what could my father have ?

Shanna, it sounds like your father could be suffering from either a circulatory problem, or a nerve problem, or both. The doctor's comment that his legs are "50% clogged" would refer to a circulation issue. Pain, tenderness, swelling and even redness deep in the calf are common with Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) which can be quite serious. A clot in the leg can move up to the lungs. This can be checked with special ultrasound imaging equipment.

Sciatica is an irritation of the large sciatic nerve that runs from the low back, down the leg, branching off as it goes, all the way to the foot. Pain is often felt in the butt, and different parts of the leg or foot, depending where the nerve is being affected. Often there is no pain in the low back, even if that is the source of the problem. Sometimes the nerve is being squeezed more in the butt area by the piriformis muscle, which is usually easier to resolve.

Sciatica is usually more dependent on what position the body is in (sitting/standing/lying) and wouldn't normally be associated with swelling or redness. It can show up on the back or front of the leg or foot. DVT symptoms are more common in the calf or deep inner part of the leg. Either condition can feel like a deep ache. Nerve problems sometimes feel more like surface tingling, burning or numbness. It's a little unusual to see either of these conditions show up on both sides at the same time, but its possible.

DVT is usually treated with strong blood thinners to dissolve the clot and prevent new ones. Sciatica could be resolved with conservative measures such as acupuncture, chiropractice, physical therapy, etc. But if there is severe nerve impingement as from a ruptured disk in the spine, surgery may be necessary. As an intermediate measure, sometimes steroid injections around the nerve work well.

 Braxton Ponder L.Ac.

Aritcles at: blog.ponderhealth.com

Sounds like your father has intermittant claudication