A peripheral aneurysm is a blood vessel that has expanded, or is bulging, in the popliteal artery. This typically occurs in the back of one of the legs, somewhere between the knee and the thigh area. However, it can occur in other areas such as the arms. Many people, sometimes as many as two out of three, do not feel any symptoms at all with this condition. However, symptoms can occur and leg pain, even if you are at rest, can be one such symptom.
Symptoms
Symptoms that can occur with a peripheral aneurysm can include pain in an arm or a leg while exercising, pain in a limb while stationary or at rest, radiating pain, sores on the toes or the fingers, numbness in an arm or leg, and gangrene.
Life-threatening symptoms
This condition can also be life-threatening if the carotid artery is involved instead of the popliteal artery. With the carotid artery, the symptoms could grow to include a stroke, and if arteries in the bowels are affected, symptoms could be experienced that impact the body's ability to function properly with bowel movements.
Nerve-related Symptom
When a peripheral aneurysm applies pressure to a nerve in the body, or even a vein, there is the possibility that it will create the symptom of numbness. In addition, pain and swelling can also occur during this particular scenario as well.
Significant
Another possible symptom of peripheral aneurysms is the formation of a blood clot. Since blood clots can halt or slow down needed blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body, this is an important and dangerous symptom of a peripheral aneurysm.
Unfortunately, blood clots occur inside the body and thus cannot be detected by sight or any medical blood test. Blood clot detection occurs when the clot begins to interfere with internal functions (stopping the blood flow enough to cause pain or numbness in the limbs, or creating chest pain or severe headache). Thus, the danger of a blood clot lies in the fact that it isn't detectable until it actually begins to be cause other problems.
Considerations
Having a peripheral aneurysm in one leg of your body increases your chances of having one in the other leg. In addition, it also increases your risk of having an aortic aneurysm, which is more likely to bust or rupture than the peripheral aneurysm.
Tags: peripheral aneurysm, blood clot, blood clots, blood flow, carotid artery, increases your, popliteal artery