When a patient has peripheral arterial disease (PAD), they may not realize how quickly symptoms can worsen. Often times the symptoms go unnoticed. PAD is characterized by a buildup of plaque causing a lack of blood flow to the extremities. If PAD goes undiagnosed, it can lead to critical limb ischemia (CLI).
CLI happens when symptoms of PAD and other vein diseases worsen and create pain while resting. Other symptoms of CLI include:
The symptoms can become so severe that amputation may seem like the only option.
Along with knowing the symptoms, you and your doctor should be checking your feet. Ask your doctor to perform a full foot examination at least once a year. On your own, you should be regularly checking your feet and legs for any of the symptoms above. Knowing these early onset symptoms of CLI and PAD could prevent an unnecessary amputation.
At FCCI we believe amputation should never be your only option. With a strong dedication to prevention, and a team of board certified endovascular specialists, we are successful in preventing many unnecessary amputations.
If you would like to learn more about our endovascular approach and our amputation prevention program visit noamputation.com
Source: Vascular Cures
