From Swollen Legs to Relief: Amanda’s Story

Five years ago, Amanda Maize of Houma, Louisiana, started to notice pain in her legs.

“My legs started getting really swollen all the time – the swelling would come, the swelling would go,” she recalls. “That’s when I knew I had to see a cardiologist. It had gotten to a point where I couldn’t wait any longer – I knew I had to have something done.”

At her consult at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS), Amanda met Dr. Satish Gadi, interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist at CIS in Prairieville and Baton Rouge. Testing revealed that she had chronic venous insufficiency, a common vascular condition that occurs when the veins in the legs no longer return blood to the heart efficiently.

“Amanda had been suffering with leg pain, aching, and cramping that significantly affected her day-to-day activities – especially in the evenings and at night,” explains Dr. Gadi. “Venous disease, or chronic venous insufficiency, is extremely common – it’s actually five times more common than peripheral artery disease.”

Professions that involve long hours on the feet are especially at risk. Dr. Gadi notes that swelling in the ankles after standing six or more hours a day is a telltale warning sign.

Treatment often begins with compression stockings, which can help relieve symptoms for many patients. But for Amanda, further treatment was necessary. She underwent four minimally invasive procedures at the clinic to treat her damaged veins and restore healthy blood flow.

Dr. Gadi stresses the importance of recognizing the signs and seeking treatment:
 “When you notice swelling in your legs or ankles, especially in the evening, you should see a cardiologist. Swelling can be caused by different issues – it could be related to the heart, high blood pressure, or it could be chronic venous insufficiency, which is very common and highly treatable. At CIS, we routinely screen patients to find the root cause, whether it’s cardiac or vascular.”

Amanda is grateful that she sought treatment and for the difference the treatment has made in her life.

“I’m so glad I had it done,” she says. “It’s simple, it’s easy, and it gave me my life back.”