3 Questions to Ask when Diagnosed with a Venous Leg Ulcer Vein illnesses and diseases can be more than just the physical displeasing look of them, such as spider veins. Typically, people can expect to experience vein illness and disease if they are obese, spend prolonged amount of time standing each day, women who are pregnant, and if they are genetically predisposed to poor vein circulation. Over time, vein illnesses progress negatively, causing pain, discomfort, skin discoloration, and even ulcers. While the majority of vein illness symptoms are temporary and are easily treated, venous leg ulcers are more severe and, when left untreated, can lead to detrimental health effects. What separates venous leg ulcers apart from other diseases is the heightened risk of infection you have through an open soar. Left untreated, your leg ulcer may not heal properly and create numerous health concerns. If you have recently been diagnosed with a venous leg ulcer, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to guarantee a full and safe recovery. First, ask your doctor how your ulcer was formed. While venous leg ulcers typically form inside the leg, near or around the ankles, they can also be the result of a previous injury. This is important to ask as it might affect the type of treatment you require. Ulcers that form inside the leg are the result of poor circulation in surrounding veins, most commonly due to vein illness or disease, and have caused inflammation in the area. The ulcer expands to the surface of the skin, breaking through, as an open wound that can allow bacteria to get into your blood system. However, leg ulcers can also form from prior injuries that did not heal properly due to poor blood circulation in your veins. Knowing exactly how your leg ulcer developed is the first step to a healthy recovery. Once you understand how your ulcer formed, ask your doctor about venous leg ulcer treatment options available for you. The most common and effective approach is to simply clean and well dress the ulcer daily over the course of four to six weeks. Since the ulcer is an open flesh wound, there are a few surgical treatment options available. However, if your ulcer was the result of vein disease, you may wish to seek varicose vein treatment. This is necessary if you suffer from varicose, spider, veins in the same area as the ulcer and are showing signs of other symptoms. Depending on the severity of your varicose veins, treatment can vary. Methods, such as Sclerotherapy, Laser Surgery, and Endoscopic Vein Surgery represent only a handful of varicose treatment
methods to consider. Last, and most importantly, ask your doctor what lifestyle changes you can make to ensure a speedy recovery and also decreasing the risk of having leg ulcers in the future. You may be predisposed genetically to varicose veins and leg ulcers, but there are still options to keep risk low. Changes in your diet, along with exercise and medication can deter leg ulcers from arising again.