Do I have peripherial arterial disease

[docbuster]

Immediately upon awakening from a three-level lumbar spinal fusion, I knew my right foot was completely numb.  The surgery was to correct left leg pain. My right foot and calf feels like its being squeezed so tight it becomes painful. Also, I began to suffer with erectile dysfunction.  My right foot burns like fire on  the lateral side and my foot seems ot hurt more when I am sitting and /or resting.  Could this be P.A.D.?  and how can I get professional diagnosis?

[Lee Kirksey, MD]

Hello
PAD of the lower extremities manifests in several ways. In the early stages, one may have cramping in the calves or thighs with exertion at some distance, usualy 3-4 blocks. If blockages are more severe, the patient may exerience pain in the toes.
risk factors are smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension
The diagnosis is made easily and reliably by a physician physical examination and testing called an ankle brachial index(ABI).
It would be unusual for you to wake up from your operation with PAD if PAD was causing you no symptoms before the operation.
Consult a vascular specialist for this evaluation. Good Luck

[jack1ben2]

A related discussion, Tingling from the right shoulder down to the hand. was started.

[Lee Kirksey, MD]

PS
Has anyone considered a duplex ultrasound to determine that you dont have a deep venous thromboses. That could potentially cause symptoms of leg swelling, tightness and pain in one leg. Also a consideration for nerve disorders could be investigated with emg

[Lee Kirksey, MD]

Hello
It is unclear when the surgery took place. Your comment that you have had five years of numbness suggests that surgery was five years ago? The approach for spine surgery is around the aorta but it is impossible to throw a stitch thru a blood vessel of that size to occlude the structure. It is possible for some type of retractor placed for exposure to compress the blood vessel.

Regardless of the cause, if your symptoms have been present for five years and you had a test to look at your circulation one year ago by a vascular surgeon that was reported to be normal, that suggests that poor circulation is not likely the cause or your symptoms.

What does your operating spine surgeon think about your symptoms?

[docbuster]

Dr. Kirksey:
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question. After five years of pain and numbness in my foot, I have done a significant amount of research. Certain that I did not just develop P.A.D., my concern is that during my surgery, a stitch or entrapment might of
occurred with the femoral artery or even the abdominal aorta.

About a year ago, a vascular surgeon ran some sort of test on me to determine blood flow in my right leg.  All I remember him saying was that the blood flows down my leg fine yet something is causing a problem as the blood flows upward.

Thanks,
Stephen Biggers
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