Peripheral Artery Disease is this the end of my biking?

You are going to have to sort your lifestyle but there is no reason why it should be. People ride bikes with amputations after all

Its not something I know a great deal about I must admit but if you can walk you can cycle. You might just have to tone it down a bit to pootling but that can still be fun

Thanks @tjagain. I've been clean from all drugs for about 8 years, but smoking tobacco still, up until tonight. I now know I have to have a drastic change in my lifestyle. Thanks once again TJ.

It's the job of the person who made your diagnosis to advise you (or refer you to soemone who can determine the extent of your problem and then they can advise you)

however

This shouldn't be the end - you have furred up arteries and so stopping smoking and other drugs you may be using (just seen your second post) and getting decent exercise is likely to form the basis of their advice to improve your symptoms and your prospects of ageing healthily, unless they actually think exercise is unsafe for you. They may very well not want you sprinting to exhaustion but that's not the same as never riding again.

Talk to your doc

(oh, and quitting the cigs can be hard - talk to someone about that too as being on a support programme will probably double your chances)

It's been said on here before that docs can be a bit conservative on these things. Steady away, tone it down a bit, feel your way through. Good luck chief.

Scaredypants saying its someone else's fault for your drug taking?

Hi, can’t offer any advice as havent been through anything similar or been close to anyone who has, but the idea riding is horrid, so totally get why this has been incredibly hard for you.

Whatever the reasons, what you have now are choices about what to do next. get all the advice you can, but dont trust us lot on a web forum for medical advice 😉

Do lean on the forum for support and encouragement, and dont feel bad if you just need to share your pain and frustration, better out than in as they say!

I've had a couple if family members with it. All I can say is do everything you can to address the lifestyle issues and keep as active as it allows.

E-bike maybe to allow you to do what you want without so much strain on the muscles for circulation if needed?

Smoking was the big thing for them, but I suspect genetics and past industrial working played into it too. I don't smoke or drink and do plenty of exercise, but I still have some weirdness in my circulation and generally crap genetics it would seem.

if you struggle with quitting the ciggies see the doctor about champix its a miracle it stopped me after thirty years in a fortnight

Sorry to hear that diagnosis

Out of interest, how is easy is it to replace cigarettes for e-cigarettes? I kinda figured it was a bit of no-brainer in terms of cost savings and health benefits but as a non smoker never really thought about it.

Sorry about the bad news. Riding/exercise is often seen as beneficial for CV diseases. Worst case maybe an e-bike?

No experience of this myself, but thinking about me dad who was diagnosed with heart failure. He’s back out doing 30-40miles on the road. It’s been a long gentle process.

Speak to the docco and keep posting here.
There’s a good bunch of people here who will support you.

How about using the bike to bimble the shops to start with then build from there.

Take care of you and keep talking it’s clearly going to be a change for a bit.

As above, that's why I suggested e-bike, my Dad's started off with leg pain during/after hiking so I assume it's the level of circulation/supply needed that caused the symptoms, an e-bike may reduce those symptoms, or even remove them depending of the intensity and duration, whilst still getting the benefits of CV exercise.

With my heart issue it seems that too much intensity or too much duration brings it on, obviously too much of both is worse. I should have got an e-bike as my new bike, but stubborn (stupid) me didn't, just added lower gearing which is great for the hills, but doesn't really do so much to allow the longer rides I like.

After a few months of severe numbness in my right foot and leg after doing exercise, I have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease.
I admit I haven’t led a very healthy lifestyle for the past 36 years and I’m the only person to blame for that. I have Asperger’s and an addictive personality disorder and have used a lot of drugs (coke/mdma) to make me feel like normal (neurotypical) people and too interact with people. I’m also a smoker as I used to be addicted to cannabis. Although this evening I have thrown all my tobacco away in an attempt to quit.
I’m in a very dark place at the moment as I can’t see myself getting better in the near future and struggling to see the point of life at the moment.
So is this the end for me in terms of my riding? Does anybody else have any experience with the disease?

Fksake, its like looking in a mirror 😆
Pretty much identical - aspie, loads of drugs, smoke like a chimney and developed some arterial thing thats left me wondering if im still going to be bipedal in a few years time.
Also given up the weed, and the other stronger ones a fair bit back, in fact long enough that i couldnt blame them on the current state of health.
Still smoke like a chimney though, and probably more so having given up the weed, and of course being unemployable, theres fk all else to do in a day.

