Claudication

Claudication is the name for muscle pain that happens when you’re active and stops when you rest. This usually happens in your legs. You may be walking along and have to stop. But the pain gets better when you stand still for two to five minutes. Vascular claudication is usually a symptom of serious blood flow problems, especially peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Vascular claudication may lead to critical limb ischemia. This is a severe blockage in a leg or arm artery. But there’s hope. Claudication treatments of various types can lower your risk of damaging a limb.

Another type, neurogenic claudication, comes from problems with your spine and nervous system.