WHY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS MISS THE PAD DIAGNOSIS...AND WHY A VASCULAR SURGEON DOESN'T
To Lisa's primary care physician, her leg pain was “just aging”. When the pain got worse at night and Lisa couldn't sleep unless she hung her leg off the side of the bed, her husband knew something else might be going on. Maybe Lisa's leg pain was more than just aging; maybe she had a back problem and was pinching a nerve when she laid down. Maybe her muscles were just cramping because she had been on her feet too long that day.
Jumping onto his computer he googled "why does my wife's leg hurt at night when she lies down to go to sleep. First he read that leg pain at night might be more than just "aging". Next he found something he never knew before....Leg pain at night might be a warning sign that his wife Lisa's leg pain might be a whole lot worse than what their primary care doctor had told them. Digging further, he found out that Lisa was not alone. That many people had leg pain when they went to bed. And then he found it: an article on Peripheral Arterty Disease (PAD). Every thing the article described fit Lisa's symptoms to a tee. But now what?
What Lisa's husband discovered was that primary care physicians often miss or underdiagnose PAD. Unfortunately, that kind of underdiagnosis can put a patients limbs and, in some cases, the lives of their patients at risk. Fortunately, in Lisa's case, her huband stumbled across South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Insitutes website where Dr Kokinos and her team of vascular surgeons are specially trained to diagnose these very unique and specific circulatory problems.
So,why do primary care physicians underdiagnose PAD? What makes a Vascular surgeon uniquely trained to diagnose patients suffering from this kind of disease?
PCP Pitfalls
Studies say 50% of PAD cases go unseen by PCPs—busy with colds, not blood vessels, PCP's seldom ask patients to "take off their socks" so that they can examine their patient's toes. Stressed for time and constrained by what insurance companies reimburse primary care physicians, many PCP's simply don't have the time nor the staff to spend the amount of time they need to fully examine and address the concerns of their patients. Compounding this problem is that many patients don't even realize they are suffering from PAD until their symptions get more serious. Consequently, leg pain, cold feet and non-healing wounds get shrugged off. PAD’s an artery issue, not venous, and it’s serious.
Vascular Surgeons: The Fix
Trained at top programs, vascular surgeons spend years studying and training to diagnose and to treat circulatory problems. Their entire speciality is dedicated to treating patients suffering from circulatory disease. They’re vessel experts, and studies like the Journal of Vascular Surgery show they’re the best at catching and fixing PAD. Remember, most vascular surgeons actually begin their training by studying to be general surgeons and then continue for another 2 years to subspecialize in vascular surgery. Vascular surgeons dedicate their entire careers to the diagnosis and treatment of vascular related illnesses.
Feet: PAD’s Secret Window
PAD blocks leg arteries, and your feet feel it first. Coldness, discoloration, weak pulses, or slow-healing sores scream trouble. It’s not venous disease—those are vein issues. PAD’s an artery crisis, tied to serious stuff like diabetes. A foot exam spots it when others don’t. That's why if you experience leg craps that get worse at night, next time you visit your PCP, "Show them your Toes"!
Santa Clara’s Trusted Checkup
Dr Kokinos of South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute trained at some of the world’s finest schools and has spent almost three decades serving Santa Clara as an independent surgeon. Her foot exams aren’t just routine—they’re lifesavers, backed by experience and a community’s trust.
As a specialist, Dr Kokinos uses the most advanced imaging technology on the planet to examine her patients. Modern imaging—like ultrasound—lets her peek inside your arteries during a foot exam. Far more than anything a primary care physician is trained to do. Most importantly, Dr Kokinos brings her entire experience to everyone of her patients. Her exams are quick, painless, and precise. When she's done, you have your answer: The right answer.
Don’t Settle
PCPs miss PAD; a vascular surgeon will not. Get the care you deserve—now. If you are suffering from leg cramps when walking or can't sleep at night because of the pain in your legs, Dr Kokinos can help. Ask your primary care physician for a referral to Dr Kokinos at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein institue at 408-376-3626 or schedule one for yourself or a loved one by visiting our website at www.southbayvascular.com
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