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Anyone else have PAD (peripheral artery disease)?

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Posted 6/3/2005 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
Went to a vascular surgeon yesterday hoping to set up appts to get some spider veins zapped from my left leg. He took a complete history and felt my pulses etc. Did a qucik doppler on the leg arteries and said I needed further testing. Long story short, after an arterial doppler study, it was found that I have claudication in the left leg. At rest, my pressure is 70% of normal; after five minutes of exercise, my pressure is 29% of normal.

I have high blood pressure fairly well controlled with meds, and cholesterol not at all controlled. The surgeon gave me a choice of trying to increase exercise for 3 months and see if I can get improvement in the circulation or go have arteriogram and have the area of narrowing opened. I chose the exercise option but have little faith it is going to make much improvement. I have had cramping calf muscles on exertion for 5 years now.

He won't zap my spider veins until the circulation is improved. So no leg beautification and gained another disease to add to the long list I already have. Any one have tips on how to exercise through the cramping and get any benefit?

Thanks, Ides

Posted 6/3/2005 11:14 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Ides! tongue

Well, I'm sure sorry to hear of this added to your list. sad My Dad had this and it caused him problems, but he kept golfing (that was his exercise tongue ) and then finally had a angioplasty and stenting done several years later when he had larger vessel blockage.

I think there might be another thread here re this, but for more info try...http://familydoctor.org/008.xml

Hugs, Teri tongue

Posted 6/3/2005 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
yeah I do.going to surgeon next wednesday to set up a date for stenting.MRA found that my right leg is 90% blocked.only hurts when I walk more than 5 feet.well maybe a litlle more than that.got so bad now, that my foot is starting to cramp all the time.walk as far as you can and sit awhile until the pain goes away and do it some more walking
Posted 6/4/2005 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
Ricky, I'm glad to hear from you, but my goodness, I sure wasn't expecting to hear this!  sad I can tell you that my Dad was in his 60's and 70's and had this procedure done twice to different areas and he did quite well afterwards.  So I will wish you well and hope all goes great for you!!  Please let me know when this the actual surgery takes place.  Email me anytime!! yeah

Big Hugs from Central Texas to a bench on the gulf!!  Teri tongue

Posted 6/4/2005 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
I was planning on emailing you when I found out something.I just hope I don't start over again.started at the top with carotid endarterecomy in Jan 2003.Mi Oct 2003,legs June 2005.gone from top to bottom.I am really ready for it to stop lol
Posted 6/4/2005 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
I can definitely understand how you feel, Ricky!! I will hope and pray with you-that this is it!! Big Hugs, Teri :)
Posted 6/4/2005 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
RIcky

please take care of yourself and have faith it willnot start all over again.It dioes for me every 5 or 10 years but closer I get to 50 the more I break down and the more I try to fight it.

Ides Please listen to Ricky here and Teri too they both gave good advice on exercise. how about swimming?

Heidi

Posted 6/4/2005 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone! I am seeing my PCP on Tuesday and hoping he can get me in some sort of program. I have spondyloarthritis with enthesopathy and when it flares I cannot get around unless I use two canes or a walker. The danger during a flare is that I will further tear or rupture more tendons. This last flare involved all the tendons in the knees, ankles and hip. Sort of puts me between a rock and a hard place. I am betting he is going to recommend the surgery. I'll let you know.

Also, I read that if a person has claudication in a leg, it is almost certain that one or more major vessels (like carotid or heart) will have narrowing. I want to know if I do. What tests should I be asking about? Anyone got any ideas for me? You all are terrific!
Ides
Posted 6/4/2005 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ides! tongue

 

If you'd like a complete cardio workup, I'd suggest that you speak to your Cardiologist and ask him/or her for a carotid Ultra Sound, an echocardiogram, and a chemical stress test, if your Dr. feels this is in order.

 

I didn't realize that you had the problems that you do, Ides, and I'm sorry you're having these rough times!! sad Exercise does sound like it may be out of the picture at this point.  Though, as Heidi mentioned, swimming might be something to ask about, if you thought you could manage it in the future.  I, too, have some spinal damage from scarring from prior back surgeries along with arthritis, so I understand somewhat the limitations put on you-and swimming is what they advise for me.

 

Talk to your Dr.'s, make sure you are a complete part of your medical team-ask them questions and tell them your concerns. yeah Much good luck and all the best to you!!

 

Hugs, Teri tongue

Posted 6/4/2005 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Here's another ariticle on Peripheral Arterial Disease...  :)

 

"Peripheral arterial disease results in reduced blood flow in the arteries of the trunk, arms, and legs. "

 

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec03/ch034/ch034a.html

Posted 6/5/2005 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Teri. Yes, I am a bit of a mess as one of docs jokingly says. I recently had an echocardiogram and it was completely normal. I already made a note to ask about the carotid US and will speak to him about either seeing a cardiologist or having him refer me to one. At this point, I am not too keen on adding another doctor into the mix but if it must be...oh, well. I still have not seen the neurologist, that appt is in two weeks. I have peripheral neuropathy in both feet and left leg, originating cause still unknown. I am collecting diseases faster than gray hairs...and to think 4 years ago I had not a care in the world - LOL!
Health to all, Ides
Posted 6/5/2005 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Awwww Ides, that is definitely no fun to have (the neuropathy)!! My Godmother and my Dad both had that - it really was the pits! You take care, Ides and please keep me posted re all that's happening now with you and these tests! Do they have you on something in particular for that? I think my Dad was on Neuronton?

