A wound that appears in the leg which may be due to venous or arterial disease is a leg ulcer. Most common leg ulcer is venous leg ulcer. Again, a wound that does not heal within a week or two can be termed as a chronic leg ulcer. Healing period of a chronic leg ulcer is generally longer. The ulcer usually appears near the ankle and below the calf area. Swollen veins, itchy red skin, discoloration in the skin, pain, any kind of discharge are some of the symptoms of a leg ulcer. For varicose vein leg ulcer and other varicose vein treatment in Pune one can visit Karishma vein clinic. We have explained here some risk factors and treatment options available for venous leg ulcer.

Risk factors for a leg ulcer

The main risk factor for varicose vein and the associated ulcer is high pressure on the veins and incompetency in taking blood to heart from the legs which results in poor blood circulation. Other common risk factors

• Age
• Obesity
• Leg injury
• Venous thrombosis
• Smoking and alcohol consumption

Treatment options

The aim of treatment is to reduce the swelling, treat the ulcer and to avoid recurrence.

• Compression therapy
• Leg elevation

It is advisable to visit varicose vein specialist for treatment. The doctor will examine the wound and decides treatment methodologies according to the severity of the ulcer. Some medical tests along with physical examination may be recommended to find out the reason. The initial treatment may start with cleaning the wound to remove dead tissues. A dressing will be done after cleaning and the same will be changed once a week or according to the doctor’s advice.

Compression bandages

Compression bandages are considered as common form of treatment for varicose leg ulcer. Based on the severity of the problem, the doctor decides upon the suitable compression bandages. The layer of compression bandage may vary from 2 to 4. The method of application of compression bandage should be proper to avoid any future complications. The compression bandage may be reapplied after a week. Any discomfort should be immediately reported. Medicines may be prescribed by the doctor in addition with compression bandage.

Leg elevation

It is always better to keep the leg elevated, if possible above heart level, to aid easy blood circulation and reduce swelling. This therapy can be followed 3 to 4 times a day for 30 minutes. Even while sleeping, with the help of pillows one can elevate the leg to favor gravity for the proper flow of blood.

Other treatments

If required the doctor may go for skin grafting and other surgical treatments. Being active, avoiding prolonged sitting and standing postures, quitting alcohol and smoking, intake of nutritious food are some other therapies which will help leg ulcer to heal quickly. For any kind of varicose vein treatment in Pune it is always better to visit a specialist. At Karishma vein clinic our experienced doctors are specialized to treat all kind of varicose vein problem.