Podiatry - Lower Limb Vascular Assessment Service

Peripheral arterial disease is a narrowing, blockage or hardening of the main blood vessels in the legs, usually due to a build-up of fatty deposit. It reduces blood and oxygen flow getting to your leg muscles which can result in aching, cramp or tightness during walking which is called intermittent claudication.

Following your assessment, we found you have:

☐    Mild peripheral arterial disease - you have a mild reduction in the blood flow to your legs and feet.
☐    Moderate peripheral arterial disease - you have a significant reduction in the blood flow to your legs and feet.
☐    Severe peripheral arterial disease - you have a severe reduction in the blood flow to your legs and feet.

Blood flow can improve, stay the same or worsen over time. If it worsens, you can see a Vascular Surgeon to discuss whether surgery to improve the blood flow may benefit you.

A small proportion of people who develop a severe reduction in blood flow may need an amputation to improve the quality of their life.

What can be done to prevent worsening?

• If you smoke now, the most important thing is to quit
• Walking regularly (for half an hour, 3 to 5 times per week) until you feel discomfort, stopping only if it becomes severe
• Reviewing your medicines with your GP, targeting blood pressure cholesterol and weight

Contact Numbers

Salford Podiatry 0161 206 3842 or Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Single Point of Access 0161 206 0067.

Your Leg Circulation Plan

Name:    

Date:

If you make specific health related changes you can reduce your potential risk of heart attacks, strokes, or worsening leg circulation problems. The more changes you make, the more your risks can be reduced. We will support you to make any of these changes.

Based on our assessment and your decisions today, we will refer you to the following teams/people for further treatment/support

☐    Your GP (review medicines, blood pressure, cholesterol)
☐    Smoking Cessation Support
☐    Weight management team (for support with reducing weight)
☐    A vascular surgeon (to consider surgery or other treatment)
☐    Podiatry Service
☐    Structured Exercise Programme