Symptoms

The main symptom of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is pain or cramping in the back of the lower leg (the calf) that occurs during exercise and goes away with rest. Other signs and symptoms may include:

• Cold feet after exercise
• Tingling or burning in your calf (paresthesia)
• Numbness in the calf area

If the nearby vein (popliteal vein) also becomes trapped by the calf muscle, you may have:

• Heavy feeling in the leg
• Lower leg cramping at night
• Swelling in the calf area
• Changes in skin color around the calf muscle
• Blood clots in the lower leg (deep vein thrombosis)

Symptoms typically affect young, otherwise healthy people under age 40.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if you have any type of leg pain, especially if you have calf or foot cramping during activity that gets better with rest.