Leg Pain: Arthritis or Peripheral Arterial Disease? If you
suffer from leg pain while walking, you may blame arthritis. But
the problem might be peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which
can have serious consequences. PAD causes an aching, heaviness,
numbness, burning, or cramping in your calves, thighs, hips,
buttocks, or feet that occurs while walking or climbing stairs.
The discomfort gets better after you rest. Arthritis leg pain
generally is associated with specific joints—either knees or
hips. Facts about PAD The National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute estimates that about 1 in 20 adults over the age of 50
may have PAD, and that number continues to increase with age.
African-Americans have a higher risk for PAD than whites. Men
have a higher risk for PAD than women. Other factors that
increase the risk for PAD are age, smoking, diabetes, high blood
pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke.
A family history of these conditions may also increase risk. The
most common cause of PAD is