Prognosis.
Wel you've given up all the bad things, and take note that the lungs start to heal themselves quite quickly, even after a lifetime of puffing this that and t'other, and thats going to help arrest the issues with the arteries, along with changes to diet, salt, too much buttery toast, that type of thing.
No reason to stop cycling though and in fact as long as you dont overdo it, and allow the blood to return, you should be able to keep the feeling in your foot.
I've started using heat pads on my cold foot, using the reasoning that warm blood flows better than cold blood. Maybe help, maybe nae, but it cant hurt and maybe has a positive psychological effect.

In short I'm not going to lie to you. damage is done but you can arrest it to some degree or slow it down considerably by the actions youve already taken.
I'm also looking at an ebike, in that i feel its less effort on the system, and keep me in the saddle for longer, but im aware of the worst case scenario, and am prepared to do whatever ,however it affects me in the future. Lose a limb ?, not the first on earth to have that happen, and i see plenty striving and getting on with life.

so take heart and stay riding, but be aware at the same time and dont overdo it.

You've clearly shown the will power to get through previous addictions. You've got it in you to quit smoking.

Plenty of people have surpassed the expectations of medical professionals, so try and stay positive. Although it's much easier for me to type that than the reality of doing it. Try and access as much support as you can, and hopefully it'll make it easier for you.

No idea how the disease will affect your ability to ride if you can make the lifestyle changes you need to. TJ's advice re having fun pootling, or the eeb approach seem the best considerations. Hope it all works out for you.

Smoking is by far the hardest thing i've ever had to give up, but i managed it, and am never going back. Millions of other people have also done it so take heart. Don't be too hard on yourself if you give in. One thing that really worked for me was recognising there were key stress points where the cravings were very strong, for example at the end of a ride, after a meal, or after getting off the train. One thing i learnt was that if I could resist for those few minutes, then the cravings would subside pretty quickly, until the next 'moment of truth' arrived. The more times you are able to do this, the more the cravings will subside, and the more your confidence will grow. Good luck!

Only 36?

Thanks everybody for all the positive advice. Yes @i_scoff_cake I'm 36 but I think I have had a pretty hard life compared to most. As I have certain learning difficulties I was ignored by teachers when I was at high school due to my disruptive (adhd) behavior and subsequently tried to burn the school down twice (only go caught once and did a ton of damage the second time).
At the age of 21 I watched both my parents die within 5 months of each other of cancer and this really excelled my drug and alcohol usage.
@dyna-ti can we talk in private as like you say we are very very similar.

I imagine that coming on and telling everyone about it on STW is nearly as hard as quitting smoking, so you've made a big first step. Sounds like there's plenty of wisdom and experience here too. Best of luck getting fit and healthy again - and if it can be done by riding a bike, extra bonus! 🙂

Scaredypants saying its someone else’s fault for your drug taking?

I keep re-reading his post and I can't work out what you mean by that.

Jesus you unlucky soul.

Taking a side view, as well as what everyone has said, might be worth looking into what will help you get on top of the brain chemistry / functioning side of things.

What I mean is, you "know" that doing xyz is bad for you, but that's just the conscious intellect - balanced precariously on top of the big, angry walrus of subconscious and instinct, it's got a tough job on its hands if it wants to win!

If you can get an understanding of what makes that walrus tick and techniques on how to negotiate with it and calm it down, "you" you will have a lot easier time of things - like getting power steering in a car.

This could be all sorts of things from what to eat and when, when to switch off screens before bed, writing a diary (shred it after if you want!), breathing exercises, whittling, cathartic movies or novels, there's all sorts of things to fling at the wall and some will stick and work for you.

I found the Steve Peters chimp book very helpful fwiw.

Scaredypants saying its someone else’s fault for your drug taking?

I keep re-reading his post and I can’t work out what you mean by that.

Me an' all <shrug>

The drugs won't have done you any favours, however by far the worst thing for your arteries is smoking.

Is this the end of your biking ? One answer to that is no but are things going to change then yes. First the drugs you mention have no correlation let alone causal link to your diagnosis and as stated that is almost certainly smoking - so focus on what we know is the cause and effect here. Seek all the necessary help (and there's plenty) to stop smoking. There are good outcomes for long term smoking cessation when using the tools and help provided and engaging positively with it (I've seen the data).
In relationship to biking - this is only going to benefit your cardio vascular health but the duration & intensity is something I would seek consolation with a health care professional who has expertise in this field (PNA & exercise) about.
Your mental health is the one area I would pay close attention to as well and there are areas that also have good outcomes here that you can explore including obviously exercise. I've seen you've asked to link up with someone with a similar diagnosis - community is one of the areas that gives positive benefits regards mental health.
This forum gets stick at times but its also a great place to reach out to with good people here and I'm sure if you carrying on doing that and working towards a positive outcome in spite of your diagnosis then there's people and riding to help and still enjoy - good luck 👍

To add..

