Betty's Story

Betty’s leg pain had become excruciating. She found herself struggling to perform her daily activities. “Whenever I began to walk, my calves and ankles would tighten up. It had gotten to the point where I was using a scooter in the grocery store to do my shopping” says Betty. 

Betty was suffering from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD, is a disease of the blood vessels, specifically the arteries, which transport blood and oxygen to the legs. As we age, our arteries begin to build up with plaque, which stiffens the arteries and restricts blood flow. Risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure can accelerate this process. The most common symptom of PAD is leg and calf cramping while walking due to the legs not receiving enough blood and oxygen. This pain is usually alleviated by rest, and starts up again during walking. If left untreated, PAD can result in more severe symptoms including leg and foot pain at rest, nonhealing wounds and/or amputation. 

Despite undergoing multiple surgeries with different vascular surgeons at the hospital, Betty’s pain persisted and she was becoming desperate for a solution. While undergoing a routine vascular test at the local hospital, Betty expressed her frustrations to a healthcare worker. The worker recommended she go see Dr. Sonya Noor at Access Care Vascular. “They told me Dr. Noor had a great reputation in the Western New York Community as a vascular surgeon, and that she could assist me with my leg pain” Betty accounts.

Shortly after, Betty had a consultation with Dr. Noor and a treatment plan was created. “We decided that Betty would be a great candidate to undergo a minimally invasive stenting procedure at our outpatient facility, Access Care, to alleviate her symptoms,” Dr. Noor explained. “Not only did we discuss procedures, but Dr. Noor spent time with me to develop an exercise plan to help me gain leg strength and improve my symptoms”, stated Betty.

For many years, vascular surgeries were only performed in a hospital. However, recently, minimally invasive procedures have begun to transition from the hospital setting to specialized office facilities such as AccessCare. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Noor and her team at Access Care, are leading the charge in outpatient procedures, and were the first vascular group in Buffalo to create an outpatient facility. “With procedures that allow patients to leave the same day, a talented and dedicated healthcare team, and accessible, free parking, our patients speak highly of their experiences at Access Care”, states Dina Story, Access Care’s facility manager. 

At first Betty was nervous about undergoing a procedure outside of the traditional hospital setting. “In my experience, Doctor’s offices were where patients would go to talk to their doctors, get flu shots, and have their blood pressure taken. I never knew they could be used to perform surgery!” However, after seeing the procedure room, patient recovery area, and talking to the surgeons and nursing staff, Betty realized that Access Care surpassed the abilities of an ordinary doctor’s office.

After the approximately one hour, minimally invasive procedure, and two hours of recovery, Betty was on her way home, excited to tell others about her experience. “The difference between my procedures at the hospital and Access Care were night and day; the staff at access care checked in on me often during my recovery and made sure all my needs were met swiftly”, Betty said. Most importantly, Betty’s leg pain and difficulty with walking began to subside. “Within days my legs were back to 100%. I could now get back to walking through the grocery store with ease!”, exclaimed Betty.

“Betty’s story is one of many success stories we see here at Access Care. For older adults with PAD, a procedure at Access Care is a convenient, low-risk option to help improve patients’ lifestyles.” States Dr. Noor. Now, Betty is one of Dr. Noor’s strongest advocates. “I tell all my friends and family about Dr. Noor and her excellent team. Access Care is a one-stop shop, and there is a comforting feeling having a procedure done in the same facility as your office appointments,” expressed Betty.