The obstacle of peripheral artery disease can be an extremely debilitating experience to navigate. Most notable with PAD is a lack of mobility and sudden pain during movement. Thankfully, with proper treatment, one's life can return to normal in a short amount of time.
If you have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease and returning to a pain free life is something you seek, it may be time to consider treatment for PAD. Let’s explore some common, and highly effective peripheral artery disease treatments that may provide the right solution to your pain.
Those that have peripheral arterial disease may already know how common it is. In fact, more than 8 million Americans over the age of 40 struggle with PAD. For anyone that is unfamiliar however, peripheral arterial disease refers to the lack of blood flow to the peripheral arteries, or arteries that carry blood away from the heart.
The lack of blood flow that comes with PAD is caused by plaque build up on the artery walls. This component of peripheral artery disease causes considerable pain and a lack of circulation. The most common form of the condition is experienced in the legs and is called lower extremity PAD, though other areas of the body can experience build-up.
Seeking treatment for peripheral artery disease is an essential first step in returning to a pain free life. By seeking a medical professional who specializes in vascular health, you can safely determine proper treatment, and arrive one step closer to a healthier you. Here are some common forms of peripheral artery disease treatment that may be recommended by your doctor.
By inserting a small catheter into the femoral artery, you can receive a minimally invasive treatment that removes plaque build-up in your arteries. With a laser atherectomy, the plaque is shaved down, or vaporized, improving circulation, reducing pain, and restoring mobility within just a few days.
Similar to the previous procedure, a balloon angioplasty inserts a catheter into the femoral artery. During this procedure, the catheter is guided to the artery blockage point, and inflates a medical grade balloon to condense the plaque build-up onto the artery wall.
A stenting approach uses expansion to keep the artery open for blood-flow. A stent implant is a mesh metal tube that is inserted into the artery near the point of reduced circulation. Stents can often remain in the body for several years before being replaced and offer a highly effective form of treatment.
The lower extremity bypass involves a more extensive procedure, requiring significant rest and recovery during the healing process. During the bypass, a graft is created to detour the blood-flow, rerouting it around the plaque blockage. The graft used in a lower extremity bypass can be created from existing veins of the patient or a synthetic material. By sewing the graft above and below the location of the blockage, the blood utilizes an alternate route of travel through the artery, allowing blood to flow freely.
The endarterectomy is specific to peripheral artery disease patients experiencing plaque build-up caused by atherosclerosis. Like many of these procedures, an endarterectomy involves the cleaning of plaque build-up within the femoral artery. During this procedure however, both ends of the artery that surround the plaque location are clamped to stop blood flow during the procedure. This is another fairly low risk procedure for PAD and atherosclerosis patients.
If you live in the Fresno, California area and are seeking a reliable and trustworthy team of vascular doctors, look no further. South Valley Vascular is here to treat all your vascular health needs. With four locations, care is right around the corner. Don’t wait, schedule today!
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