The team at Gilvydis Vein Clinic knows that venous leg ulcers are painful, raw, shallow wounds that can develop over time from the long-term buildup of fluid in the tissues. For most people, leg ulcers require wound clinic treatments and compression socks, along with prescription medications and other at-home remedies to ease the pain. The most common underlying problem causing chronic leg ulcers is a disease of the leg veins. In fact, venous leg ulcers are the most common type of leg ulcers, accounting for over 90% of all cases.
Leg sores often begin with a discolored spot on the skin near the ankle. Sometimes a minor injury breaks the skin. With most people who get sores on legs, the bruising or broken skin heals up within a week or two. However, when there’s an underlying vein problem, the wound doesn’t heal and may increase in size, or reappears after a short period of time. That’s when chronic leg ulcers develop.
The veins in your leg are tubes that carry the blood back from your foot to your heart. They have one-way valves that make sure the blood flows up the leg and not back down. If the valves are damaged, blood can flow backward and pool resulting in very high pressure in the vein. The constant high pressure against the valves makes them weak and unable to effectively transport blood back to the heart. That’s what leads to leg ulcers.
The term we use to describe this condition is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). The most common cause is high blood pressure in the leg veins (varicose veins), but other factors could put you at increased risk, including:
CVI can be life-threatening if not treated and can lead to more serious conditions such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This is why it’s important to schedule a screening at your local vein clinic if you see any signs of a problematic leg ulcer, as these could show signs of CVI. Most patients have no symptoms of CVI, so if you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a vein specialist right away:
You can decrease your risk of CVI by eating healthy (avoiding foods high in sugar and carbohydrates), maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising, avoiding sitting and standing for long periods of time, and avoiding smoking.
After a leg ulcer has developed, treatment to heal the sore can take several weeks. But once your leg ulcer is healed, it doesn’t mean your problems are over. The only effective way to prevent future leg ulcers is to treat the cause. If that underlying cause is varicose veins, there is hope. There are many non-invasive treatments available today for varicose veins – and they’re covered by most insurance companies. View the before and after gallery. You can find leg ulcer images in the “Severe Case Gallery.”
Long gone are the surgically intense vein-stripping procedures. Today, varicose veins are effectively treated using Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) or sclerotherapy. EVLA is an advanced technique that uses a laser to dissolve problem veins, and Dr. Gilvydis is among the most experienced EVLA physician in the Midwest. Sclerotherapy uses a series of small injections to close bad veins, including smaller varicose veins and spider veins. Both are non-invasive, allowing most patients to return to normal activities the same or the next day.
Are you ready to put an end to wound care clinic visits, compression socks, and pain medication? If you have leg ulcers due to varicose veins or CVI, we can help. Contact Gilvydis Vein Clinic to schedule a consultation.
We’re proud to be one of three vein centers in Illinois with an IAC accreditation. Get back on your feet with a team of vein specialists who help you understand your vein treatment options.
We’re proud to be one of three vein centers in Illinois with an IAC accreditation. Get back on your feet with a team of vein specialists who help you understand your vein treatment options.