Is it the end of your biking..nope, conversely exercise is number 2 thing to do to improve pad symptoms (number 1 is stop smoking)

2ndly, if it's that bad there are procedures that can help, angioplasty etc

Whilst not great to have it so young, treat this as the wake up call. Some people are clearly more susceptible to athersclerosis than others, and if you've got it at 36 (regardless of your lifestyle factors) you clearly fall into this bracket. Doing everything you can to minimise the risk of progression should be your number 1 priority.

Dude, that sounds tough, I think it wold be a shocking blow to anyone, low feelings or 'depression' would be a completely normal reaction to that news. You're clearly brave, coming to a public and telling folk about intimate details of your life takes huge cojones)  Hats off to you. I haven't rally got any advice, other than the overall health benefits (both physical and mental)  of doing exercise are still worthwhile and are massively worthwhile regardless of any compromises other bits of specific health issues have on your life have to play. So try to keep ccyling as long as you can.

I’m 36 but I think I have had a pretty hard life compared to most.

Yep, sounds pretty rough!

There's no reason why furry arteries should stop you cycling, you might never be as fit as you could have been, but once you stop smoking you'll arrest the damage and just carry on as you are.

Speak to your GP about quitting smoking, pretty sure you can get Nicotine patches etc on the NHS (or used to be able to).

@dyna-ti can we talk in private as like you say we are very very similar.

Sure no probs, just send me one of them little letter things top right fo the page and well go from there. Help if i can 🙂

Thanks for everybody's positive responses to my thread, it meant a hell of a lot to me. I was prescribed some Clopidogrel today by my doc which should help the situation. I'll keep this thread updated with my progress.
Thanks once again to everybody on here.

Ah bollocks! As I commented a while ago I have a family history of PAD. I didn't think i had it despite being diagnosed with micro vascular heart disease, but now I'm not so sure...

Does anyone with it get 'claudication' in their thighs?

....Painful cramping in one or both of the hips, thighs or calf muscles after certain activities, such as walking or climbing stairs....

I did get some weird calf pains a whole back too, but that seems to have gone. I wasn't aware of any limb circulation problems from my extensive cardiac investigations, but they were a few years back now.

I've not been generally well lately, but for atleast the last month when I have got out for a ride (which have been very steady affairs) I've been getting a weird and horrible achy/cramp on both my outer thighs after maybe half an hour especially when having to work a bit harder such as on a hill or a long drag/headwind, but I'm not working actually hard. It's not like anything I've had before from just working hard or being tired, its not just the sort of burn you get working hard. It does ease when the effort does, but I'm not talking high effort anyway.

Once home and resting it's totally gone.

I'm really quite scared now of going down the route of my dad (dead and legless at my current age of nearly 53) or my grandad who lost his at 70.

Don't drink (at all) or smoke (never have), exercise as much as I'm able. I guess I still need to look in to an e-bike or e-bike conversion I keep thinking about.

Sound familiar to anyone?

I’ve been getting a weird and horrible achy/cramp on both my outer thighs after maybe half an hour

Doesn’t pad affect one leg or the other? Ie the leg you have the blockage in.

Fair point, I guess it would,unless both had issues?

I dunno, but I know it feels horribly crampy and burny, and not the sort of ache/burn/tiredness you get from hammering up a hill or in a sprint.

Feels fine now and nothing tender to touch, just had some small amount of heart ache. (micro angina) following the ride and feeling generally yucky.

I see this thread is a year old, I missed it first time around.  @captainclunkz, how are you doing?

Yup, same boat, affecting the femoral artery in me right leg. Probable from smoking, which i still do as im hopelessly addicted to it.

Managed to give up the weed after 25+ years, and was thinking it was the weed that was keeping me using tobacco, but even after stopping that im still smoking tobacco.

Actually Its really affecting me now and im in serious trouble I think, but while you would think that would be the wake up call, im still smoking and i cant actually foresee myself not.

Buying an Ebike has helped considerably on mobility. I can still ride about.

@captainclunkz, how are you doing?

Its concerning that clicking his name to go to his profile, it instead goes to the STW home page unlike if you click on anybody elses name