Big Hugs, Teri :)
Posted 6/6/2005 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
I am patting myself on the back. I walked .6 mile today. Not far for some but a HUGE feat for me. My claudication problem kicked in at the 2 block mark. I stopped and resumed when the pain subsided some. Question - does anyone know if you do damage to the muscle by continuing to walk with the muscle cramping? I'll ask my doc when I see him tomorrow. Tomorrow I have PT and an appointment so I am setting my goal to walk 1 mile Wednesday.

Teri,
I take Neurontin and Tramadol for the neuropathy pain. The combo controls the pain to a tolerable level most of the time. The worse thing is the Lipitor makes my legs swell and that substancially increases the neuropathy pain.
Posted 6/7/2005 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
good job Ides.I go about a block before it puts me down for a few minutes.when you find out the answer post it so we all will know
Posted 6/7/2005 3:09 AM (GMT 0)

Ides, I'm with Ricky!  When you talk to your Dr. please let us know what they tell you?!

My guess is that it's the atherosclerosis or 'hardening' of the arteries that causes this and when the pain hits you, it's sort of like angina-that is, it's cutting off oxygen to that portion of your leg muscle where the blood supply is getting blocked.  So when you rest, you're letting more blood get through to the muscle.  If this would go on for a long period of time, then the muscle would wither.  If you are able to exercise and get this helped, the muscle would survive much better.  I know that there are drugs that help with this, along with any surgical interventions if larger arteries are involved, plus once again exercise.

Please let us know what you find out. yeah

Best wishes to both of you and big hugs!!  Teri tongue

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec03/ch034/ch034b.html

Posted 6/7/2005 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Ricky and Teri,
I got an answer to our question. For those that might just be reading, the question was: "Does [leg] muscle damage occur if one keeps walking when experiencing the muscle pain of claudication [narrowing of the peripheral artery]?" My PCP said that the leg muscles are not like the heart when deprived of blood because of decreased flow. The heart would be damaged if blood flow is compromised for even a short period of time. He said leg muscles can go hours and hours with reduced blood flow before damage would occur. This is because skeletal muscles are different than heart muscle. He said when the blood flow is decreased to a serious point, then I won't be able to walk. When the pain lessens but is not completely gone, it is ok to keep walking, that no harm will occur.

He didn't have the report from the vascular surgeon yet. He said when he gets it, he is going to see what his recommendations are. He agreed that it is likely there is claudication elsewhere. I told him I want to know what I am facing. He agreed and said that one of our local hospitals is now doing Coronary CT Angiography and that might be in my future. I need to search and see if anyone here has had one of these.
Ides
Posted 6/7/2005 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Ides,

 

Thanks for the info! tongue

 

That's very helpful and great to know-people like yourself and Ricky who have this problem will be relieved I'm sure!

 

Big Hugs, Teri tongue

Thanks again, Ides, for getting back so quickly with this info!!

Posted 6/7/2005 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I was hoping I could get full use of the golf cart at work,guess I have to keep walking tongue .working at a 250 unit apartment complex I do alot of walking it just takes me longer to get from one place to another since I have to stop every once in awhile.no 2 work orders are ever on the same side of the property.

let us know as soon as you know something.my appointment has been changed from tomorrow to Monday afternoon.whats a few more days.

Posted 6/8/2005 1:05 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Ricky!!  Yeah, my Dad actually golfed, but used a golf cart for a few years, as he couldn't walk much at all...but you are so very young, we gotta get you in shape again!!

Good Luck on Mon.-sorry they cancelled you. sad

Hugs, Teri tongue

Posted 6/9/2005 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
One mile today! Took 27 minutes because I had to stop five times to let the pain in the left calf subside. Then did 20 minutes of modified Pilates with my daughter. I am worn out and need to cook dinner. Gotta keep pushing forward.
Posted 6/10/2005 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
You rock, Ides!!  Pilates, too?!  WooHoo, you really are an excellent example for all of us!!

 

Best Wishes and Big Hugs, tongue Teri xoxoxo

Posted 6/12/2005 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I have been walking every day. Today I noticed that during my mile timed walk I only had to stop four times instead of the five I have been stopping. I believe that this is a great improvement. Don't want anyone to think I am a slacker, one quarter of this route is sharply uphill. I read that walking up an incline is really good for the PAOD. It is so hard to make myself go, but I do. Bless my daughter and husband - one or the other tries to go with me.
Posted 6/13/2005 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
Ides, I applaud your efforts!  It's also wonderful that you have a great supportive family behind you, too! tongue

 

Keep us informed as to your progress~it's a super incentive to us all! yeah

 

Big Hugs, Teri tongue

Posted 11/11/2019 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Ides,
I see this post is older but I was wondering how you are doing with the PAD? I also was diagnosed with it according to my ABI tests. I do not have any pain when walking at this point but am not looking forward to whet this disease can do.

Thank you
Malshay
Posted 11/12/2019 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Have not seen these guys about. Maybe check profiles.
Keeo 💪. HT
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