For most people, the ability to walk is something they don’t think about. But for Joe, this 61-year-old Connecticut resident, walking has been a lifelong goal; one shaped by decades of injury, surgeries, chronic pain, and uncertainty.
A married father of two adult children, Joe works in the small business lending industry as a business advisor and volunteers as a small business educator and mentor. Born and raised in New York City and Putnam County, New York, he moved to Connecticut after graduating from college in 1987. He and his wife met in college and will soon celebrate 35 years of marriage.
His story, however, began long before adulthood, back in 1979.
A Childhood Accident That Never Fully Healed
At just 14 years old, Joe suffered a devastating bicycle accident that broke his pelvis and shattered his left ankle. Orthopedic surgeons in New York attempted to reconstruct the ankle using surgical pins. The injury was severe, and he never regained full use of the joint.
For years, he learned to live with pain that fluctuated in intensity. But as time passed, the pain worsened.
Forty-five years after the original accident, arthritis had destroyed the joint to the point of collapse. His leg bowed outward, mobility declined, and pain became more intense than ever.
Over the decades, Joe consulted multiple orthopedic specialists, but treatment options were limited, and surgical intervention was often considered too complex.
More Surgeries and More Setbacks
In 2023, he sought care from doctors in New Haven, who recommended a double fusion of the ankle joints. In November 2023, he underwent fusion surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery was not successful; only one of the two joints fused.
“The pain became even worse than before,” he says. “To the point where I could barely walk.”
He consulted a physician in Stamford, who recommended ankle replacement surgery. In November 2024, Joe underwent yet another procedure.
While he initially did reasonably well, improvement didn’t last. Swelling returned, and with it, pain.
The repeated procedures placed a significant emotional and physical burden on Joe’s family. The prolonged ordeal also contributed to anxiety and depression.
The Clue That Changed Everything
In May 2025, Joe started noticing troubling changes in the skin around his ankle. It had become brownish in color, extremely itchy, and flaky. Concerned, he visited a dermatologist.
The doctor immediately recognized the signs of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) and recommended that he see Dr. Li at The Vascular Care Group’s Darien office.
It was the first time in years that a new possibility emerged, one that wasn’t focused solely on bones and joints.
A Complex Case Meets Comprehensive Vascular Care
Later in 2025, a CT scan showed incomplete bony ingrowth (osseointegration) of the ankle implant. Because it had been over a year since surgery, his orthopedic specialist believed it was unlikely to heal on its own.
A third surgery was recommended, but the odds of success were lower than before, and the potential outcomes were sobering. Amputation was discussed as a last resort option; something that, while successful for some advanced cases, was not a path Joe was willing to travel.
Three Procedures and a Turning Point
In September 2025, Dr. Li began addressing the vascular side of his condition. He performed a total of three procedures to correct the blood flow issues contributing to the swelling and pain, including two venous ablations and a stent placement in his left iliac vein for May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS). MTS is a condition that occurs when the right iliac artery in the pelvic area presses the left iliac vein against the vertebrae in your lower back. This can disrupt normal blood flow from the leg to the heart and increase the risk of developing a blood clot in your deep veins (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). The results for Joe were significant.
Progress and a Hopeful Outlook
The most notable improvement occurred after Joe’s most recent procedure, embolization, a minimally invasive treatment, performed in the office, which targeted the small blood vessels that surround the ankle, which were contributing to ongoing inflammation and pain. In cases of long-term injury or arthritis, small abnormal vessels can develop, increasing blood flow and inflammatory signals in the joint, which worsens pain and swelling. By gently blocking these vessels, embolization reduces inflammation and helps relieve pain, often without the need for additional surgery. The procedure was a great success.
“The biggest difference is the decrease in swelling and a major reduction in pain,” Joe says. “Before the procedures, I walked with a noticeable limp and was in a lot of pain. Now, the pain is so minor I don’t even notice it anymore.”
Care That Made the Difference
Today, Joe has returned to daily walks and is gradually increasing his distance. “I’m up to about three-quarters of a mile, about twenty minutes a day,” he shares. “I’m taking it slowly, but it’s definitely improving.”
His primary goal is simple: to walk without pain. To move through daily life, shopping, chores, and exercise, without constantly thinking about his ankle.
For the first time in years, the outlook feels more positive.
He credits Dr. Li and The Vascular Care Group with helping him regain a sense of control, relief, and forward momentum.
“I’m very pleased with the fine work Dr. Li and the team did,” he says. “Their level of care was exemplary, and I’m walking again.”
When Pain Has More Than One Cause
Joe’s journey is a powerful reminder that chronic pain and swelling, especially after an orthopedic injury or surgery, can have more than one underlying cause. Conditions like chronic venous insufficiency and other vascular circulation problems can worsen swelling, slow the healing process, and contribute to ongoing discomfort.
At The Vascular Care Group, our specialists evaluate the whole picture and utilize the most advanced outpatient diagnostic tools and treatment options to restore blood flow and help patients return to the life they love.
If you’re living with persistent swelling, pain, skin changes, or mobility issues, contact The Vascular Care Group today to schedule an evaluation. You deserve answers and relief.