization procedure that administers clot-busting drugs, might also be necessary.
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
Endovenous radiofrequency ablation, Endovenous laser therapy, and Sclerotherapy are all therapy forms for CVI. These procedures cause diseased veins to fail, perpetually sealing them and redirecting blood to healthier veins.
In conclusion, do not let debilitating leg pain keep you from doing the things you love. Call Cardiac & Vascular Interventions of New Jersey today or schedule a consultation online for a timely diagnosis and specialist treatment of leg pain.
