"PAD is often called the silent killer, because you may have it and not even know,” said Dr. Joel Rainwater, chief medical officer of Comprehensive Integrated Care (CiC). The reason it’s sometimes missed is because people dismiss the symptoms of this dangerous disease as “just a sign of getting older.” But it’s not. “It’s not normal to have difficulty walking to your mailbox, it’s not normal to have constant leg pain or cramping,” said Rainwater, “That’s not normal aging; it could be a sign of … [Read more...] about Stopping PAD: A Silent Killer
CiC
PAD is Impacting Everyday Living
The need to stop and rest after walking a short distance because of a leg cramp, numbness in the feet or leg pain could be more than normal aging. While it’s easy to think it’s just part of getting older, these symptoms may be caused by poor circulation. PAD (peripheral artery disease), or poor circulation, is one of those conditions that people tend to ignore. “If you find yourself needing to rest because your leg cramps when you walk even a short distance, or at night you need to stand up … [Read more...] about PAD is Impacting Everyday Living
Diabetes Awareness Saves Lives and Limbs
Living with diabetes can be scary. One of the biggest fears is the threat of losing a leg. In fact, diabetes is responsible for someone losing a limb every three minutes in the United States. “There is no reason for so many diabetics to suffer an amputation,” said Dr. Joel Rainwater, chief medical officer of CiC. “Medical studies prove that up to 85% of diabetes-related amputations can be prevented.” Diabetes is linked to two conditions that increase the risk of amputation: peripheral artery … [Read more...] about Diabetes Awareness Saves Lives and Limbs
Diagnosing the Difference Between Neuropathy and Poor Circulation
Neuropathy is a condition that involves damage to the peripheral nerves, the nerves in your hands and feet. Symptoms include muscle cramping, difficulty walking, burning, tingling, numbness and pain in the legs or feet. In many cases, it’s caused by diabetes, but poor circulation can also cause these symptoms or make them worse. Poor circulation or PAD (peripheral artery disease) is caused by the buildup of fatty material inside the arteries that hardens into plaque. When this occurs, it … [Read more...] about Diagnosing the Difference Between Neuropathy and Poor Circulation
Big Toe Pain is a Big Deal
One in 40 people over the age of 50 may find themselves limiting their activity because of a condition affecting their big toe. Hallux rigidus is a degenerative disease of the big toe joint and the most common form of arthritis in the foot. As it progresses, joint pain increases and motion decreases. How the toe moves, or doesn’t, affects the whole body. “Your big toe has a big impact on how you move through life. It plays a role in balance, shock absorption and forward movement as you … [Read more...] about Big Toe Pain is a Big Deal
Limb Loss Awareness Month Can Save Lives
There are approximately 150,000 leg amputations every year in the U.S. that are not related to an accident. That number is staggering. However, awareness that it could happen to anyone, and being aware of the causes, can potentially save a limb. Poor circulation plays a role in more than half of all surgical amputations. Conditions like diabetes and peripheral artery disease (PAD) affect blood flow to the legs and feet, putting people at a higher risk of losing a limb. “If you have both PAD … [Read more...] about Limb Loss Awareness Month Can Save Lives
Feet Have A Lot to Say
"Your body is talking to you all the time. The thing is, we don’t always listen,” said Dr. Diana Perry of CiC Foot & Ankle. Knowing when to pay attention can make a difference in your day-to-day lifestyle. “Don’t blame getting older as a reason to live with leg cramps, tingling, pain or loss of feeling in your feet,” she said. Dr. Perry is a foot specialist, trained to pay attention to the signals feet send. Those signals include pain, burning, tingling, numbness or cramping. Peripheral … [Read more...] about Feet Have A Lot to Say
PAD: The Silent Killer
PAD is often called the silent killer because you may have it and not even know,” said Dr. Joel Rainwater, chief medical officer of Comprehensive Integrated Care (CiC) in Flagstaff. The reason it is sometimes missed is because people dismiss the symptoms of this dangerous disease as just a sign of getting older. But it’s not. “It’s not normal to have difficulty walking to your mailbox, it’s not normal to have constant leg pain or cramping,” said Rainwater. “That’s not normal aging, it could be a … [Read more...] about PAD: The Silent Killer
Do you have PAD?
At first, it seems like you may have just overdone: stood too long, worked too hard, sat incorrectly, worn those shoes you should have never purchased. Surely the pain is just episodic, it only happens “when…,” soon forgotten… until it happens again. Workdays tend to feel longer; sleep tends to be disrupted; one pair of shoes is your “go-to.” The expression “grin and bear it” takes on a whole new meaning. While many of us tend to think it’s just “too many birthdays” because you can’t remember an … [Read more...] about Do you have PAD?