A peripheral artery aneurysm is a local ballooning of an artery outside the chest or abdomen—usually in the leg, arm, or neck. It grows slowly and is often silent, but when it stretches or leaks it sends clear signals.

Pulsing lump is the headline. You feel a rhythmic thump under the skin, especially in the groin, behind the knee, or at the bend of the arm.

Deep, steady ache follows. The area feels like a dull weight or throbbing bruise that doesn’t go away with rest.

Swelling appears. The limb or nearby area may puff, especially if the aneurysm presses on a vein.

Weak pulse downstream shows up. The artery past the aneurysm feels weaker because blood is diverted into the balloon.

Numbness or tingling occurs if the aneurysm presses on a nerve.

Late alarms include sudden, severe pain, a hard time moving the limb, or skin that turns pale or blue—signs the vessel may be clotting or rupturing.