Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that affects the blood vessels in your legs, arms, and feet. PAD can cause leg pain, especially when walking. If you have PAD, your doctor will probably recommend a drug to improve blood flow, and some patients may need surgery to correct a more severe problem.
Do you have a history of diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, or a family history of cardiovascular disease? If that’s the case, the risk of PAD is higher for you. One hint of peripheral artery disease is the type of thigh pain. It doesn’t feel like shooting or piercing pain. It is more similar to a sense of weight, a feeling that your legs are becoming very heavy.
There’s also a way to confirm that circulation problems are the cause of thigh pain. Lay down and elevate your legs for a while. If circulation problems contribute to the problem, the weight and thigh pain sensation will become reduced or go away.