Being diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) can feel intimidating. Beyond the worry about your health, there is often a flood of unfamiliar medical terms. Words like angiogram, ABI, critical limb ischemia, or atherectomy may leave you feeling like you need a translator. At Southern VIP, we believe that the first step to managing PAD is understanding it. The more familiar you are with the language of your condition, the more confident you will feel about your care and treatment decisions.
As part of PAD awareness month, Southern VIP is publishing this resource to help you navigate some of the most common medical terms associated with PAD. This guide explains the most common terms you may hear when talking with your provider about PAD, what they mean, and why they matter.
What is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Peripheral Artery Disease happens when plaque builds up inside the arteries that carry blood to your legs and feet. This buildup narrows or blocks the arteries, reducing blood flow. Over time, PAD can cause pain when walking, wounds that do not heal, or, in severe cases, tissue damage that may threaten the health of your limbs. Understanding the vocabulary of PAD gives you a clearer picture of what is happening in your body and how it can be treated.
Common Diagnostic Terms
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)
An ABI is a simple, non-invasive test that compares blood pressure in your ankle with the blood pressure in your arm. A lower pressure in the ankle suggests reduced blood flow and possible PAD. This test helps your provider determine the presence and severity of blockages.
Toe-Brachial Index (TBI)
Sometimes the ABI is not enough to provide a clear picture, especially for patients with diabetes. A TBI compares blood pressure in the toes with blood pressure in the arms. This test provides more specific insight into circulation in the smallest arteries of the feet. Southern VIP always uses TBI testing when diagnosing patients, as it is considered the gold standard for PAD testing.
Angiogram
An angiogram is a specialized imaging test used to see inside your arteries. Dye is injected into the bloodstream, and X-rays or other imaging are used to highlight areas where blood flow is restricted. Angiograms guide treatment decisions by showing exactly where blockages exist and how severe they are. Angiograms are done under sedation but are non-invasive.
Terms Related to Symptoms and Complications
Claudication
Claudication is the medical term for pain or cramping in the legs that happens when you walk or exercise. It occurs because the muscles are not receiving enough blood flow during activity. Rest usually relieves the pain. This is often one of the earliest signs of PAD.
Rest Pain
As PAD worsens, some people develop pain even while lying down or resting, especially at night. This indicates more advanced disease and the need for urgent evaluation.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy means nerve damage. It is often linked to diabetes, but it can also be worsened by poor blood flow from PAD. Symptoms may include tingling, numbness, burning sensations, or weakness in the legs and feet. Neuropathy and PAD often overlap, making evaluation and treatment more complex.
Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI)
This is a severe form of PAD where blood flow is so limited that tissue is at risk of dying. People with CLI may have chronic wounds, persistent rest pain, or infections. CLI requires prompt and advanced treatment to restore circulation and save the limb. Most patients with CLI benefit from a Foot Rescue™ procedure to restore circulation all the way to the feet and toes.
Terms Related to Treatment
Atherectomy
An atherectomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove plaque buildup from inside the arteries. Special tools are used to shave or break up the plaque, restoring blood flow without the need for open surgery. Southern VIP is equipped to perform these procedures in our treatment facilities, and patients typically go home the same day, often already experiencing improvement.
Angioplasty and Stenting
In angioplasty, a small balloon is guided into the blocked artery and inflated to widen the vessel. Sometimes a stent (a small mesh tube) is placed to hold the artery open. Both procedures are minimally invasive and can restore circulation quickly.
Foot Rescue Procedure
At Southern VIP, one of the most advanced treatments offered is the Foot Rescue procedure. This minimally invasive approach is designed to restore blood flow throughout the foot, extending into the small arteries that supply blood to the toes, rescuing tissue that is at risk due to PAD. For patients with non-healing wounds or severe ischemia, this procedure can mean the difference between healing and amputation. Learn more about Foot Rescue
Associated Condition
Buerger’s Disease
Buerger’s Disease is a rare vascular condition that usually affects people who smoke. It causes inflammation and damage to small and medium-sized arteries, often in the hands and feet. Like PAD, it restricts blood flow and can cause pain, sores, or tissue loss. Recognizing the difference between Buerger’s Disease and PAD is important for treatment planning.
The vocabulary of PAD can feel overwhelming at first, but each word represents a piece of the puzzle. When you understand terms like ABI, angiogram, or CLI, you gain a clearer picture of what is happening in your body and what your care team is doing to help. At Southern VIP, we take time to explain each step so you never feel left in the dark. Knowledge empowers you to ask questions, recognize warning signs, and take an active role in your treatment plan.
FAQs
No. PAD involves blocked arteries that reduce blood flow, while neuropathy involves nerve damage. However, many patients, especially those with diabetes, experience both conditions at the same time. This combination can make symptoms more severe and requires specialized care.
Critical Limb Ischemia is serious but not hopeless. It means your blood flow is severely restricted and your limb tissue is at risk, but advanced procedures like angioplasty, atherectomy, or the Foot Rescue procedure can often restore circulation and prevent amputation.
The TBI test is simple, painless, and gives your provider important information about how well blood is flowing to your legs. It is often the first step in diagnosing PAD and helps determine whether further testing or treatment is needed.
Peripheral Artery Disease does not have to mean living in pain or facing amputation. By understanding the terms and tests that surround your diagnosis, you take an important step toward reclaiming your health. At Southern VIP, we are committed to helping patients learn, heal, and walk confidently into their future. Call 662-775-0114 to make an appointment at one of our three clinics in Memphis, Southaven, and Union City.
