You may be distressed due to constant gnawing pain in your leg, which can have several causes to it. Diving deep into the cause is important to determine an appropriate treatment plan. Persistent pain in your lower leg is most often attributed to the presence of ulcers.
Knowing the root cause and designing a personalized treatment plan for leg ulcers Houston team of vein specialists offer a comprehensive physical examination to determine the further course of action.
Understanding leg ulcers
Leg ulcers are the most common ulcers, that are open wounds on your legs with a compromised healing ability. These are typically seen developing between your ankle and knee.
Leg ulcers often seep (ooze out) clear fluid or pus (contains debris, and microorganisms) and can grow larger if left untreated.
Knowing the root cause associated with leg ulcers
Causes of leg ulcers include:
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Chronic venous insufficiency/ venous reflux disease
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- Occurs due to faulty vein valves in your legs that do not allow the blood to flow back to the heart.
- This leads to pooling of the blood that swells the vein walls and they appear bulged.
- Pressure within the veins increases causing tiny vessels to burst and develop into ulcers when the skin breaks.
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Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
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- Fatty deposits (plaque) can build up within your arteries (atherosclerosis) causing them to narrow (constrict).
- The arteries cannot deliver adequate blood to the extremities leading to poor circulation.
- This can cause delayed or poor healing of the ulcers in your legs.
Analyzing the most effective treatment for leg ulcers
Your vein specialist can determine the best treatment plan for you based on the extent of vein damage and the blood flow, through Doppler ultrasound scans.
The aim of the treatment is to eliminate the diseased vein, heal the ulcer and prevent recurrence.
ClosureFast
- This is a type of radiofrequency (RF) ablation that uses high RF energy targeted to the affected vein.
- The RF energy is delivered through a catheter directly into the vein wall which heats the vein and shrinks it.
VenaSeal
- A special medical adhesive is delivered into the vein with the help of a catheter.
- The adhesive immediately causes the vein walls to stick together, sealing the vein.
Pheblectomy
- This is an advanced, minimally invasive procedure that involves the removal of the damaged vein.
- Tiny incisions (2 to 3 mm) are made on the skin above the damaged veins to extract them.
Bottom line
Leg ulcers can be painful, and are the most common complication of venous reflux disease and PAD. Consult a vein specialist for early detection, since this paves the way for a successful treatment.
