From the community: The Exodus To A Niles Doctor (Revisited)

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Dr. Castro – Chicago Vein Doctor

When Maria Talamantes’ doctor decided to amputate her right leg, the 70-year-old had one reaction.

“I had to get to Chicago,” says Maria.

Maria’s daughter had heard about Dr. Ramon Castro of the Chicago Vein Care Center. The West Chicago and now Niles facility treats large numbers of Hispanics with advanced vein disease.

Dr. Castro says, “Mexicans come to us from rural areas where they have very little access to quality vein care. That makes our vein practice a little different. We treat cosmetic problems, but we also treat the real deal, advanced vein disease that can be life-threatening.”

Maria had been treated in a rural area of Mexico. For ten years her bulging varicose veins worsened; five years ago she developed an infected ulcer that wouldn’t heal. Maria became wheelchair bound. When the growing ulcer exposed an area of bone the size of a tennis ball, her doctor said an amputation was the only way to prevent a fatal infection.

But Maria who’d been active all her life refused to allow it. She contacted her daughter living in Chicago where local doctors referred her to Dr. Castro of the Chicago Vein Care Center. Even as she traveled to Chicago, Maria was hospitalized in El Paso when her bulging veins began bleeding profusely.

By the time Dr. Castro saw her, he wasn’t sure if he could save her leg. But he offered to try. The vein expert is a Diplomate of the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine.

Maria’s story is typical in rural Latin America. Brazilian researchers found fully half the residents of one rural town had venous disease; one in five had moderate or severe disease such as an active ulcer. Yet only 5% of these patients ever sought treatment for their problem.[1]

In addition, many Hispanic patients have comorbid disease such as obesity or high blood pressure which further complicates their treatment.

Maria, for instance, had a long history of diabetes. Her treatment was arduous. Dr. Castro performed several laser procedures to close her bulging veins. In addition, she underwent an intense wound healing regimen. But the regimen healed her enormous ulcer and saved her leg.

Now back in Mexico Maria’s out of her wheelchair, running on her feet, and walking every day the mile each way to the nearest town.

Dr. Castro says one of the lessons to Maria’s care is to always get a second opinion. “We can offer these people a level of expertise and experience that you may not see in a rural area. In some cases, that experience can prevent an amputation.”

Another lesson is to try to reach such patients earlier. The Chicago Vein Care Center actively reaches out to the local Hispanic community to educate them about early treatment. Treated early, a future of pain and possible amputation can often be prevented with a single 45 minute office procedure.

Dr. Castro says, “We have to get past the cultural belief that vein disease is something you simply ignore. Not just in Mexico but sometimes among immigrants here in Chicago as well.”

“All I can say,” says Maria “is thank you! Thank you very much. I recommend Dr. Castro to everybody!”

All of which means the exodus of Mexicans to the vein expert’s Niles and Chicago offices isn’t likely to end any time soon.

The Chicago Vein Care Center’s phone number is 773-283-7887.