Regional One Health’s Vascular Surgery team can help patients with everything from peripheral artery disease to rare, complex conditions.
Vascular disease can cause symptoms including limb pain, swelling, numbness and tingling.
Don’t ignore these symptoms – with treatment from a vascular surgeon, you can improve your quality of life and prevent serious medical emergencies like heart attack and stroke.
Good vascular health helps you stay active, improves your quality of life, and prevents serious issues like stroke, limb loss and even death.
Unfortunately, too many people brush off common symptoms, assuming they are due to fatigue, minor injuries, or aging. At Regional One Health, our vascular surgeons encourage patients to address these problems early when they are still treatable. Our nationally renowned American Board of Surgery board-certified vascular and endovascular surgeons offer exams and screening tests to get an accurate diagnosis.
Medical Director Erica L Mitchell, MD, MEd, FACS, DFSVS, MAMSE said patients have access to a full range of treatment options. “We can help you make lifestyle changes or find the right medication to manage your condition. If you need more than medical management, we offer minimally invasive procedures with tiny ‘keyhole’ incisions that let you recover quickly and get on with your life. Typically, these can be done with no overnight hospital stay,” she said.
So, what do you need to watch for?
“We pride ourselves on patient centric care specifically directed to what each individual needs to maintain vascular health and quality of life,” says Dr. Erica Mitchell, Medical Director for Vascular Surgery.
To start, Dr. Mitchell noted many people may not experience symptoms despite having vascular disease, so it is important to be aware of risk factors.
If you have a history of smoking or still smoke you are at risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is one of the most common conditions vascular surgeons treat.
“Leg pain that gets worse when you’re walking and better with rest is the classic symptom,” Dr. Mitchell said. “Foot pain even at rest is a marker of severe PAD, as are non-healing foot wounds, ulcers, or skin changes. It’s best to be seen immediately for these symptoms.”
Vascular surgeons also treat a variety of venous conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and our team cares for patients with rare, complex vascular conditions as well.
“In general, vascular conditions are marked by pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, and a ‘pins and needles’ sensation in the limbs,” Dr. Mitchell said. “Don’t dismiss changes that seem superficial, like varicose veins, wounds that don’t heal, shiny or discolored skin, or a decrease in hair growth. All of these can be signs the limbs aren’t getting proper blood flow due to a blockage or narrowing of the arteries.”
Talk to a provider about your symptoms, even if they’re mild. Ask about a referral to our ABS board-certified vascular and endovascular surgeons for screening and care.
“When we see patients in the early stages of vascular disease, we can often help prevent disease progression through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, or through medications,” Dr. Mitchell said.
Our vascular surgeons provide lifelong care and monitoring to help patients manage their condition and avoid emergencies.
“If you need surgery, we individualize procedures based on your general health and other medical conditions. As board-certified surgeons we can offer minimally invasive endovascular procedures as well as other operations depending on your needs. We pride ourselves on patient centric care specifically directed to what each individual needs to maintain vascular health and quality of life.”
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, do not ignore them! By catching problems early, Regional One Health’s Vascular Surgery team can help you get back to the things you enjoy.
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Erica L Mitchell, MD, MEd, FACS, DFSVS, MAMSE is Professor and Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery at University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and Medical Director for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Regional One Health. Her team includes vascular surgeons Sira Duson, MD, MBA, FACS; Mohammed Moursi, MD; Chinmayee Potti, MD, MBBS; and Leanne Grafmuller, MD.