Ask the doctor: Calf pain may signal nerve and circulatory problems.
If you have atherosclerosis in the arteries that provide blood to your legs, as your calf muscles start to work they reach a point where they're not getting enough blood. It's a condition doctors call arterial claudication (or just claudication for short). With claudication, you don't feel calf pain immediately on starting to walk, but after several minutes of using the muscle.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
