Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) occurs when fatty and calcified
deposits known as plaque
build-up in the arteries supplying your legs and feet. This build-up can limit blood flow and
cause pain and soreness. Often mistaken for arthritis or nerve problems, PAD can be misdiagnosed
as various chronic leg pain conditions. While both men and women suffer from PAD at similar
rates, it tends to more commonly affect those in older demographics. Those with high-blood
pressure, a history of tobacco use, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol are also at high risk
of having PAD.
Vein Disease
Vein problems are among the most widespread chronic health
conditions in the U.S. By age 50,
nearly 40% of women and 20% of men have serious leg vein problems. At least 20 to 25 million
Americans have varicose veins. Varicose veins, or enlarged veins found in legs and feet, are
hereditary. They can often develop after pregnancy, trauma or injury. Chronic Venous
Insufficiency (CVI) is a common cause of leg pain and swelling. CVI occurs when the valves of
the veins do not close properly, and blood return from the leg veins is impaired.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that form in or around the
uterus and are typically confirmed
with an ultrasound. These growths are quite common, and between 20 and 70 percent of all women
will develop them at some point during their reproductive years. While these growths are almost
always non-cancerous, they can result in several negative health complications. Uterine fibroid
embolization (UFE), also called uterine artery embolization (UAE), is a highly efficacious and
minimally invasive procedure that blocks blood flow to the fibroids, ceasing their growth and
causing them to shrink over time. UFE has been performed safely in the United States since the
1990s.
Compression Fractures
A compression fracture is typically caused by a loss of bone mass
(osteoarthritis) that occurs as
part of aging. Osteoarthritis or DJD of the knee is a condition in which the cartilage and
underlying bone of the knee breaks down over time. Without cartilagen, the bones can begin to
rub together. After enough time, this can cause the formation of painful growths known as bone
spurs. Osteoarthritis of the knee most commonly affects older demographics, but patients of any
age can experience this progressive disintegration of cartilage. Other common risk factors
include a history of knee injury, or a genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis. Obesity also
contributes significantly to the development of osteoarthritis, as excess weight can put a
strain on the joints of the knee.
Prostate Disease
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is an abnormal enlargement
of the prostate gland. The
prostate gland grows throughout a man's lifetime, however, sometimes the growth is excessive and
interferes with urinary flow. Obstructed urinary flow can cause significant symptoms and other
complications. Those most at risk for BPH are men over the age of 40. Nearly 60% of sufferers
will experience significant symptoms by the age of 60, with rates increasing about 10% more for
each decade of life thereafter. BPH is more common in men with a family history of prostate
problems, as well as a history of diabetes and heart disease. Obesity can also be a contributing
factor to the development of BPH.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetes makes your blood sugar levels higher than normal. High blood sugar levels can damage
the nerves that control sensation in your body. This damage is known as Diabetic Neuropathy. To
diagnose this, we perform an Epidermal Nerve Fiber Density (ENFD) test. The ENFD test is highly
specific and sufficiently sensitive with 97% of accuracy and can also be used to predict the
small nerve fiber peripheral neuropathy. We perform the small skin biopsy and prepare the sample
to be sent to our pathology laboratory.
