AboutLauri Ordway Expertise I can answer your questions related to peripheral vacular disorders. This includes all arteries and veins except those inside the head and inside the heart. IE: neck (carotid), arms (carotid subclavian bypases to Thoracic Outlet) belly (aortic aneurysm & occlusive disorders, renal artery stenosis), legs (iliac, femoral, popliteal, peroneal, dorasalis pedis, posterior and anterior tibial) arteries. Aneurysm & occlusive disease, atherosclerosis, leg pain, arterial wounds and gangrene, amputation prevention. Vein disorders: Blood Clots (DVT), post-phlebetic syndrome, varicose veins, venous stasis ulcers. I can help with vascular wound treatments. Also, Raynauds, Buerger`s disease, Thoracic Outlet and other miscellaneous vascular disorders.
I CANNOT answer questions about your heart disease, blood pressure, brain aneurysm, although I can help with questions about the arteries that go to and from those organs.
Experience I am a nurse, I have worked for 14 years with two terrific peripheral vascular surgeons, one of them is also the inventor of very innovative wound care products and surgical instruments to make vascular surgery procedures better and faster. I wrote and manage our clinic website and field questions from patients all over the world.
Expert: Lauri Ordway Date: 11/13/2003 Subject: Circulation
Question My dad, 88, is diagnosed with peripheral artery disease. Bypass surgery in his leg, numb from mid calf to toes, was not highly recommended due to age. He has injured a toe, and it does not heal. He is not diabetic. Even though numbness predominates, this toe frequently causes severe pain for a moment, then goes away. His gp is watching it, and amputation has been mentioned. However, the doctor did not know if non-healing would again to be an issue once the toe was removed. What causes this pain? Is it NEUROPATHY? What IS neuropathy, and what is the best that can be done to improve this situation?
I didn't know where to turn, till I saw this web page.
Thank you.
Answer He WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HEAL AN AMPUTATION OF A TOE if he cannot heal a toe wound. He is not too old to keep his leg attached to his body and the only thing they can do at this point is amputation, I suspect above the knee. SUggest you seek second opinion for surgeonwho will bypass the leg. if he can stand a surgery for amputation, why cant he stand a surgery to keep his leg?
Where are you? Largest big town or University town? I will offer name of another doc to talk to.
Pain is from lack of blood flow, not Neuropathy, pain is like "heart attck" in his leg- same problem, lack of blood to nourish the tissue causes severe pain.
try websearch for
PVD
Atherosclerosis
good luck, let me know if you want name of doc in your area. lauri
