Paul was 31 years old and fit and healthy when he developed pain in his right leg.
Shocking unbearable pain in my right leg that stopped me dead in my tracks

I had been up early in the morning with my dogs and was walking up the pathway to my cottage when it hit me, shocking unbearable pain in my right leg that stopped me dead in my tracks. Managing to limp into the house I had no idea what was wrong and had to lie down and catch my breath for a moment.

Over the course of the next few weeks I visited a Chiropractor who assured me it was a trapped sciatic nerve, and then my Doctor who also told me it was really nothing to worry about and to take it easy. However, as the days passed, I felt more and more unwell, and despite return visits to my Doctor after more than four weeks had passed, I felt terrible.

Having never been sick at this point I knew something was seriously wrong, and as dramatic as it sounds, I got into my car and drove to Stoke Mandeville Hospital. On arrival I told reception I would not leave until someone had seen me. Within two hours I had been seen and the specialist who was very concerned about the temperature of my foot, and he organised an angiogram immediately.

I was told that my leg was completely blocked from just above the knee with a large blood clot

When they had the results, I was told that my leg was completely blocked from just above the knee with a large blood clot and that gangrene had set into my foot. The issue was so serious the risk was I might well lose the leg so I was to be rushed to the John Radcliff Hospital in Oxford.

The tube was left in my artery, and over the course of the next three days’ attempts were made to clear the blockage with very limited success.

After three days the procedure had become dangerous and had to stop and Professor Jack Colin talked to me about the options open to me.

• Option 1 was a vein graft which because of the length would be tricky,
• Option 2 was strenuous exercise.

He explained that a vein graft had a limited life span, and that because of my age, hard exercise would force the blood down my leg and effectively bye pass the blockage.

Over the next two months I cycled every day despite the pain being excruciatin

Even though my toes were still black, over the next two months I cycled every day despite the pain being excruciating. I also had regular outpatient visits and it was at this point that it was agreed that an operation on my big toe was required to try and save it or at least retain part of it. Sadly, I lost the whole toe, but at least my leg was now stable and controlled with warfarin.

I am now 55 and over the years I have had a number of DVT issues with my other leg some more serious than others. When I fly I have to inject myself with Heparin as immobility on long flights (in fact all travel) increases the risk of developing DVTs.

My right leg has never really been the same and so I have to work hard to keep it moving and stay as fit as I can.

I took personal responsibility for my health issues and tried my very best not to let them affect my life too much, I am now a much stronger person and I run a successful business employing six full time staff. I have little doubt that my lungs have been damaged to a degree, but I remain positive and every day represents a challenge to me.