A woman experiencing aches and pains in her foot ‘put it down to age’ — however she was experiencing a serious disease which led to her having both legs amputated
A woman felt aches and pains in foot, and then needed both her legs amputated.
Samantha Wyles from Coalville, North West Leicestershire, lost both her legs after she contracted a condition which causes blockages in the arteries.
The 57-year-old began to feel aches and pains in her foot, but put it down to age, when actually she had developed a condition called Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), which causes blockages in sufferers’ arms or legs. However, over time, Samantha’s daughter-in-law noticed the underside of her toes appeared to be turning black.
Samantha then went to see her GP, who referred to hospital, where doctors confirmed she had developed PAD.
Despite trying to widen her arteries to restore blood flow to her foot several times — a procedure known as angioplasty — Samantha was told her lower leg would have to be removed. She then had to adapt to her new life, using a prosthetic leg.
However, two years later she experienced PAD again, but this time in the other leg and despite the efforts of surgeons to save her leg, she then also had to have that leg amputated.
Now, Samantha is speaking out about her life as a double-amputee as she backs Leicester research which aims to prevent others getting the condition which “often flies under the radar”, reports the LeicestershireLive.
Previously, Samantha used to care for young people with disabilities, but now she requires a wheelchair to get around. She recently also joined a registry of people with different vascular conditions, where she hopes she may be able to help shape future research.
She said: “If I can give something back I will. I think there needs to be greater support out there for people like me and this is one way of sharing that and hopefully doing something about it, whether through voicing my opinions or taking part in future research.”
The UK Vascular Research PPI Registry was created in May 2023 by University of Leicester research assistant Imelda Black. It is a list of volunteers with personal experience of vascular conditions such as PAD and currently has over 60 people from around the UK who have volunteered to join the registry.
Ms Black said: “The patients and members of the public who come forward to help us shape research are all amazing. PAD is often a life-changing and life-limiting condition. It’s a common diagnosis, but somehow flies under the radar when we talk about our health. Many people who receive a PAD diagnosis have never even heard of it.
“Our PPI participants use their experience of this painful condition to help researchers understand how best to roll out their projects in a way that gives understandable information to patients. Their feedback will ultimately help to improve future treatments for PAD.”
Mike Dawson is also a member of the registry, and was diagnosed with PAD about three years ago. The 82-year-old, who has successfully been treated with lower limb angioplasties, said: “It started with aches and pains in my right calf but progressively got worse until my foot became bruised and black to look at.
“The nurse at my local surgery referred me to the Foot Clinic at the General Hospital in Leicester where they told me I could lose my foot. I was assessed at the Glenfield Hospital Vascular Limb Salvage Clinic and then operated on to fit stents in my right iliac artery so that the blood could flow properly to my foot.
“The functioning of my stents is checked every six months at Glenfield using ultrasound. I can’t thank enough the nurse who initially referred me and the surgeons who operated. I’m very active and my life could really have changed or been taken from me but for the speed of my treatment.
“I’m glad to be part of the registry. I’ve been consulted as a PAD patient and it means I can give a little something back and maybe help shape things for the future.”
