Peripheral artery disease (PAD) doesn’t announce itself clearly.
For many patients, it starts with subtle calf tightness, cramping, burning, or fatigue while walking — symptoms that are often brushed off as aging, overuse, or something unrelated. Then come the tests: ABI measurements, ultrasounds, angiograms, unfamiliar terminology, and recommendations that don’t always feel straightforward.
That’s exactly why we created PAD Test Breakdown.
What This Series Is — and Why It Matters
PAD Test Breakdown is a new educational series from the Global PAD Association designed to help patients understand what their vascular test results actually mean — and how to use that information to have better, more productive conversations with their doctors.
This series is not about diagnosing, prescribing, or replacing your care team.
It’s about clarity, context, and confidence.
Because without understanding what’s happening, it’s nearly impossible to know:
- What questions to ask next
- Whether a recommendation makes sense for you
- Or when walking and conservative care may be just as important as intervention
A Real Patient Example: Jim’s Story
In this episode, we sit down with Jim, a lifelong runner and walker who suddenly began experiencing severe calf pain and burning while walking. Despite being highly active, his symptoms progressed quickly — eventually leading him through a series of vascular tests, including ABI testing, ultrasound imaging, and angiography.
Complicating his case were other serious health issues, including a history of endocarditis, open-heart surgery, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease — all factors that affect how PAD is evaluated and treated.
Joined by Denise Levy, RVT, RDMS, a registered vascular technologist, we walk through Jim’s test findings in plain language:
- What his results show
- What they don’t show
- Why “normal” numbers aren’t always reassuring
- And how walking helped him improve symptoms and potentially build collateral circulation
Most importantly, this conversation models what PAD Test Breakdown is meant to do:
help patients connect their symptoms, imaging, and options — without fear or pressure.
🎥 Watch the full PAD Test Breakdown episode with Jim below (Click the image to watch!):
If you want the full place list, here is the link for more:
The Core Takeaway
PAD is not one-size-fits-all.
Some patients may ultimately need intervention.
Others may benefit greatly from structured walking, monitoring, and second opinions before proceeding.
What matters most is that patients understand their results well enough to make informed decisions — before they’re facing a crisis.
That’s the heart of this series.
If you want RVT Denise Levy to decode your results and help you with questions to ask your doctor, email results to info@PADhelp.org
How to Get Help & Learn More
If you or someone you love is navigating PAD:
🌐 Global PAD Association:
https://padhelp.org
📞 Leg Saver Hotline: 1-833-PAD-LEGS (1-833-723-5347)
▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thewaytomyheart
We offer free education, structured walking support, and patient resources designed to help people catch PAD early and avoid preventable limb loss.
Important Disclaimer