Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

This narrowing of blood vessels reduces blood flow to your arms or legs. It most often affects the legs and feet. Smoking and diabetes raise your risk for this disease. So do obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, age and other factors.

How do we treat it? Treatment often begins with a healthier lifestyle. So eat a healthy diet. Be sure to get exercise every day. And if you smoke, quit. We may also control this disease with medications. If you have a severe blockage, we recommend a procedure to open the blockage or divert blood around it. Your doctor will create a care plan that's right for you.

Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Q & A

What is PVD?

PVD is the umbrella term for a variety of circulatory diseases that affect your arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. It includes:

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Venous insufficiency
• Varicose veins
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Aneurysms
• Lymphedema 

PVD interferes with the way blood and other fluids move through your body. PVD diseases can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from swelling and pain to blood clots and nerve damage. 

How does PVD cause pain?

PVD causes muscle and nerve pain. When PVD deprives your muscles of oxygen, they cramp and send pain signals to let you know that something is wrong. 

In the early stages of PVD, muscle pain often occurs during physical activity and is called claudication. However, as your condition progresses, your pain becomes chronic and can keep you awake at night. 

PVD also contributes to nerve damage — a painful condition known as neuropathy. Neuropathy symptoms include sharp, burning pain, sensitivity to touch, numbness, weakness, and lost coordination. 

How is PVD diagnosed?

The team at the University Pain and Spine Center provides thorough exams and testing to evaluate your pain and identify its cause. They begin by asking about your medical history, symptoms, and lifestyle. 

During your exam, they look for symptoms of PVD, including swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs, varicose veins, and other signs of circulatory problems. The team might order ultrasounds or CT scans to evaluate your circulatory system in more detail.

If your provider suspects that you have PVD-related neuropathy, they use electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies to identify and locate nerve damage. 

How is PVD-related pain treated?

The providers at the University Pain and Spine Center create customized treatment plans to relieve your pain and address the underlying cause. They collaborate with your vascular health specialist to implement treatments and lifestyle adjustments to enhance your circulatory health.

Your provider might recommend treatments like cold laser therapy, trigger point injections, and physical therapy. They might also suggest nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, or spinal cord stimulation to alleviate nerve pain.

If you have PVD-related pain and are looking for expert treatment, call University Pain and Spine Center or make an appointment online today.