A patient complains of leg pain that wakes him at night. He states that he "has been having problems" with his legs. He has pain in his legs when they are elevated that disappears when he dangles them. He recently noticed "a sore" on the outer aspect of the right ankle. What do these findings suggest?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Night leg pain is common in aging adults and may indicate the ischemic rest pain of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Alterations in arterial circulation cause pain that becomes worse with leg elevation and is eased when the extremity is dangled. In addition, ulcers associated with PAD, or arterial ulcers, often occur on the lateral ankle (as in this patient), toes, metatarsal heads, and heels.

A Patient Complains of Leg Pain That Wakes Him at Night