A regional review of the risk factors in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky, and the common symptoms of PAD.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is one of the most common yet overlooked vascular conditions in the United States. Millions of people live with leg pain, cold feet, or slow-healing wounds without ever knowing these signs could be pointing to a vascular problem.
Elevated Regional PAD Risk Factors in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky
In places like the Mississippi Delta, the Boot-heel of Kentucky, and rural Tennessee and Arkansas, key PAD risk factors, including the rates of diabetes, smoking, and obesity, make PAD even more prevalent.
Here are the numbers in our area:
Diabetes: Mississippi ranks #2 in the country for the incidence of diabetes, with 17%. Arkansas and Tennessee are tied at #6 with 14.5%.
Smoking: Kentucky ranks #2 in the country for smoking rates at 17.4%. Tennessee is #3 in the country with 17.0% of its adult population smoking. Arkansas and Mississippi follow closely behind at #6 and #7 in the US for smoking.
Obesity: Mississippi ranks #2 in the US for adult obesity at 40.4%. Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee are tied for #5 with an obesity rate of 37.8%.
At Southern Vascular, our interventional radiologists see this regional issue and address it head-on every day. We save hundreds of feet and legs from PAD-related amputation each year. But early detection starts with you. This article explains the specific symptoms of PAD and when to seek treatment at one of our six convenient Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue regional locations in Memphis, TN; Union City, TN; Batesville, MS; Southaven, MS; Olive Branch, MS; and Fulton, KY.
What Is Peripheral Artery Disease?
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) occurs when arteries supplying blood to the legs and feet become narrowed or blocked by plaque. Reduced blood flow means oxygen cannot reach tissues effectively. Over time, this can lead to pain, tissue loss, and wounds that will not heal.
PAD is not just a leg problem. It signals widespread arterial disease. Patients with PAD face higher risks of heart attack and stroke. But when caught early, PAD is treatable. Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue specializes in minimally invasive, limb-saving procedures that restore blood flow and improve quality of life. Whether you live in Northern Mississippi, near Memphis, or in a smaller community like Union Town, Batesville, or Fulton, help is closer than you think.
What are the Most Common Symptoms of Peripheral Artery Disease?
PAD symptoms often develop slowly. Many patients adapt to discomfort without realizing the cause. Unfortunately, many patients dismiss early symptoms as normal aging or arthritis. That delay can lead to nonhealing ulcers, infections, and even amputation.
Below are the most common warning signs. If any sound familiar, do not ignore them.
Leg Pain or Cramping When Walking
The hallmark symptom of PAD is claudication, which is muscle pain caused by too little blood flow during physical activity. Leg pain, cramping, or heaviness that starts during walking and eases with rest is a primary symptom of PAD. Patients often describe it as a deep ache in the calves, thighs, or buttocks.
As PAD worsens, the distance a person can walk without pain becomes shorter. Some patients mistakenly believe this is just arthritis or normal aging. It is not. A patient from Olive Branch, MS, might notice they cannot walk to the mailbox without stopping. A farmer in Union City, TN, might think his leg pain is just from long days in the field. But when the pain goes away with rest and returns with activity, that pattern points to PAD.
Numbness, Tingling, or Coldness in the Feet
Poor circulation can cause strange sensations in the feet. Patients report numbness, burning, or a pins-and-needles feeling. The affected foot or leg may feel noticeably colder to the touch than the other side.
One leg that looks or feels different from the other is a red flag. Compare your feet. If one is pale, cool, or discolored while the other is warm and pink, seek a vascular evaluation.
Nonhealing Foot Wounds or Ulcers
This is one of the most dangerous signs of advanced PAD. A blister, cut, or sore on the lower leg or foot that does not improve within a few days may indicate severe circulation problems. Without adequate blood flow, the body cannot deliver oxygen and infection-fighting cells to the wound.
For patients with diabetes, this risk is even higher. Small injuries can quickly become infected and lead to tissue death. Southern Vascular frequently sees patients from our area who waited too long and were told amputation was the only option. In many cases, we can still restore blood flow using minimally invasive procedures, but every day counts.
Read about one of our Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue patients from the Memphis area who was first diagnosed with PAD due to a spider bite that would not heal.
