Question

What does a leg aneurysm feel like?

Answer 1

A leg aneurysm also known as a popliteal artery aneurysm behind the knee often feels like a pulsating, throbbing lump or a soft mass.

Although many cases of leg aneurysm's or popliteal artery aneurysms are asymptomatic, but can sometimes cause symptoms like aching, cramping or fullness behind the knee or in the calf.

When the popliteal artery aneurysm or leg aneurysm causes poor circulation it can also cause the foot to feel cold, numb or tingling.

Other symptoms of a leg aneurysm or popliteal artery aneurysm include.

A pulsating sensation, like a feeling of a throbbing, pulsating mass, most commonly found behind your knee, "the popliteal artery" or in the groin "femoral artery".

Pain and cramping like and aching, persistent pain in the leg, calf or behind the knee, which might worsen with rest or activity, numbness, tingling or pins and needles feeling or weakness in the leg that is caused by the aneurysm pressing on nearby nerves and circulation issues like the leg or foot may feel cold to the touch, appear pale or blue (discolored) or feel numb as a result of reduced blood flow.

And visible swelling can occur with a leg aneurysm, which will be a visible, pulsating lump behind the knee.

A popliteal artery aneurysm is when you have an abnormal widening of the artery that is behind the knee, which most frequently affects older men.

Popliteal artery aneurysm's are most often associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms, and are caused by atherosclerosis.

And although popliteal artery aneurysm's sometimes cause pain, coldness or numbness from clotting, most cases of popliteal artery aneurysm's are asymptomatic.

Treatment for popliteal artery aneurysm's include open bypass surgery or endovascular stent grafts.

Many people with popliteal artery aneurysm's are often unaware of having an popliteal artery aneurysm until a clot forms.

The popliteal artery aneurysm is also often accompanied by swelling, coldness and numbness.

And a pulsating swelling located behind the knee also called a palpable mass is also a symptom of popliteal artery aneurysm's.

If the popliteal artery aneurysm clots, "thromboses" it causes sudden loss of blood flow, which leads to intense pain, pale skin, and even the potential for losing the limb through amputation.

causes and risk factors for popliteal artery aneurysm's include.

Atherosclerosis, which is the most common cause and is hardening of the arteries.

Male Gender and Age, as popliteal artery aneurysm's are significantly more common in men aged 65 to 80 years of age.

And anyone with a popliteal artery aneurysm should also be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysms as they often co-exist with each other.

Smoking and hypertension are also key factors in popliteal artery aneurysm's as smoking and hypertension weaken the blood vessels.

Asymptomatic popliteal artery aneurysm's are often treated if the diameter is >20 -25 mm to prevent future clots and limb damage.

Symptomatic popliteal artery aneurysm's require urgent surgery to prevent the need for amputation of the limb affected.

Diagnosis of a popliteal artery aneurysm involve doppler ultrasonography and CT or MR Angiography.

CT or MR Angiography are used for detailed pre-operative planning and Doppler Ultrasonography is the preferred method of detecting and measuring the popliteal artery aneurysm.