Polycythemia Vera – What Is PV, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

5) Calf pain

One of the common complaints of those with problems with their peripheral blood vessels is intermittent claudication. A characteristic cramping pain of the calf muscles occurs on walking long distances due to the inability of such muscles to receive adequate blood supply to wash off the lactic acid that accumulated from their metabolism. Due to the sluggish blood flow, this can also occur in polycythemia. Pain tends to be relieved by rest.