Have a doctor check your feet and ask for a second opinion to get the best treatment possible

It’s Okay to Ask for a Second Opinion

Peripheral arteryArteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body. disease (PAD) has many treatment options, including long-term lifestyle changes and medications.

However, if you have advanced PAD, these treatments might not be enough. Your doctor may recommend bypass surgery or amputation, a common treatment for the most severe stage of PAD.³

This is an important decision. There are more than 160,000 PAD-related amputations annually performed in the U.S.,³ and having an amputation can put your life at risk.³

So how do you know if other treatment options are available for you?

Get a second opinion. Talk with a doctor who is a PAD specialist or is a part of a limb salvage program.

It’s OK to think about whether another doctor may suggest different treatment options. As with any big decision, you want to make sure you’ve gathered as much information as possible in order to make the best decisions about your health.

Keep in mind, not all health care professionals are PAD specialists — and not all PAD specialists use the same treatment techniques. Treatment options for PAD are constantly advancing, and today’s options are very different than they were just five years ago.²⁰

Some questions you might want to consider asking your doctor:

Does your clinic/hospital have a limb salvage program?
What treatment options do I have other than amputation?
What benefits do these options offer compared to amputation?

It’s up to you to take control of your health. If amputation has been recommended for you, get a second opinion that could help guide your decisions. Medical treatments to help restore blood flow to your legs may be able to help save legs and feet. In many patients, these treatments have been shown to offer advantages when compared to amputation.¹⁷

Only a doctor can determine the most appropriate treatment options for your condition, but it’s important to explore your options. Find a PAD specialist near you and ask for a second opinion about your treatment.