Recently I was diagnosed as having diabetes Type 2. I was
told that along with the diabetic diet that I had to follow, that I should
try to walk at least 1/4 to 1/2 mile a day, to help with my diabetes. I noticed
that when I first started walking, that it did not take long for my legs and
upper thighs to start hurting. When I asked my doctor about it, he said
that I have intermittent claudication, and that was why my feet and legs would
hurt when I would take my walks.
After doing research on intermittent claudication, the following is some of
the information I found.
Intermittent claudication is a symptom of Peripheral
Vascular Disease (PVD), which is a narrowing of the arteries in the legs or arms
caused by the build up of atherosclerotic plaque (fatty plaque), which in 70% of
patients it is the only symptom. Ironically, the treatment for
intermittent claudication (muscle pain in the legs that is brought on by
walking) is, usually more walking.
Those patients with PVD are encouraged to exercise but that same exercise
brings on pain because the blood flow through the narrowed arteries is
insufficient to provide their muscles with enough oxygen to meet the increased
demands due to exercise. The oxygen deficit's effects are muscle pain and
muscle cramping. For some people the pain may begin after only walking a
block, and for others it might be a mile, but for anyone who has intermittent
claudication, the pain consistently starts at the same distance. Usually,
taking just a minute or two to rest brings relief to their pain. The pain
is usually found in the calf muscle, but can also occur in the thighs, feet,
hips, and buttocks, depending on where the artery is narrowed.
It is suggested that an increase in exercise will help by enlarging the
collateral vessels that are around the main blocked artery. Other evidence
says exercising may actually reduce some of the plaque build up in the artery
and may lead to having better muscle coordination.
Atherosclerosis is a process that affects the whole body: the same
narrowing that causes intermittent claudication also causes angina (heart pain)
that is brought on by exercise and relieved by rest. Angina is the primary
symptom of narrow coronary arteries, and 60% of those with intermittent
claudication also have coronary artery disease. However, unlike angina,
intermittent claudication is not usually dangerous in and of itself.
Patients are often afraid that their problem may lead to a loss of a limb.
This is highly unlikely and very rarely does it happen. If you exclude
diabetics and smokers who are a higher risk for progression of this condition,
only about 9% ever require surgery and only about 2% will actually need
amputation, and with proper care these rates can be greatly reduced.
Doctor Bruce Perler, Vascular Surgeon, from Johns Hopkins
University says,
"Intermittent claudication is a fairly benign symptom that poses no
long term threat, or
immediate danger. Patients should be cautious if surgery or other
treatment such as, angioplasty or laser angioplasty are recommended for symptoms
that only appear with exercise. In the vast majority, lifestyle changes
are the only treatment required."
Smokers are
encouraged to quit, since
tobacco causes constriction of
peripheral veins in arteries and all patients are
advised to start a walking program. If the patients are morbidly obese, to
lose weight through proper diet, and walking which will help speed up the
weight loss.
In the Journal of Vascular Surgery, one study documented a significant
difference that a walking program can make. Over 56 patients with varying
degrees of intermittent claudication were enrolled in a six month walking
training program, which consisted of three, one hour sessions a week, walking on
an indoor track. Patients were instructed to walk at speeds that caused
them some discomfort but not to the point of it being severe pain, and to slow
down or completely stop as soon as the pain would become severe. By the
end of the six month period, the patient's average more than doubled the
distance they could walk without stopping. This was a marked improvement.
Around 84% of the patients who completed the program were able to walk a little
over a mile after only three months training; over 70% could walk over two miles
or more with an average speed around three miles an hour. Results show
that 20 out of the 22 patients who came back for re-testing a year later had
maintained or improved their walking ability.
Suggested methods to help walk away the pain:
- Spend several minutes stretching before you start your walk and try to
walk on level ground.
- While walking, keep track of how far you go before the pain first starts,
then continue from there until the pain is severe enough that you have to stop
and make note of that distance.
- Relax for a few minutes until the pain is gone and resume your walk.
- Continue this pattern for 40 to 60 minutes.
- Do this at least three times a week. If the weather doesn't permit
this, try walking at your local mall.
- Keep track of how far the distances are from first signs of pain to severe
signs of pain on every walk. Both of these distances should start
increasing in the second or third week.
- If you have a heart disease or any other health condition, be sure to
contact your doctor about how far you should walk. Even if you don't
have a history of heart disease but you do experience shortness of breath,
chest pains, or rapid heart beat while walking, you should notify your
physician to make sure this is nothing serious.
Source: Perler, Dr. Bruce. The Johns Hopkins Medical Handbook. : Rebus, Inc.,
2000.