I Started Planning My Day Around How Far I Had to Walk

I Started Planning My Day Around How Far I Had to Walk

At first, I made small adjustments without really thinking about them.

I parked closer to the entrance. I avoided stores where I knew I would have to walk from one end to the other. I stopped joining friends for long outings and chose restaurants based on how far the table might be from the parking lot.

Eventually, I realized I was planning my entire day around how far I would have to walk.

The problem was not that I disliked walking. My legs simply would not cooperate. After a short distance, I would feel aching, cramping, burning or heaviness, usually in my calves. Sometimes my legs felt weak or unusually tired. When I stopped to rest, the discomfort would gradually improve.

I blamed my age. I blamed my back, my shoes and the Florida heat. I told myself I was simply out of shape.

But pain that repeatedly appears while walking and improves with rest can be a symptom of claudication, which is often associated with peripheral artery disease, or PAD. PAD develops when narrowed or blocked arteries reduce blood flow to the legs. During activity, the leg muscles need more oxygen-rich blood. When circulation cannot keep up with that demand, pain, cramping, weakness or heaviness may develop.

Your World Can Slowly Become Smaller

Walking-related leg pain does more than make exercise uncomfortable. It can affect grocery shopping, travel, work, family activities and your ability to remain independent. Many people gradually reduce their activity without realizing how much their symptoms are changing their lives.

Other signs of poor circulation may include numbness, cold feet or toes, skin discoloration, slow-growing toenails, reduced hair growth on the legs or sores that are slow to heal. Risk factors for PAD can include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, kidney disease and a history of cardiovascular disease.

You Do Not Have to Keep Planning Around the Pain

A vascular evaluation can help determine whether your symptoms are related to reduced blood flow or another condition. Testing may include a physical examination, vascular ultrasound or an ankle-brachial index test, which compares blood pressure in the ankle and arm.

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the circulation problem. Recommendations may include lifestyle changes, medication, a structured walking program or minimally invasive procedures designed to improve blood flow.

You should not have to measure your freedom in parking spaces, grocery aisles or the number of steps between places to sit.

West Florida Vascular & Vein provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for leg pain, poor circulation and peripheral artery disease throughout the greater Tampa and West Florida area. Schedule a vascular evaluation and find out what may be limiting your steps. Visit www.WestFloridaVascularandVein.com to learn more or call the office at 727-712-3233!