Leg problems

[bp1317]

My mother has an almost complete blockage, (80%) in both of her main arteries leading to her legs.  They have tried to put in stents but the bolockage was to complete and the placque too hard. In her follow up visit , the doctor prescribed a new drug to help dissolve the blockage and prescribed exercise. My questoin is, given that she can barely walk because of the pain in her legs due to bad circulation, at this advanced stage, why not perform vascular surgery and get it done with? Whiile we know it is major surgery, we feel like this is just another prescription, one of many along the way.

[Jack54]

Their is a place known as the Memphis Vascular Institute, or something close to that. I noticed it as an ad on a web page I was reading. The ad went on to explain that this institute used a laser on a cath wire to zap or burn away the plaque in the arteries of the leg.

I went to the site, but couldn't find anything about the laser technique. I didn't have time to do a thorough search of their site though. I also have some blockages in my legs but are considered minor at this time, although the pain is not minor.

Best wishes for your Mother's health,

Jack

[ChatterAlly]

I had a blockage like that, 100%, for over 2 years without knowing it. I thought the leg pains and burning was a form of arthritis. Just getting older. So I suffered. When my foot when numb, I decided to consult my MD. He barely found a pulse in my foot. I was referred to a cardiologist, and the stent was placed. Since it was so old and had become so hard, it took the doctor over 4 hours to place the stent. What should have taken about 30 minutes or less. At one point he thought maybe he should do the bypass surgery, but continued until her was finally able to place the stent. In short and in answer to your question, I would difinitely get a second opinion. There are other options.