Some people don't seek medical care when a leg ulcer appears, thinking they have a common sore that will soon clear up. But ignoring an ulcer can put your health at risk.
A lower leg (or foot) ulcer won’t heal on its own. It only worsens, potentially leading to a dangerous infection. And if you have diabetes, your risk of serious complications is significantly higher.
Early treatment is crucial to protect your health. Kishore K. Arcot, MD, FACC, at Memphis Vein Center offers advanced care for ulcers, treating the underlying vascular problems and providing wound care.
Here, he gives you four reasons to seek prompt medical attention and explains the signs of leg ulcers.
Leg ulcers don’t heal on their own. Once the wound appears, it progressively enlarges. Ulcers can’t improve without specialized wound care because they have a poor blood supply. Without enough blood, the ulcer doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients needed to heal.
Leg ulcers are the result of two conditions that limit blood flow in your lower leg: peripheral artery disease (PAD) and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
PAD develops when cholesterol builds up in a leg artery (atherosclerosis). As the fatty plaque enlarges, it limits blood flow, restricting the supply of oxygen. As a result, tissues start to die, resulting in an arterial leg ulcer.
CVI develops when weak valves inside leg veins allow blood to flow down the leg (instead of up toward your heart). As the blood accumulates, it causes bulging varicose veins and increases blood pressure in the lower leg.
Excessive pressure forces fluids out of the veins. The fluids cause skin rashes and thick, discolored skin. They also break down the skin, causing a venous leg ulcer.
One of the most crucial reasons for never ignoring a nonhealing ulcer is to prevent an infection. The diminished blood supply prevents immune cells that fight infections from reaching the ulcer.
As the ulcer enlarges, your risk of skin and bone infections steadily increases. The longer you ignore the problem, the higher your risk of an infection.
Diabetes causes changes in arteries that accelerate atherosclerosis. People with diabetes have a 2-4 times higher risk of developing PAD, and they’re more likely to experience severe complications if they have CVI.
Diabetes magnifies the circulation problems that PAD and CVI cause because high blood sugar damages blood vessels. The damaged vessels, together with artery or vein disease, can make an ulcer progress more rapidly.
High blood sugar also damages nerves, typically beginning with the nerves in your feet and lower legs. If you have nerve damage, you’re more likely to ignore an ulcer on your foot or leg because you can’t feel the pain or discomfort.
Diabetes and PAD are among the top causes of foot and lower leg amputations. Why? Because limited circulation and ulcer infections cause tissue death (gangrene).
The American Diabetes Association reports that 80% of non-traumatic lower leg amputations are due to diabetes complications. And more than half of all amputations are the result of diseases that affect blood flow, primarily diabetes and vascular disease.
Leg ulcers have slightly different appearances depending on whether you have an arterial or venous ulcer.
Before an ulcer appears, you may have PAD symptoms like leg pain that appears when you’re active but improves at rest.
Arterial ulcers are:
Varicose veins are the earliest sign of CVI. Before an ulcer appears, you’ll likely have a skin rash, reddish-brown skin pigmentation, and thick, hard skin.
Venous ulcers are:
The wound is painless, but inflammation around the wound may cause pain.
We can help you overcome leg ulcers with treatments that heal the wound and restore healthy circulation.
Call us at the Memphis Vein Center in Memphis, Tennessee, at the first sign of vascular disease or a foot or leg ulcer. You can also request an appointment online.
