Blood & Vascular

For the past two months I have extreme tightness in my right calf which causes my right foot to go numb....I am short of breath just doing everyday household chores and climbing stairs.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From your symptoms peripheral vascular disease especially peripheral arterial disease needs to be ruled out. The common symptoms are pain, cold feet, bluish discoloration and numbness. It mostly occurs in elderly age group and occurs due to formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the peripheral blood vessels. Some tests need to be done which include treadmill test, color Doppler, angiography, ultrasonography and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.