Donna,
I have had PVD (peripheral vascular disease) for about 5 years now and I can explicitly tell you that the symptoms you are feeling seem to be some kind of blood clot encasement. Meaning, blood is clotting in one specific area, but given time and rest it will disapate. Now I am no doctor, so please do not take my word for it, but since I have PVD, I have what is called moving blood clots. When you have a actual blood clot that does not disappate, it is excruitiating - blocking the blood flow like a stopped up sink which makes my leg swell, feels cold to the touch and turns blue. Like I said, it is excrutiating. Feels like a charlie horse 10x worse. Plus, it also feels like your leg will explode at any minute. I have to have my clots removed because they do not disapate. I do have a degree as a medical assistance, so am rather informed on the disease. If you have any questions, or just need someone to chat with when you go through one of your "episodes" please feel free to contact me. Keep your leg elevated as much as possible and have your doctor do PT/INR's on you to check you blood thickness. Keep using the heating pad and if you are not on blood thinners, talk to your dotcor about takinga aspirin a day which will help thin your blood somewhat so the symptoms might improve. Good luck. Keep in touch.