Resolved question:
Ηello, I am a male 43 y old, I was a smoker from 25 to 35 and I started again to smoke heavily in the last 2 years. Strangely in the last 5 to 6 months I started to develop weird palpitating and murmuring sensations in my lower abdominal and pelvis and also some pains in my groin and higher thighs or sensations there. Sometimes rarely I even think that i feel a somehow intense pain in my femoral arteries. At the same time I had some problems with my erection.
However all these started when I started to exercise in kick boxing and over stressing my legs. Also because I was scared I reduced heavily smoking (to zero cigarettes for up to a week or 2-3 cigarettes per day) More important when I am not smoking all these symptoms are vanishing after a few days, I mean vanish almost completely, and seems to return when I smoke again.
I made a triplex of my heart and a stress test before one year and a half and everything look normal. I check my symptoms in the internet and found that are related to an abdominal aorta aneurysm or a peripheral arterial disease in the legs and I was very worried. However I exclude the second since i can run and exercise quite intensely without any annoyance in my legs.
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4 Days
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Hello,
Thank you for asking your query.
The symptoms you have described above are consistent with an intermittent iliac artery occlusion ( or dynamic iliac artery occlusion) . This is a rare condition and I am NOT saying you have got this, but it’s wise to rule out this condition. There could be an abdominal aorta involvement, but you cannot say for sure.
Iliac arteries are two continuous arteries directly from aorta. Any block in them can cause above symptoms and claudication. The artery supply to penis is from these arteries, so this might explain the erectile problems. This is some time called Leriche's syndrome. When there is an incomplete block associated with increased demand as in exercise, exercise including bending of the hip this can increase the blockade. Regarding the symptom association with smoking, it could be a random association. Long term smoking is a risk factor for this condition.
You need to abstain from sever exertion and heavy physical activity. You should consult a Vascular Surgeon. A Doppler test will give more information in this regard.
Please note I have formed my opinion on the limited information provided by you without a Physical examination.