Vascular disease patient takes part in 10k run.

Well done to 61-year-old Phil Martin from Cheshire who completed the Great Manchester Run.

This is an extraordinary feat, given that only four months ago Phil was in hospital having an operation to treat an aneurysm.

Towards the end of last year, Phil started to feel pain and discomfort in his left calf which meant he could only walk for short distances before having to stop.  At first, he assumed he'd pulled a muscle.

A couple of days passed and Phil saw no improvement, so he googled the symptoms which suggested he may have PAD (peripheral arterial disease). 

Phil managed to see a specialist (after a referral from his GP) and in mid-December he had a scan which showed that he had an aneurysm of his popliteal artery, where a blood clot had formed.  What's more, the clot had shed emboli which had blocked a couple of the arteries feeding Phil's calf muscle (hence the pain).

The consultant said "the clock was ticking" and that Phil's condition was limb-threatening.  In late January Phil was admitted to Wythenshawe hospital for an operation to replace the affected part of his popliteal artery with an artificial one.

"Everyone was so kind, understanding and patient.  Everything was explained carefully to me and I was given every opportunity to ask questions." - Phil

On leaving the hospital, Phil was told to take it easy and not drive for a couple of weeks and take at least 6 weeks off work.  A fortnight later he returned to see his consultant who was pleased with his progress. 

Before the pain in Phil's leg began last year, he'd signed up to do the Great Manchester Run on the 15th May.  As his post-op recovery was going well he decided to take gentle exercise and keep his place in the 10K event. 

Phil completed the race and raised funds for the Circulation Foundation in the process.  Thanks Phil and Well done!

If you'd like to support Phil and the Circulation Foundation, you can sponsor him here.