Being able to walk is a blessing. I had to have angioplasty done on both of my legs due to PAD. Both legs were 100% blocked. I am 62 years old now...I had the surgeries last year. To those who smoke...do yourself a favor and quit. Prescribed Chantex in pill form works excellent. Honestly takes away the craving. Dont shortchange yourself.

I am 51 years young ! Anyone can have high cholesterol, but not everyone can choose their gene pool. Everyone can quit smoking, if you don't smoke, don't start. This will be one of the toughest fights of my life to quit smoking to improve the quality of the life I still have.

So don't be fooled if you are a smoker and you experience symptoms of pain in your legs , hips or ankles. I was told I had bursitis. I used to walk distance and can no longer walk far without the hip, lower back muscles tightening and then this rush of exhausted muscle feeling in my left leg. Most recent symptom is inner left ankle pressure. I just had my annual physical and thank God the doctor ordered the test with the blood pressure cuffs. I am now off to see a vascular surgeon next week to see what he has to say. Be persistent with answers when you know something is just not right.

there are times i just believe that doctors know that people get to the age of 78 or 80 and they don't try to cure them but they just give them meds to keep them out of pain.

i am concerned that my mom may have pad she just had a heart attack and has collateral circulation

My 79 year old mother has just been diagnosed with femoral popliteal occlusion in both legs. She has been experiencing difficulty walking which has gotten progressively worse over the course of the last 10-15 years. My mom, myself and her companion have all complained to her former doctor (of 20+ years) about her legs and specifically asked about PAD. His response was always that she was getting older and he did not know what he could do about her legs. Thank goodness her new doctor jumped on the problem. My question is, could this have been avoided or at least delayed if her former doctor had tested/treated her for PAD?