NEUROGENIC CLAUDICATION


From the Latin claudicare, which means 'to limp.' The Roman emperor Claudius was so named because he limped, probably because of a birth defect.
Often, patients with spinal stenosis experience claudication or limping during walking. The problem is thought to be caused by a disturbed neurologic function, thus, it termed as “neurogenic claudication”.
Neurogenic claudication is defined as calf discomfort (pain, numbness, paresthesia, weakness, tiredness, heaviness), that is aggravated by both walking and standing. It is relieved with some resting in the flexed (sitting) position. The posterior and occasionally anterior thigh can also be involved.

The typical clinical picture includes:
  1. limitation of walking function,
  2. clinical evidence of chronic nerve root compression with the presence of
  3. a stenotic spinal canal lesion on imaging and,
  4. in the absence of vascular impairment to the lower extremities.
Sometimes patients with spinal stenosis may have more radicular symptoms than the typical picture of neurogenic claudication.





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