She Was Offered Stents. A Second Opinion & Walking Changed Her Life

For years, Ginger had leg pain without knowing she had peripheral artery disease (PAD).

She was active, but the pain kept getting worse. Four years ago, it became so severe that she went to the emergency room. She was admitted, given anti-inflammatory medication and eventually referred for an orthopedic evaluation for a possible hip replacement.

That orthopedic surgeon changed the direction of her care.

While Ginger did have some arthritis, he told her the symptoms she was describing might be vascular.

An ABI test followed.

Ginger learned she had about 50% blood flow in one leg and 60% in the other.

The first vascular surgeon she saw was prepared to move forward with an angiogram and potentially balloons and stents.

Then Ginger got a second opinion.

That vascular surgeon offered her another option to consider first: a three-month walking program.

When Ginger started, she could barely make it to the mailbox without debilitating leg pain. She describes it as feeling like someone was squeezing the life out of her leg.

Walking around her block took 37 minutes.

She kept walking.