Other Symptoms to Watch For
- Shortened walking distance over time
- Foot pain at night or at rest (often referred to as resting leg pain)
- Slow hair growth on the legs and feet
- Shiny, thin, or discolored skin on the legs
- Weak or absent pulse in the feet
If you have any of these signs, especially with diabetes or a smoking history, schedule a vascular screening. People across West Tennessee, North Mississippi, and Western Kentucky face the same risks. The good news is that Southern Vascular has locations throughout the region to serve you.
When Should You Seek Treatment?
Do not wait for a wound to develop. Do not wait until you cannot walk a block without stopping. The best time to seek treatment is when you first notice symptoms.
Seek Evaluation Immediately If:
- You have leg pain or cramping with walking that goes away when you rest
- One foot feels colder than the other
- You notice numbness, burning, or tingling in your feet
- You have a foot sore, blister, or crack that will not heal within a few days
- You have diabetes and any foot discoloration or swelling
Get a Second Opinion Before Agreeing to Amputation
Southern Vascular frequently provides second opinions for patients who have been told they need a leg or foot amputation due to poor circulation, advanced PAD, or critical limb ischemia.
Our interventional radiologists can often find ways to restore blood flow using minimally invasive procedures, helping patients minimize amputation and regain mobility. If you have been told there are no options left, contact us for a vascular evaluation before proceeding with surgery.
Let us know the situation, and we will get you in quickly. Families from across the mid-South region have come to us as a last resort and left with new hope. Some driving hours for the valuable options we provide.
How Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue Diagnoses PAD
Testing begins with a thorough evaluation of your symptoms and circulation. Southern Vascular uses two primary noninvasive tests:
Toe-Brachial Index (TBI)
The TBI is a highly accurate test that measures blood flow to the toes and compares it with blood flow in other parts of the body. It is considered the gold standard for PAD diagnosis, especially for patients with diabetes who may have stiff leg arteries that make other testing options less reliable.
Vascular Ultrasound
This painless imaging study visualizes blood flow through your arteries and detects exactly where blockages are located. Any patient who shows weak pulses or a low TBI score will receive an ultrasound, usually at their first evaluation.
Both tests are quick and comfortable. You can have them done at any of our Southern Vascular locations across Northern and Central Mississippi, Mid-South Tennessee, and Western Kentucky.
PAD Care Across the Mid-South
Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue (formerly known as Southern VIP) is a leading provider of PAD management and treatment in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Our interventional radiologists and staff understand how vascular disease disrupts lives. It is our mission to use unmatched compassion and advanced interventional technology to treat pain at its source, restore our patients’ health, and enhance their daily quality of life.
We listen to our patients and their advocates. We take the time to explain all of the options. We address pain and symptoms at the source. And we look for long-term solutions that improve the quality of life. A Better Life Starts Here. When you walk into our clinics, you are not just another chart. You are family. That is what patients tell us it feels like as a Southern Vascular and Foot Rescue patient. We invite you to read their reviews on Google and Facebook.
Take the First Step
Your symptoms are not just in your head. Leg pain when walking, foot numbness, and wounds that will not heal are signs of a real medical condition that requires attention. PAD is treatable, especially when caught early.
Call us today at 662-775-0114 to schedule your vascular screening. We accept most insurances. A better life starts here.
FAQs
PAD is particularly high in these mid-south states because of the high prevalence of risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and obesity. It is recommended that anyone over 50 with these risk factors have a vascular evaluation at least once every 5 years.
Claudication is one of the first signs of PAD and describes leg pain, cramping, or heaviness that starts when you walk and goes away when you rest.
You should see a vascular surgeon, interventional radiologist, interventional cardiologist, or a PAD Nurse Practitioner immediately if you have leg pain with walking, numbness or coldness in one foot, or a sore on your foot that will not heal within a few days.
Not always, but Southern Vascular Foot Rescue saves hundreds of feet and legs from amputation each year using minimally invasive procedures that restore blood flow. Early diagnosis and intervention are critical.
Leg pain that comes with walking and eases with rest is not normal aging; it is the hallmark symptom of PAD and requires a vascular screening. Resting leg pain at night when lying down that improves upon standing is also a sign of PAD.
