Peripheral Artery Disease

When circulation drops and your limbs feel the pain

Our approach to PAD care

We understand that peripheral artery disease (PAD) is more than just a source of pain or difficulty walking. It's a risk factor for more serious complications, such as heart attack and stroke.

This common condition occurs when blocked or narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your legs or arms, and it affects millions of people worldwide.

Our team of vascular surgeons, cardiologists and other specialists is here to help you manage your symptoms and reduce your cardiac risk. With access to high-level care, specialized experts and leading-edge facilities and technology, trust that we can get you back to living your life to the fullest.

Signs and symptoms of PAD

With PAD, you may experience a range of signs and symptoms, including:

leg pain when walking or other activity, including muscle pain or cramping, that ends with rest
numbness or weakness in the legs
coldness in the lower leg or foot, especially compared with the other side
painful cramping in one or both hips, thighs or calf muscles after activities such as walking or climbing stairs
sores on the toes, feet or legs that won't heal
pain when using the arms, such as aching and cramping when writing or doing other manual tasks
erectile dysfunction
slower growth of toenails
hair loss or slower hair growth on the legs

Not everyone with PAD will experience all of these symptoms. In fact, some people with PAD may not have any symptoms.

When to seek care for PAD

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important to talk to your doctor about an evaluation. PAD can be a serious condition if left untreated.

Our steps to a diagnosis

We use a variety of tools to diagnose PAD and determine its severity. Some common steps in the process are:

Physical exam: Your doctor will check your blood pressure, heart rate and pulses in your legs and feet. They will also look for any signs of skin discoloration or sores on your legs or feet.
Medical history: Your doctor will ask about your personal and family medical history, including any risk factors for PAD such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.
Noninvasive tests: These tests may include an ankle-brachial index (ABI), pulse volume recording (PVR) or a vascular ultrasound.
Angiogram: In some cases, your doctor may recommend an angiogram to get a detailed look at your leg arteries. This test involves injecting a contrast dye into your arteries and taking X-rays.

Our treatment options

PAD affects people differently. That's why we take a personalized approach to your care, which will depend on your symptoms and risks. With early diagnosis, lifestyle changes and treatment, you can stop PAD from getting worse.

Treatment options may include:

lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly
management of other health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes
good foot and skin care
medications such as blood thinners or treatments for high blood pressure or high cholesterol
supervised exercise programs and regular walking to improve leg pain
minimally invasive procedures and surgeries, including angioplasty, stents, peripheral artery bypass surgery and atherectomy

Benefits

With treatment for PAD, your symptoms should improve so that you’re more comfortable, can participate in more activities and have a lower risk of heart attack or stroke.

Meet our experts

Vascular surgeons, cardiologists and specialists in peripheral artery disease — all here for you.

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Why choose WellSpan for peripheral artery disease?

If you're experiencing leg pain or other symptoms of PAD, trust our experienced team. Your health is our top priority, and we're here to help you get back to enjoying life without limits.

Clinical research advances

We're actively involved in clinical research trials for PAD, which gives you access to the most current treatment options. By participating in these trials, you're not only getting the latest care, you're also helping advance the field of medicine and improve the lives of others with PAD.

Leading-edge facilities and equipment

Our facilities are equipped with the latest technology for diagnosing and treating PAD. We have a state-of-the-art vascular lab and access to advanced imaging and surgical equipment to help ensure that we can meet your unique care needs.

Multidisciplinary care

Our team of experts collaborates to provide personalized, comprehensive care for PAD. We offer a wide range of treatment options, from lifestyle changes to minimally invasive procedures. We're committed to helping you manage your condition and prevent complications.

Convenient access

With multiple locations throughout the region, we make it easy for you to access our care. For your convenience, we also offer evening and weekend appointments and telehealth visits.

Education and support

We offer a variety of resources to help you learn more about PAD and manage your condition. These resources include support groups, online forums and educational materials.

Next Steps