Recovery & Support for Lower Extremity Arterial Disease

NYU Langone doctors help you manage lower extremity arterial disease for as long as necessary, no matter how mild or severe your symptoms. During annual follow-up visits, your doctor monitors leg arteries using Doppler ultrasound—a test that uses sound waves to produce images of blood flow—and to check for any new plaque buildup. These check-ups also help your doctor check the condition of any stents placed in the arteries.

Rehabilitation After Surgery

If you have had surgery for lower extremity arterial disease, NYU Langone doctors offer an array of recovery and support services. A physiatrist, a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation medicine, performs an evaluation at your bedside and, if needed, coordinates inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation care. The physiatrist may recommend follow-up care at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation. 

Our expert physicians and therapists help control limb swelling, or edema; care for your skin; and improve posture and range of motion in your leg. You can also learn how to prevent a fall, improve coordination and endurance, and negotiate stairs. 

For those who have had an amputation and require a prosthetic, our physiatrists provide instruction on how to use an elastic bandage wrap to shape the remaining part of the leg; desensitize the skin, so that wearing the prosthesis is more comfortable; prescribe the prosthetic limb; and oversee physical therapy to help you readjust to walking.

NYU Langone specialists consider your emotional and physical wellbeing as part of your recovery. You may meet with a nutritionist to discuss—and, if necessary, improve—your eating habits. A behavior modification therapist may help you make important lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, curbing overeating, or exercising. Doctors at NYU Langone’s Weight Management Program may be able to offer guidance.

Tobacco Cessation

Cigarette smoking has been shown to speed the progression of lower extremity arterial disease. It also increases the risk of postoperative complications for those who have had surgery. NYU Langone offers Tobacco Cessation Programs that can help you quit. 

Diabetes Control

Managing diabetes is essential when you are recovering from lower extremity arterial disease. Specialists at NYU Langone can teach you self-care skills that empower you to better manage your diabetes. They can offer guidance on home glucose testing and insulin injections. Our specialists can also assist with weight management and nutrition.