claudication

My Mom, 82, has been diagnosed w/claudication.  She has been a farily active/healthy woman all her life.  Always walking, never smoked, not overweight, eating sensibly.  She doesn't meet the 'critera' claudication patients usually have.  She is discouraged to say the least.  She has been taking pletal.  Doesn't really know if it's working.  Her walking consists of 20-30min with anywhere from 3-6 stops.  She brings a little pop up stool in the niegborhood with her to rest on. Her rt leg is the one affected. She has sweeling in her left ankle.  Her tests for blood flow, etc are good.  She tries to get out once a day usually in the morning. A radilogist friend, mentioned she could have an MRA to determine if it is a short/long blockage. And then have an angioplasty, if determined.  Her vascular surgeon, didn't feel a MRA was necessary.  I know she is 82 and should be thankful to walk at all, which she is.  But being an active/healthy person in the past, it's hard for her to understand, why this happened to her. Seems the doctors aren't that understanding to her situation either.
Any thoughts, on meds, exercise, treatment, is appreciated.  She would love to 'talk' to someone with a similar issue, are there support groups available.  We are in CT.
Thank you.

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

KKLBS,

Thanks for the post.  Typical symptoms of claudication are cramps in the calf or leg typically after the same level of exertion (ie walking one block or climbing a flight of stairs). Symptoms typically improve with rest.  Cramping and pain is seldom at rest unless there is critical disease.

If the blood flow tests ( I am assuming you are talking about ankle brachial index) is normal, there is always a chance it is a nerve impingement issue.  This typically will have numbness, tingling and sometimes weakness.

If the claudication is impairing her quality of life, consider having an angiogram to evaluate exactly where the blockage is and how severe it is.  This will help deteremine if it is amendable by surgery or percutaneous (catheter directed) stenting and angioplasty.  A healthy 82 year-old should be treated aggressively--she may very well live into her 90's to 100.

I am sure there are support groups for claudication.  Try doing a google or yahoo search for claudication support group.  I am sure you can find something out there.  

Good luck and thanks for posting.