Peripheral Artery Disease | Orbis Vascular

Peripheral Artery Disease & Leg Circulation

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) and related circulation problems can cause pain, non-healing wounds, and—in severe cases—threaten the limb. At Orbis Vascular, we focus on early diagnosis and minimally invasive treatments to restore blood flow and protect both mobility and long-term health.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Narrowing of arteries in the legs, leading to reduced blood flow, pain, and potential tissue loss.

Read more about PAD

PAD occurs when plaque builds up inside the arteries that supply blood to your legs. As these vessels narrow, less oxygen-rich blood reaches the muscles and tissues, causing discomfort and increasing the risk of serious complications.

Common symptoms

  • Leg pain, cramping, or fatigue when walking
  • Coldness or numbness in the feet or toes
  • Slow-healing cuts or sores on the legs or feet
  • Shiny skin, hair loss, or color changes in the legs
  • Weak or absent pulses in the feet

Why early treatment matters

Without treatment, PAD can progress to critical limb ischemia, with non-healing wounds and high risk of infection or amputation. Vascular procedures such as angioplasty, stenting, or atherectomy can reopen blocked arteries and restore circulation.

Claudication

Pain or cramps in the legs, typically brought on by walking or exercise and relieved by rest.

Read more about claudication

Claudication is one of the classic early signs of PAD. When you walk or climb stairs, your leg muscles need more oxygen. Narrowed arteries cannot keep up, and the result is cramping, tightness, or heaviness that improves when you stop and rest.

Typical features

  • Calf, thigh, or buttock pain with activity
  • Symptoms improve after a few minutes of rest
  • Walking distance gradually decreases over time
  • Often mistaken for “just getting older” or arthritis

Treatment options

Management may include supervised exercise therapy, medications to improve circulation, risk-factor control (such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking), and minimally invasive procedures to open blocked arteries when needed.

Non-Healing Wounds

Severe reduction in blood flow can lead to chronic wounds and high risk of infection or amputation.

Read more about non-healing wounds

When blood flow is critically reduced, even small injuries on the feet or legs may not heal. These chronic wounds often occur in patients with PAD, diabetes, or kidney disease and are a major warning sign that circulation may be dangerously low.

Warning signs

  • Ulcers on toes, feet, or ankles that do not heal
  • Dark or black areas of skin (gangrene)
  • Cold, pale, or discolored toes
  • Pain at rest, especially at night

Why urgent evaluation is important

Non-healing wounds significantly increase the risk of infection, hospitalization, and limb loss. Vascular testing and revascularization procedures—such as angioplasty, stenting, or bypass— can improve blood flow and give wounds the best chance to heal.

Atherosclerosis

Plaque buildup inside arteries, causing narrowing and increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and PAD.

Read more about atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the underlying process behind many vascular diseases, including PAD. Over time, cholesterol, calcium, and inflammatory cells form plaque inside the artery wall, making the vessel stiffer and narrower.

Health risks

  • Peripheral Artery Disease in the legs
  • Coronary artery disease and heart attack
  • Carotid disease and stroke
  • Worsening kidney function

Managing atherosclerosis

Treatment focuses on both lifestyle and medical therapy: controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes; quitting smoking; staying active; and using medications when appropriate. When blockages are severe or symptomatic, minimally invasive vascular procedures can help restore blood flow to critical organs and limbs.

Concerned About Leg Pain or Wounds?

If you have leg pain with walking, non-healing wounds, or other signs of poor circulation, early vascular evaluation can prevent serious complications.

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