What is defined as pain in the foot that arises at rest, particularly at night?

Rest pain is characterized by pain in the foot that occurs while at rest, often worsening at night. This is typically associated with critical limb ischemia due to severe peripheral artery disease, where there is inadequate blood flow to meet the metabolic needs of the tissues, especially in a given patient’s lower extremities. Unlike claudication pain, which is triggered by activity and eases with rest, rest pain signifies a more advanced stage of arterial insufficiency and is frequently a symptom of worsening vascular health. As the name suggests, rest pain can lead to significant discomfort when lying down, often requiring positioning of the limb to alleviate symptoms.

Other terms, while related to foot pain, do not precisely describe the phenomenon of pain at rest. Pedal pain is a general term that encompasses pain in the foot without specifying the conditions under which it occurs. Acute arterial pain generally refers to sudden onset pain due to an acute vascular occlusion, such as in the case of an embolism or thrombosis, which does not specifically correlate with the rest context. Claudication pain refers to ischemic discomfort during physical activity, making it distinct from rest pain, which is not activity-dependent. Understanding these nuances is crucial for recognizing and diagnosing conditions related to vascular insufficiency.