What is the Difference Between Neurogenic and Vascular Claudication

The key difference between neurogenic and vascular claudication is that neurogenic claudication occurs as a result of the compression of spinal nerves in the lumbar spine, while vascular claudication occurs due to the presence of impaired blood flow to the leg muscles.

Claudication is a condition that causes painful walking. Claudication causes pain in the thigh, calf, or buttocks. This happens when people walk a certain distance. As the condition gets worse, people also get pain when they walk shorter distances. There are two main types of claudication; they are neurogenic and vascular claudication.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Neurogenic Claudication
3. What is Vascular Claudication
4. Similarities – Neurogenic and Vascular Claudication
5. Neurogenic vs Vascular Claudication in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Neurogenic vs Vascular Claudication

What is Neurogenic Claudication?

Neurogenic claudication is a type of claudication resulting from compression of the spinal nerves in the lumbar spine (spinal stenosis). Neurogenic claudication is sometimes known as pseudo-claudication, which is different from vascular claudication. The symptoms of neurogenic claudication may include pain, tingling, or cramping in the lower back and one or both legs, hips, and buttocks, weakness in the legs, pain or weakness present when standing upright or walking, and is relieved with leaning forward or sitting down. The risk factors for neurogenic claudication may include a naturally narrow spinal canal, injuries, and degeneration of the spine because of aging.

Neurogenic claudication is normally diagnosed through physical examinations, neurological examinations, and imaging studies such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans. Furthermore, neurogenic claudication is treated through decompress surgery to remove the pressure from the nerve roots in the lumbar spine, microdiscectomy surgery to relieve pain resulting from a herniated disc, and laminectomy surgery that involves the removal of part of a bone.

What is Vascular Claudication?

Vascular claudication is a type of claudication that is usually caused by circulatory problems such as peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis. The body’s cells require oxygen to function. When body cells are more active (a light walk), the cells in the muscles even need more oxygen to do their job. People who have circulation problems like peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis may experience pain when they are more active, as their muscles need more oxygen than the circulation provides.

The symptoms of vascular claudication include pain and tired feeling in the legs and buttocks when walking; shiny, hairless, blotchy foot skin that results in sores and cold feet; impotency in men; and leg pain in the night. Moreover, the risk factors for developing vascular claudication include tobacco use, diabetes, kidney disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Vascular claudication can be diagnosed through physical examination, ankle-brachial index, angiography, and ultrasound. Furthermore, treatment options for vascular claudication may include quitting tobacco, walking more, taking prescription medications such as blood pressure medications, cholesterol-lowering medications, and antiplatelet medications, and increasing or rerouting blood flow through surgery or catheterization.

What are the Similarities Between Neurogenic and Vascular Claudication?

Neurogenic and vascular claudication are two types of claudication.
Both types show similar symptoms, such as pain and tired feeling in the legs and buttocks when walking, etc.
Both types can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging studies.
They can be treated through specific surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Neurogenic and Vascular Claudication?

Neurogenic claudication occurs due to the compression of the spinal nerves in the lumbar spine, while vascular claudication occurs due to circulatory problems such as peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis. Thus, this is the key difference between neurogenic and vascular claudication. Furthermore, risk factors for developing neurogenic claudication may include a naturally narrow spinal canal, injuries, and degeneration of the spine because of aging, while risk factors for developing vascular claudication may include tobacco use, diabetes, kidney disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

The below infographic presents the differences between neurogenic and vascular claudication in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Neurogenic vs Vascular Claudication

Claudication is a pain, cramp, or sense of tired feeling in the muscle of the lower extremity. There are two main types of claudication; they are neurogenic and vascular claudication. Neurogenic claudication is usually a less common condition and is due to spinal stenosis. Neurogenic claudication causes pain in the lower back and one or both legs, hips, and buttocks. Vascular claudication is a more common condition and is due to circulatory problems like peripheral artery disease and atherosclerosis. Moreover, vascular claudication causes pain in the leg and buttocks. So, this summarizes the difference between neurogenic and vascular claudication.

Reference:

1. “Claudication: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Spinal Stenosis and Neurogenic Claudication.” – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Spinal Stenosis” By Blausen.com staff (2014). “Medical Gallery of Blausen Medical 2014”. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia