Many people think of leg cramps as a temporary annoyance. That’s what Sedona resident Don Janis, 66, first thought when he started feeling pain in his legs and calves. A self-described “heavy-duty hiker,” Don’s pain not only kept him from the trails; it stopped him from being able to walk the shortest of distances without experiencing extreme cramping and discomfort.

With the exception of a family history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Don had no obvious health issues. He was in good physical condition and stayed active – and he was having a hard time adjusting to how his leg pain was affecting his walk and life.

“When my limping and grimacing became noticeable, my wife Judy and my children told me it was time to go to the doctor,” Don said.

Samuel Butman, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern evaluated Don’s symptoms and ran diagnostic tests.

“I liked Dr. Butman as soon as I met him,” Don said. “He relieved my fears, and every piece of information or question Judy and I asked from that moment on, he answered.”

Double Diagnosis
Dr. Butman diagnosed Don with peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is a common circulatory problem in which the arteries supplying blood to the limbs become clogged or partially blocked. When this happens, the extremities have less blood than needed to keep up with demand. PAD refers to a problem with any of the arteries outside the heart, but the term is used most often to describe problems with cramping or pain in the legs when walking.

In addition to the PAD diagnosis, Dr. Butman told Don some other news: Don had a significantly blocked right carotid artery. Dr. Butman made two treatment recommendations: first, surgery to repair the blocked artery, then, a stent placed in Don’s leg to re-establish blood flow. John Schor, M.D., cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon at the Heart and Vascular Center performed the surgery on Don’s heart, and a month later, Dr. Butman inserted the stent into Don’s leg.
A short three weeks after his last surgery, Don returned to hiking.

“Between my tests and my surgeries, everything went like clockwork,” Don said, “It’s like being given a life again. Why go to Phoenix when you can get good care close to home? I can’t imagine getting better treatment anywhere else.”

For more information on the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona, please visit www.NAHeartcare.com.