8
Diagnosis
Table 7. Alternative Diagnoses for Leg Pain or Claudication
With Normal Physiological Testing (Not PAD-Related)
Condition Location Characteristic Effect of Exercise
Symptomatic
Baker's cyst
Behind knee, down
calf
Swelling,
tenderness
With exercise
Venous
claudication
Entire leg, worse
in calf
Tight, bursting
pain
Aer walking
Chronic
compartment
syndrome
Calf muscles Tight, bursting
pain
Aer much exercise
(jogging )
Spinal stenosis Oen bilateral
buttocks, posterior
leg
Pain and weakness May mimic
claudication
Nerve root
compression
Radiates down leg Sharp lancinating
pain
Induced by sitting,
standing, or
walking
Hip arthritis Lateral hip, thigh Aching discomfort Aer variable
degree of exercise
Foot/ankle
arthritis
Ankle, foot, arch Aching pain Aer variable
degree of exercise
Modified from Norgren L, et al. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2007;(33 suppl 1):S1-75.
