Treatment and Recovery for Venous Ulceration

Treatment and Recovery for Venous Ulceration

At USA Vein Clinics, we strive to treat all venous afflictions effectively. You can turn to us for expert advice and quality care. With a large network of treatment centers all over the country, our trained doctors and surgeons are all certified vein specialists. As it happens, venous ulceration is a common cause for concern for a lot of our patients. It’s also a recurring problem for patients suffering from varicose veins. In fact, anywhere from sixty to eighty percent of leg ulcers tend to include a venous component.

A study examining 600 patients suffering from leg ulcers found nearly eighty percent of the legs examined were afflicted with venous disease. Furthermore, just over twenty percent of the examined legs were suffering from arterial disease.

There have also been links made between leg vein ulceration, rheumatoid arthritis, and even diabetes. If left untreated, leg vein ulcers can cause unsightly and painful wounds which require immediate treatment. Today we look at your options for venous leg ulcer wound treatment, as well as varicose vein removal recovery.

What Causes Venous Ulceration?

Venous ulcers are a product of damaged vein valves and faulty calf muscle pump action. This combination leads to venous stasis (poor blood flow, with potential for formation of dangerous blood clots). It can also cause additional problems, such as venous hypertension (otherwise known as high blood pressure). Leg ulcers are notorious for taking very long to heal, often requiring surgery to treat them.

Patients suffering varicose veins often graduate to venous ulceration if their condition becomes aggravated. Poor quality of life, including varying levels of pain (from moderate to severe), are certain to follow.

Rates of Healing Rates of healing are extremely varied, and the recurring rates of venous ulceration make it difficult to give an adequate estimate. Patients who undergo varicose vein stripping take from two to four weeks to recover fully. This depends, of course, on the severity of the condition to begin with, and the number of veins stripped.

Location in the leg also plays a factor in rates of healing, as the body is more reliant on deeper leg veins. Thus, it will take considerable time for the remaining veins to take over and for blood flow to be completely restored. It’s important at this time to elevate your legs when sitting. Following the fourth week, you should have completely healed and can go about your usual activities again.

Treating Venous Leg Ulcers without Surgery Venous leg ulcer wound treatment first involves cleaning and dressing the ulcer.

This will remove debris and dead tissue so you can apply the dressing. Doing so shields it from open air and allows it to heal naturally. Once dressed, your doctor will fit a compression bandage over your leg to encourage blood to flow upwards towards the heart. Compression bandages will also help treat any swelling in the feet or ankles. Swelling is a common symptom accompanying venous ulcers.

Regular exercise will also help you improve your condition.