Peripheral Arterial Disease of the Legs
When to Call a Doctor
Call your doctor immediately if you suddenly have severe leg pain, numbness, or pale, blue-black skin.
Call your doctor if you have:
- Leg pain that begins after you walk a certain distance and that goes away when you rest (intermittent claudication).
- Foot or toe pain when you are resting.
Watchful Waiting
Taking a wait-and-see approach, called watchful waiting, is not appropriate for peripheral arterial disease. Ongoing, unexplained leg pain should be checked by a doctor.
Who to See
Your family doctor or general practitioner can diagnose and treat peripheral arterial disease (PAD). You may be referred to a specialist, such as a vascular surgeon or an internal medicine doctor (internist).
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| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: February 22, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery | |
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