What is Rest Pain?

Are you experiencing persistent pain in your legs, especially when you’re resting or lying down? This could be a sign of Rest pain, a serious condition affecting many people, particularly those over 50.

The earliest and most common Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) symptom is intermittent claudication, followed by Rest Pain.  In this article, we’ll explore the causes and symptoms of Rest pain, and how Coastal Vascular Center can help patients manage this condition and improve their quality of life.

What is Rest Pain?

Rest pain, also known as critical limb ischemia, is a burning pain in the lower leg or foot. Rest pain is a type of chronic pain that is caused by reduced blood flow to the legs, feet, or hands. It is often described as a burning, tingling, or numb sensation when the affected body part is resting. Rest pain is typically a symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD is when the arteries that supply blood to the limbs become narrowed or blocked.

Other symptoms include open sores that won’t heal, gangrene, and shiny skin on the legs and feet. Rest pain becomes worse when lying down or reclining in a chair. It is more severe than claudication. The pain results from damage to and blockage of arteries caused by plaque buildup from cholesterol.

Patients usually experience it as a cramp-like muscular discomfort. However, rest pain can also produce numbness, tingling, weakness, or fatigue. This occurs when muscles are not getting all the oxygen they need. Because muscles need more oxygen when working, this begins during exercise and resolves with a few minutes of rest. People with mild blockages can walk substantial distances before the symptoms. Yet, patients with severe PAD may experience distress in just a few yards. The location of the discomfort depends on the site of the blockage.

What causes Rest Pain?

Rest pain is often a result of PAD, which is a buildup of plaque in the arteries. This plaque buildup can reduce blood flow to the limbs. The blockages are so powerful, muscles can’t get enough oxygen at rest. Leading to Rest pain. Other causes of PAD include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Foot pain is the most common. At first, it’s most troublesome when the leg is elevated, particularly in bed at night. But if the disease progresses, the pain can become constant and is no longer relieved by sitting or standing. Patients with moderate to severe PAD can also develop ulcers or other skin problems in their feet and legs.

The most dangerous symptom is known as critical limb ischemia. Ischemia means tissue damage caused by a lack of blood and oxygen. In the case of PAD, it can be triggered by a blood clot that blocks a narrowed artery.

Critical limb ischemia is a true emergency that requires immediate treatment to prevent gangrene, amputation, or death. Although rest pain is much less urgent, it usually involves revascularization (surgery or angioplasty with a stent). But patients with claudication may respond well to lifestyle treatment and medications — which is why early diagnosis and treatment are so important.

Many patients with PAD don’t have any symptoms at all. But diagnosis and treatment are essential for them, too. Patients with PAD often have atherosclerosis in other arteries. That’s why they have an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death. The more severe the PAD, the higher the risk.

Complications

PAD is a serious condition. Clogged arteries caused by decreased blood flow can cause painful cramping while walking or exercising. Other side effects include numbness, weakness or tingling in the legs and feet, and burning pain in the feet and toes. In severe cases, Peripheral artery disease of known to cause critical limb ischemia. This is a condition that begins as open sores that do not heal. These sores will progress to tissue depth, causing gangrene, sometimes requiring amputation of the affected limb.

A significant complication caused by peripheral vascular disease is the stroke or heart attack risk. Atherosclerosis causes the signs and symptoms of peripheral artery disease and isn’t limited to your legs. Fat deposits also build up in arteries supplying blood to your heart and brain.

Prevention

The best way to prevent peripheral arterial disease is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. That means:

• Quit smoking if you’re a smoker.
• If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under reasonable control.
• Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 to 45 minutes several times a week after you’ve gotten your doctor’s OK.
• Lower your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, if applicable.
• Eat foods that are low in saturated fat.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

Advanced Diagnostic and Treatment Options at Coastal Vascular Center

At Coastal Vascular Center, Dr. Ayar is dedicated to diagnosing and treating Rest pain. He uses the latest in technologies and medical procedures. He will conduct several diagnostic tests to understand the underlying issues. Once Rest Pain is diagnosed, He will develop a personalized treatment plan based on each patient’s individual needs.

Treatment options include lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet modifications. Also, PAD symptoms may be treated with medications. These medications treat high cholesterol and control blood pressure. As well as decrease pain while walking to increase exercise. They also aim to prevent the buildup of plaque or the formation of blood clots.

Minimally invasive procedures such as angioplasty and stenting. Angioplasty opens a blocked artery with a medical balloon, enabling better blood flow. In some cases, the affected arteries need to remain open using a stent, which is a small metal cylinder. This treatment is stenting.

A stent graft is another procedure. This is when a stent covered with a piece of synthetic fabric is placed in the blood vessels to bypass affected arteries. A third interventional radiology procedure for peripheral artery disease is called atherectomy. This procedure uses a small catheter at the site of the blockage to shave the plaque away from the inside of the artery and remove it from the patient’s body.

Sometimes, PAD may be severe enough that a medical team has no choice but to perform surgery. This may be the only way to remove blockages or create bypasses around the clogged areas.

Patient Testimonials

At Coastal Vascular Center, we have helped many patients manage their Rest pain and improve their quality of life. One patient, John, had been experiencing Rest pain for years and had been told by other doctors that there was nothing that could be done. After visiting Coastal Vascular Center, John received a minimally invasive procedure that relieved his Rest pain and allowed him to resume his normal activities.

Another patient, Maria, had been dealing with Rest pain for several years and had tried various medications with little success. After consulting with our team at Coastal Vascular Center, Maria received a personalized treatment plan that included a minimally invasive procedure. She reported that her Rest pain had significantly improved, and she was able to enjoy her daily activities without discomfort.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re experiencing Rest pain, don’t wait to seek professional help. At Coastal Vascular Center, Dr. Ayar is dedicated to diagnosing and treating Rest pain using the latest technologies and medical procedures. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you manage your Rest pain and improve your quality of life.