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, which hardens into plaque. When this occurs, it … [Read more...] about Is it Neuropathy or Poor Circulation?
Reisha Zang
Stopping PAD: A 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). 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
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
PAD Awareness Saves Lives
Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, is a whole-body disease that’s manifested in the legs. It’s a buildup of cholesterol plaque in the peripheral arteries of the body, which are found in the arms, legs, hands and feet. “If you have plaque buildup in your legs, there’s a good chance you could have plaque buildup elsewhere in the body like in your heart or your neck,” said Comprehensive Integrated Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joel Rainwater. “It is the same type of disease that causes coronary … [Read more...] about PAD Awareness Saves Lives
September Brings Awareness to PAD
Burning, tingling, numbness and muscle cramping in your feet and toes? It might be neuropathy. But, then again, it might be poor circulation or peripheral artery disease (PAD). “These symptoms are very similar to those of PAD,” explained Joel Rainwater, M.D., medical director of Comprehensive Integrated Care (CiC). “They are so similar that many are given a diagnosis of neuropathy when it may be PAD, or PAD may be making their neuropathy worse.” Peripheral neuropathy is nerve damage that … [Read more...] about September Brings Awareness to PAD
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
Diabetes Rates Rising
More than 130 million adults in the U.S. are living with diabetes or prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when blood glucose or sugar is too high. It’s related to how the body turns food into energy and produces insulin. The body breaks down food and turns it into glucose, which is released into the bloodstream. The sugar level in the blood goes up, which triggers the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin helps the glucose … [Read more...] about Diabetes Rates Rising
Chronic Wounds Reaching Unprecedented Level
The rate of non-healing sores in America is alarming. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 6 million people in the U.S. are affected by slow or non-healing wounds. “People don’t understand how important it is to pay attention to a sore that doesn’t get better. Without proper care, a chronic wound can lead to an amputation or even death,” warned Dr. Diana Perry, CIC Foot & Ankle in Flagstaff. “If you have an amputation due to a non-healing wound, you have a higher risk of … [Read more...] about Chronic Wounds Reaching Unprecedented Level
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
