Aging Self-help is Aging self-care
IS PAD STEALING YOUR FEET?
Do you have Peripheral artery disease (PAD)? I sure do, so I'll tell you what is working for me.
ONCE THE PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN:
- You can keep your feet, by encouraging the growth of new blood vessels (collaterals) around the blockages in your legs.
- Just walking is not enough, believe you me. Been there, tried that! As a veterinaray pathologist, I decided to tackle the problem.
- I'll teach you how to modify your body movement to encourage blood flow, (a) TO your feet and calves, by promoting the growth of collaterals, (b) THROUGH your feet, by reducing resistance to blood flow in your feet, and, (c) BACK FROM your feet and calves, by engaging foot and calf muscle action to improve venous return.
- I finished a 13.1-mile run/walk, in a recent half Ironman race, proving my new “remote blood pumping stations” method works with severe PAD. No calf claudication or numb feet, unless I turned off my foot pumps, in which case I got calf claudication almost immediately. Full details in my recent newsletter, at this link.
Avoidable amputations due to vascular disease are a disaster. I've kept it at bay for over 10 years.
Overcome claudication pain, and numb feet, to regain an active life-style.
My twelve step method works. Learn the importance of spreading your toes, engaging the muscles in your feet, and much much more!
Dr. Kevin Thomas Morgan BVSc, PhD, DipACVP, FRCPath
Finally, an effective Self-administered PAD treatment
After eight years, still training
Based on my personal experience of the pain of peripheral artery disease (PAD), I created this new PAD treatment, to help anyone, not just athletes, for whom their physicians and surgeons have done all they can for their lower limb ischemia (impaired blood flow due to blocked arteries).
I have a Great vascular Surgeon, with no solution apart from walking
I built on my previous work on PAD and claudication, see below, and took my research to the source of my pain, my feet and calves. I thought, maybe they can help me. So I turned my feet into "remote blood pumping stations." And it works! Takes a lot of work, but they are reducing calf claudication, especially on hills.
NEVER GIVE UP! I'm an 81-year old veterinarian and Ironman triathlete, by the way!
-kev aka FitOldDog aka Dr. Kevin Thomas Morgan BVSc, PhD, DipACVP, FRCPath
They gave me a PAD award for my work - that's nice!
thank you kym mcnicholas, much appreciated
This award was from The Way to My Heart, where Kym fights avoidable PAD amputations. This was for my work on arterial occlusive disease. Reminds me of the movie, "The Wizard of Oz."
Why?
I'm English by origin, and we don't handle compliments very well. We tend to shuffle our feet and look awkward, so I did. That said, it was very kind of Kym McNicholas of "Way to my Heart" fame. Kym saves many from avoidable amputations, and she is one of my heroines.
Never Stop pushing the envelope
Overcoming pain to grow collaterals and finish the race
Here I am in Finland at age 80, with severe arterial occlusive disease, finishing the 2023 World Half Ironman Championships in Lahti, Finland. I'm running almost entirely on collaterals in my right foot, as there is no detectable dorsal pedal pulse. Symptoms of similar vascular occlusion are now appearing in my left leg. However, Ironman training-induced collaterals are keeping me going. This demonstrates the power of exercise to overcome peripheral artery disease, due to the body's adaptability to stress.
That race kicked my butt, but it was a blast
In spite of lots of training, that was a tough race. They gave me a medal, but, as I said at the time I would have preferred some pizza. I know what to do with pizza.
One way to fight back against arterial occlusive disease is through exercise, starting with a peripheral artery disease walking program. The more the better, including lots of cross training, for which biking and swimming work like magic. The human body is highly adaptive. When we induce the pain of claudication or numb feet, due to poor a blood supply, Our body responds by growing new vessels to send blood around the blockage.
This allows me to continue enjoying my favorite sport, Ironman.
Peripheral artery disease is tough
Arterial occlusive disease, is due to blockage by plaque. These vessels normally take blood to our feet, while the blockage can lead to loss of toes, feet, and lower legs, due to gangrene and the need for life-saving amputations.
Remarkably, our bodies can adapt by growing new blood vessels. Did you know you are also growing collaterals in your heart, which is good, because many people with PAD also have heart disease.
I've never been on a magazine cover before!
Along with several other people fighting Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), my work on PAD artery disease treatment throwas featured in the Health Monitor magazine. Much appreciated, as the role of exercise in arterial occlusive disease therapy needs further emphasis.