When leg pain could be something more serious

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a fairly common condition among older adults that is often underrecognized and undertreated. PAD is a circulatory problem in which the arteries become narrowed, which reduces blood flow to your extremities – usually the legs. PAD affects approximately 5 percent of adults age 50 and older and 15 to 20 percent of adults 70 and older. It is estimated 8.5 million Americans live with PAD. 

Early symptoms include cramping, pain and tiredness in the legs when walking and relief at rest. The problem is that many people ignore the symptoms until the disease has progressed. As the disease becomes more advanced, you may experience pain when walking very short distances and at rest. You may also develop wounds in the toes and feet that do not heal.

Our goal is to diagnose the disease and implement treatment before it becomes advanced. Treatment includes smoking cessation, anti-platelet and cholesterol-lowering medications, regular exercise and drugs that relax the arteries. We also offer several minimally invasive and open surgical techniques that allow us to clean out the plaque and open the blood vessels. We are also involved in several clinical trials to help us improve treatment therapies. If you are experiencing leg pain with activity, don’t dismiss it as a normal part of aging.