Venous Leg Ulcers: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Venous led ulcers are fairly common complications that develop in people who suffer from varicose veins or Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Also called a stasis leg ulcer, a venous leg ulcer can be painful and difficult to treat. Read on to learn more about what causes venous leg ulcers, and what symptoms you need to be aware of, and what your treatment options are if you suffer from this condition.
Why Venous Leg Ulcers Develop
A venous leg ulcer is a sore on the skin, typically on the leg, and it develops because the blood doesn’t flow through the veins as it should. This is because with Chronic Venous Insufficiency, or CVI, the blood doesn’t flow back to the heart the way it’s supposed to. Instead, the blood remains in the veins of the legs, straining the veins and causing multiple issues, including venous leg ulcers.
Causes and Risk Factors of Venous Leg Ulcers
There are several factors that contribute to your risk of developing leg ulcers. For example, they’re more common in people who have a sedentary lifestyle or don’t engage in much physical activity. They’re also more prevalent in people who sit or stand for prolonged periods. Other risk factors include obesity and heredity.
Symptoms of Venous Leg Ulcers
Leg ulcers looks and behave differently than other kinds of sores, and are easy to spot. The skin is typically red of purple, and the skin around the ulcer may thicken, become dry, or itch. The legs may also swell and ache, and the wound could become infected. If this happens, this skin surrounding the ulcer may turn red and may also become tender. Plus, pus could leak out of the wound and there may be an odor.
Treatment Options for Venous Leg Ulcers
To treat your venous leg ulcers, you’ll need to start by taking steps to improve circulation in your legs. You can do this by raising your legs so that they’re above the heart, which will encourage the blood to flow in the direction it should. You can also walk daily, which boors circulation, as well as wear compression stockings. But there are not enough to treat the venous ulcer! You would definitely need to treat the underlying problem which is Chronic Venous Insufficiency.
At Alpha Vein, we can inform and educate our patients and those seeking our services, and serve as a resource for anyone with questions about the conditions we treat one of them being venous leg ulcers. Our website provides some great information on the services we provide, including information on insurance coverage.
Alpha Vein Clinic
3150 N. Tenaya Way Ste. 400
Las Vegas, NV, 89128
(702) 430 7661