Other conditions with symptoms similar to peripheral arterial disease
Leg pain can be caused by a variety of problems that may be confused with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), such as:
- Spinal stenosis.
- Tendinitis.
- Stress fractures.
- Arthritis.
- Nerve damage in the legs (peripheral neuropathy) caused by diabetes or heavy use of alcohol.
- A pulled muscle.
Other conditions can also cut off blood flow to the leg and produce symptoms similar to PAD. Some of these include:
- A blood clot (embolism) in the leg.
- Swelling of muscle tissue that cuts off blood flow (compartment syndrome).
- An aneurysm that blocks the large blood vessel in the abdomen (aorta). This can result in poor blood flow to the leg.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: October 30, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine David A. Szalay, MD - Vascular Surgery | |
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