PAD

Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone has been diagnosed with pad? If so, what's the outlook, treatment etc?

Does using a gtn spray ease the symptoms?

Many thanks in advance...

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Is that peripheral arterial disease?

[Hidden in reply to Kristin1812]

Yes, sorry I should have said

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Hidden]

We’ll, I was curious where it was? Where in the body!

[Hidden in reply to Kristin1812]

Legs have been really bad...

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

It seems a very straightforward question, but I suspect not! As we know, GTN spray works on angina by opening up the blood vessels, so it would seem possible it might help healing where there is some constriction. But it does have an effect on BP, and I’m sure lots of other body processes, so I think it needs an expert to answer your specific question about leg pain, someone who can take your other symptoms and drug interactions into account.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I was diagnosed with PAD in 2010 after experiencing tiredness and cramp in my calves. In 2013 I had angioplasty to my left leg which improved the symptoms greatly. Further angioplasty never happened following a change of policy by a new consultant. I did have yearly checks but these got stop by a policy of only intervening if ulcers or gangrene were present. Anyway an ingrowing big toenail ulcerated and the became necrotic last year. An angioplasty was a disaster and I had a BKA (below knee amputation). Obviously I am concerned about my right leg as I have a reduced ABPI (Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index) and quite severe discolouration. My current team (who because of CovID) did not believe in routine monitoring. I subsequently contacted my original vascular surgeon who was kind enough to call me and spend half an hour on the phone. Basically at the stage I am at any intervention would be high risk as failure would lead to amputation! Whilst there are no issues everything is high risk.

To maintain the status quo treatment with a statin (to prevent further plaque) and a mini aspirin (to prevent a clot) is usually recommended together with walking. Personally I found a CCI (Calcium Channel Inhibitor) was more effective than GTN spray. Good luck.