Vascular Surgeon to Explain What Persistent Leg Pain May Be Telling You

That ache in your leg that shows up when you walk to the mailbox and fades when you sit down? It might be more than tired muscles.

On Wednesday January 21, a vascular surgeon will explain what persistent leg pain can signal—and when it warrants a doctor’s visit—during a free community presentation at Huntington Hospital. Theodore Teruya, MD, will discuss conditions including varicose veins and peripheral arterial disease as part of the Senior Care Network’s Noon Hour Series, a monthly health education program the network has hosted for San Gabriel Valley residents since its founding in 1984.

Peripheral arterial disease occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs, causing cramping or pain during activity that eases with rest. Varicose veins develop when valves in the veins weaken, allowing blood to pool and causing the ropy, bluish lines visible beneath the skin. Both conditions are common among older adults, and both can progress to serious complications—including ulcers, blood clots, or limb loss—if left untreated.

Teruya holds credentials that reflect sustained achievement in his field. The initials after his name—FACS, DFSVS—indicate he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Distinguished Fellow of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a designation reserved for vascular surgeons who have made substantial contributions to research, service, or education. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and has published extensively on arterial and venous disorders.

Before joining Huntington Health in 2023, Teruya completed a vascular surgery fellowship at Loma Linda University Medical Center and served in Afghanistan as a Navy Reserve Medical Corps commander, earning a Navy Commendation Medal and a Navy and Marine Achievement Medal.

The event takes place Wednesday, January 21, at noon in the North Dining Room at Huntington Hospital, 100 West California Boulevard. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required at https://bit.ly/3vUhwyB.

Senior Care Network, a community-based department of Huntington Health, has served older adults in the San Gabriel Valley for more than 40 years, providing care coordination and health education. Huntington Health is an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, whose Smidt Heart Institute is ranked among the top cardiac programs nationally.

Leg pain may be the body’s way of asking for attention. The question Wednesday is whether anyone is listening.