Partnering with a Vascular Surgeon for Amputation Prevention in Rogers

At its worst stage, arterial disease can progress to a point at which ulcers appear on the feet, sensation in the foot is lost, or patients get gangrene. The root cause is multiple blocked arteries not allowing blood flow to the lower leg.

Patients who are at risk for amputation usually face an uphill battle recovering. These issues limit their mobility, compound existing health concerns, and are likely to require a lengthy treatment/recovery time. Diabetics are in a particularly high-risk category when it comes to potential amputation.

As a result, most patients coming into our office for the first time usually only do so because they’ve exhausted the rest of their care options. As limb salvage experts, we want to follow these patients closely to help provide the care they need. That’s why the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center team decided we wanted to take some time and share everything you need to know about amputation prevention in Rogers.

Many patients don’t know they have these care options available to them. But you don’t need to resign yourself to amputation. We can help.

Limb Salvage with Our Amputation Prevention Expert, Dr. Stout

Dr. Stout and our team have advanced training in diagnosing, managing, and performing procedures to prevent lower leg amputations.

Depending on the severity, some may just need proper guidance for medication and supplements, while others may require an angiogram or stents to heal a wound.

The process of working with a professional in this way, when you are dealing with severe arterial disease and hoping to prevent limb loss or serious health complications, is known as limb salvage.

A personal passion of Dr. Stout, effective limb salvage consists of conservative care opportunities and surgical care interventions.

By this stage in their journey, many patients are dealing with gangrene, diabetes-related infection, open sores, and black toes. For many of them, their prognosis is dire. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have options. Limb salvage is not a single procedure or process but a multi-faceted approach to vascular care.

Most patients with severe arterial diseases don’t think they have any options left. That’s why we want to explore the subject of amputation prevention in Rogers this month. We’re going to outline how you, no matter the severity of your condition, potentially have care solutions available!

The Risks of Amputations

An amputee’s annual costs for healthcare can be a huge burden. Dr. Stout has spent the last decade passionately perfecting his surgical and endovascular techniques to prevent amputation for his patients.

Someone who develops an ulcer or has poor circulation in their legs is at high risk of limb amputation below the knee. Life expectancy plummets in these patients as well if left untreated.

That’s why it’s never worth it to consign yourself to amputation in Rogers. There are other options available to you. Dr. Stout and our team encourage anyone told by a medical provider that amputation is their only option to schedule an appointment with us for a second opinion.

What to Expect from Amputation Prevention in Rogers 

The first step in amputation prevention and limb salvage in Rogers is frequently making health-conscious changes to the patient’s diet, activity levels, and medications. The introduction of antibiotics and statins, regular exercise, if possible, and healthier foods can do wonders to improve the patient’s health and even mitigate factors resulting in the need for amputation.

Introduce Conservative Care Strategies

Many people with serious arterial disease, especially those in need of amputation prevention, have poor diets and minimal opportunities for regular exercise. Providing them the nutrients and physical resources necessary to keep their body in fighting shape can make it easier to combat the disease’s more serious symptoms.

As Dr. Stout explains: “without necessary dietary resources, the body can’t heal and prevent further degradation.” While this may seem like an obvious solution, it’s not that simple. This is because attention is usually focused on symptom-specific relief, not comprehensive care when treating patients.

With attention and work, we can minimize the stress we place on our circulatory system. Though some patients don’t have a say in the matter due to underlying issues, most people are in control of their artery health.

5 Easy Care Strategies

If you’re looking for more specific steps you can take to improve your artery health, here are a few activities you can do to improve arterial health and overall circulation:

1. Avoid Smoking.

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your vascular system, so our first piece of advice is to stop smoking immediately. Smoking contributes to plaque buildup in the arteries, meaning it’s a major risk factor for developing arterial disease and decreasing quality of life.

2. Exercise

Exercising is a great way to improve vascular health, as it keeps blood flowing and prevents further plaque buildup. Walking and cardiovascular exercise are incredibly beneficial, but anything that elevates your heart rate is good. You should make a point of exercising once a day or as much as is feasible.

