Vascular pain usually occurs in the peripheral extremities such as arms, calves, legs, etc.. Signs and symptoms include leg pain when walking, burning, cramping, numbness, or weakness. Vascular pain is caused by fatty build up in the arteries which causes the smooth muscle on the interior walls of the arteries to “stiffen” or harden.
Oral medications, procedures, and exercise have all shown some benefit in relieving vascular pain but are not always an option for every patient who suffers from vascular pain. Using a topical cream may allow these patients an alternative to traditional treatments. Compounding specific ingredients that work together to target the specific causes of the pain at the actual site of the pain can provide patients with relief they have not been able to find in current treatment options. Although the actual cause of the pain, the fatty buildup in the arteries, cannot be treated with a topical pain cream, giving some relief may allow the patient to walk farther and longer. Walking as exercise, has been proven to help with vascular pain; however it is often avoided if a patient fears that walking may actually cause them pain.
Although vascular pain is difficult to treat, we believe that a topical cream from Four Corners Compounding can help your patients. Contact your Four Corners Compounding representative or pharmacist for questions regarding vascular pain treatment with topical preparations.
Nifedipine works locally in the tissues to dilate capillaries and relax smooth muscle.
Clonidine provides analgesic affects and potentiates the effects of other anesthetics in the formula.
Ketamine provides anaelgesic effects and works as a local anaesthetic. It has been used intravineously to prevent vascular pain caused by other agents.
Gabapentin helps to reduce any underlying neuropathic pain that commonly accompanies vascular pain.
Flurbiprofen reduces inflammation in the surrounding tissues and aids in reducing the inflammatory response.
Bupivacaine is used as a local anaesthetic.