MAJOR correction from my last letter…
I just spoke with Redacted, who received some of his medical records, but not all. He read Dr. Rahimi’s, (vascular surgeon) notes to me, which included a diagnosis of claudication (cms/hcc), Diagnosis Code: 173.9. He wrote that the pain seems neuropathic and recommended compression stockings and follow up with a doctor.
I was incorrect in my last letter as I misunderstood what Redacted was telling me, but with the report in front of him, I am now very clear. What are you going to do about this? What is the grade of claudication? What stage?
He also read the conclusion from the Doppler that was conducted at the South Woods Prison: “There is no evidence for occlusion or hemodynamically significant stenosis. However, moderate stenosis between the distal superficial femoral artery and popliteal artery is suspected based on velocity drop.” Since you have known this for weeks, why hasn’t this been addressed and discussed with Redacted, who, afterall, deserves to know what is going on? What is going to be done to verify this suspicion?
He is going to request all the missing records, which include clinical notes from all visits from all doctors at the South Woods Prison, whether at his cell or in the clinic. He does not want any duplicates from what you already sent. The behavioral health records are also missing.
So with this diagnosis, which is very serious, what are you going to do? He is 30 years old.
According to the Mayo Clinic:
“The goals of treating claudication and peripheral artery disease are to reduce pain and manage the risk factors that contribute to heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease.
Exercise is an important part of claudication treatment. Exercise reduces pain, increases exercise duration, improves vascular health in the affected limbs, and contributes to weight management and an overall improvement in quality of life.
Recommended walking programs include:
- Walking until you feel moderate pain or as far as you can
- Resting to relieve pain
- Walking again
- Repeating the walk-rest-walk cycle for 30 to 45 minutes
- Walking three or more days a week
Supervised exercise is recommended for beginning the treatment, but long-term exercise at home is important for ongoing management of claudication.
Your health care provider may prescribe one or more medications to control pain and manage risk factors for cardiovascular disease.”
The pain continues to be untreated. The diagnosis is not ambiguous. There are things you can do to help Redacted with the pain and with the blood flow issue.
Please advise, what is the plan?
Respectfully,
Susan Guardia
