-
Symptoms
Causes and Diagnosis
The symptoms of leg ulcers could change depending upon their exact cause. Ulcers are usually painful. But at times, ulcers present with no pain. This is because of nerve damage from unmanaged diabetes. A lack of pain is why many people misdiagnose themselves and fail to look for medical treatment.
It is crucial to make an appointment with your primary care physician if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Open sores
Pus in the affected area
Pain in the affected area
Increasing wound size
Leg swelling
Enlarged veins
Generalized pain or heaviness in the legs
Causes
The chances of developing leg ulcers increase with age, and they are usually hereditary. In other words, if your parents had leg ulcers, you are more likely to develop them.
Some other causes of leg ulcers include:
Poor blood circulation
Diabetes
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Heart disease
High cholesterol
Kidney disease
Increased pressure in the legs
Smoking
Infections
Diagnosis
Your primary care physician will perform a physical exam combined with testing to diagnose your leg ulcers and decide their exact cause.
Services
Ulcers/ sores in the foot
Any ulcer that is taking more than 3 weeks to heal may have vascular problem. It may be that the foot or leg is not getting enough blood flow. At American vein clinics, we can ascertain through non-invasive methods if the blood flow is an issue. There are medical and surgical options for treating blockages in the arteries. At American vein clinics we are able to retore flow through minimally invasive methods and extremely low risk.