3. Eat Healthier

Diet is a major contributing factor to arterial disease. Foods high in cholesterol are a major cause of plaque buildup and increased blood pressure, so eating healthy is important in improving your health: more fruits and vegetables, and less red meat and dairy. You should also make sure to eat smaller portions in individual sittings to reduce stress on your circulatory system.

4. Lose Weight

This is the most challenging item. Being overweight can strain your circulatory system, which requires more work to move blood around your body. Losing weight is vital to improving circulatory function and vascular health.

5. Monitor Your Health 

Routine health screenings and physicals are critical to maintaining your overall physical health but can be especially useful for identifying and mitigating arterial disease. Make sure to check your blood pressure and cholesterol levels regularly to keep tabs on your arterial health!

Note: It’s important to remember that none of these behaviors should replace consulting a healthcare provider or vascular specialist if you are worried about your vascular health.

Surgical Intervention

In addition to conservative care, surgical care is also a vital part of amputation prevention in Rogers. Angioplasty and Stenting, Atherectomy, and minimal digit removal—these techniques, in addition to advances in the field, have made late-stage treatment not only possible but viable for the prevention of foot and/or leg amputation.

Sometimes, if your condition is severe, it’s necessary to perform a peripheral artery bypass. This procedure requires hospital admission and will necessitate multi-day recovery in the hospital after the procedure.

Many of these procedures take hours—again, a peripheral artery bypass requires a hospital stay—but break down the plaque to clear blood vessels or allow blood to bypass blocked arteries outright.

New procedures even allow doctors to create new blood vessels where none existed before. These surgical interventions can prove an effective means to prevent the need for amputation. Given the burden they can place on the patient, though, we encourage patients to use them as a last resort.

The Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center understands how frightening arterial disease can be. Still, it’s important to know that even when things look dire, there’s always an opportunity for care.

Long-Term Monitoring

Severe arterial diseases, especially when your condition has progressed to the point where you are a candidate for amputation prevention, will require dedicated care and effort to heal. That’s why we treat amputation prevention as an ongoing care process.

The Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center team won’t just provide you care and wish you well. Ensuring your full recovery is a permanent recovery means we will continue working with you. This includes during your treatment, recovery, and beyond.

Your vascular health is our priority, and it doesn’t become less important simply because you managed to avoid amputation with hard work. We will consistently monitor your health, provide screening services for vascular concerns, and consult with you on lifestyle care solutions and your health. We are a lifetime partner in your vascular care journey.

Collaborative Care

As we’re probably noticed, most of what we describe as amputation prevention in Rogers is actually just holistic vascular care. Even surgery or invasive procedures are just tools to supplement a lifestyle overhaul. That kind of work can’t happen alone, and just the team at Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center isn’t enough, either.

We will work with your primary care physician, loved ones, and any other necessary medical professionals to provide you with quality care for the duration of your recovery and healing. You’re not alone, and since every facet of your life plays into your vascular health, it’s only right that we engage every facet of your life in keeping you healthy.

Turn to the Experts for Amputation Prevention in Rogers!

If you need support with amputation in Rogers, turn to the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center. Our experience and constantly expanding suite of care options enable us to guide you toward lasting wellness solutions.

We are a premier practice in Northwest Arkansas for the highest-quality vein and artery treatments. Dr. Haney, Dr. Stout, and the expert staff have over 500 years of combined experience caring for patients’ vascular well-being. Helping people is what we do; our mission is to provide the people of Northwestern Arkansas and beyond with the absolute best care possible.

You can count on the Ozark Regional Vein & Artery Center to provide effective solutions for amputation prevention in Rogers. No matter your needs, we will work with our patients to achieve optimal care results each and every time.

So, if you’re concerned about the prospect of limb amputation or are interested in regular screening just to be safe, check out our Virtual Vein Screening Tool or schedule a consultation!