What Is Ischemic Limb Pain?
Ischemic limb pain, or critical limb ischemia, is a condition where there is a severe blockage of plaque buildup in the arteries in your legs. It can lead to pain in your legs, feet and toes; poor circulation; and wounds that won’t heal. Left untreated, limb ischemia can cause complications that require amputation of the limb.
Risk Factors
- Age
- Diabetes
- Family history of atherosclerosis – plaque buildup in the arteries
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity or being overweight
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
Symptoms
The symptoms of ischemic limb pain include:
- Dry gangrene on the legs or feet – black, dry skin
- Numbness or pain in the feet
- Severe leg pain
- Skin on the feet and legs that is smooth, shiny and dry
- Sores or infections that won’t heal
- Thickening toenails
- Weak or no pulse in the feet or legs
Treatment Options
Treatment options for ischemic limb pain include:
- Behavioral health therapy – Talk therapy can help you develop mental and emotional coping skills when dealing with pain.
- Injection therapies – Injections can help manage various types of pain by blocking nerve signals. We offer nerve blocks including trigger point injections, peripheral nerve blocks, sympathetic nerve blocks, epidural injections and Botox amongst others.
- Medication management – Your doctor may recommend medication, such as intrathecal drug delivery (pumps), over-the-counter pain relievers, topical ointments, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, anti-epileptics, and weak or strong opioid medications to treat your pain.
- Radiofrequency ablation – This is a minimally invasive procedure in which an electrical current heats nerve tissue to decrease pain signals in that area.
- Stimulation therapies – Procedures can stimulate the nerves and regulate their signals to reduce pain. We offer dorsal root ganglion stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation and spinal cord stimulation.
Ready for an Appointment?
If you're experiencing signs or symptoms of ischemic limb pain, schedule an appointment or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) today.
Learn more about our doctors and care team who diagnose and treat ischemic limb pain.