FAQs on Venous Leg Ulcer: Learn from the Expert

1. FAQs on Venous Leg Ulcer: Learn from the Expert Venous leg ulcers can result from minor injuries when there's a problem with the blood circulation in your leg veins. As a result, the pressure inside your leg vein may increase, thus damaging the tiny blood vessels near the skin. Normally, it gets quickly healed when we receive a cut or scrape in the skin. But ulcers may not heal naturally unless they are treated. This article will answer the commonly asked questions on venous leg ulcers. Q. 1. How are venous leg ulcers formed? Venous leg ulcers occur when the valves inside the leg veins are damaged from minor injuries. These leg ulcers are usually formed around the ankles when the valves cannot control the blood pressure within your leg veins. The valves inside the vein help reduce the blood pressure when we walk. When these valves get damaged, they won’t be able to regulate the blood pressure in your leg veins as you walk, thus causing venous hypertension. This increase in blood pressure results in leg ulcers formed around the ankles.

2. Q. 2. What are the symptoms of venous leg ulcers? Venous leg ulcers look like open sores in the skin formed inside the leg above the ankles. These sores are often painful and may show symptoms like - ● Swollen ankles ● Hardened skin near the ulcer, and hence you may feel your legs getting heavy or hardened ● Darkening or discoloration of the skin around the ulcer ● Swelling or aching in your legs ● Red, scaly, itchy, or flaky skin on the legs ● Enlarged and swollen veins on your legs ● An unpleasant, foul-smelling discharge occurring from the ulcer Legs ulcers are prone to bacterial infections, especially when they are left untreated for a long time. If you notice the following red flags, then there are chances your leg ulcers have become infectious. ● Pain that worsens ● Swelling and redness around the site of the ulcer ● An unpleasant, green discharge oozing out of the ulcer ● A rise in body temperatures (fever) Q. 3. What are the causes of venous leg ulcers? As mentioned above, venous ulcers may arise when you have received minor leg injuries that have affected your leg’s blood circulation The rise in blood pressure inside the veins of your leg may gradually damage the blood vessels, making the skin fragile. Ulcers may cause the skin to break easily, even after minor scratches or knocks. Get proper treatment to improve the blood circulation in your legs because the ulcer may not heal on its own. Q. 4. What are the risk factors? Various factors increase your risk of getting venous leg ulcers. They include - ● Obesity (as it increases the pressure in your leg veins) ● Previous history of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) ● When you have walking difficulties ● Previous leg injuries

3. ● Varicose veins ● Aging ● Previous leg surgeries Q. 5. How long do venous leg ulcers take to heal? Leg ulcers are usually chronic and hence are long-lasting. It may take more than 4-6 weeks for them to heal completely, provided you start the treatment procedure without delay. Sometimes it may take around 3-4 months to heal in severe cases when you have left your ulcer untreated for a prolonged period. Q. 6. When is the right time to seek medical help? You need to contact your general physician if you notice the signs mentioned above and the symptoms of venous ulcers. Don’t expect your ulcers to get better or get cured by themselves. Delaying the process will, in turn, make your ulcers worse. Seek medical advice urgently and consult a leg ulcer specialist if diagnosed with venous leg ulcers. Whenever you feel itching, hardening, swelling, or pain in your leg, especially after receiving some injury, see a GP at once. Q. 7. How to treat venous leg ulcers? The treatment for venous leg ulcers should only be done by a trained healthcare professional who has expertise in leg ulcer compression therapy. The professional will follow several steps in the treatment process. 1. The first step would be to clean the ulcer by removing dead tissue or debris. 2. Next, an appropriate dressing will be applied to the affected area to increase the ulcer’s healing chances. The dressing needs to be changed once every week. 3. Next comes compression therapy to improve blood circulation inside your leg veins. Final Words Although they may take some time to heal, venous ulcers can be treated if you consult a GP or leg ulcer specialist on time. In some instances, patients can manage their own ulcers’ cleaning and dressing procedures under regular supervision or a nurse or other professionals. Originally Posted: https://telegra.ph/FAQs-on-Venous-Leg-Ulcer-Learn-from-the-Expert-02-15