Emergency symptoms: A complete sudden obstruction to blood flow causes loss of sensation, coldness and severe pain in the leg. This is a medical emergency. Call 911.

Peripheral vascular disease: Symptoms

If you have peripheral vascular disease (PVD), you may feel aches, pains, cramps, numbness or muscle fatigue during exercise. These feelings get better or go away when you stop exercising. When you exercise, your blood flow may not meet your body’s need for extra oxygen.

When the blockages are large enough that the blood flow is nearly or totally blocked, you may feel pain, even during rest. Without a constant supply of oxygen, tissue below the blockage can be permanently damaged.

There are many symptoms of PVD. You may have...

an aching, tired feeling or numbness, tingling or pain in your feet, toes, legs or buttocks after walking (The pain goes away after a few minutes.)
leg pain during the night or during rest that goes away if you hang your leg over the edge of your bed or put your leg up on a footstool
blue or red discoloration of your foot or leg when sitting or standing
a wound or sore on your foot that does not heal
cold feet and cold or numb calves
dry and scaly feet and legs
less hair growth on your legs
no pulse in your foot
impotence (in men)