Leg cramps or pain that occurs during normal activities, like walking, exercising, or going up stairs, occurs because of insufficient blood flow. This lack of circulation, also called claudication or intermittent claudication, usually affects the blood vessels in your legs. However, it may also affect veins in your arms.
Symptoms of claudication include:
- Leg weakness, fatigue, aching, or burning
- Discomfort in the feet, calves, thighs, hips, or buttocks
- Pain that comes and goes, often after or during exercise
- Discolored skin or ulcerations
- Coldness in the feet and toes
You might only notice these symptoms during exercise or light activities at first. However, as the condition progresses, you may feel leg pain and cramps even while sitting or lying down.