Your Trusted Leg & Foot Ulcer Treatment and Wound Care Experts in Rapid City
What are Leg & Foot Ulcers?
Up to 40% of adults over age 50 have some form of chronic venous disease, also called chronic venous insufficiency. This occurs when the walls or valves of leg veins stop working properly, causing blood to pool in the legs. As venous disease progresses, blood pooling can lead to ulcers or open sores on the legs and feet.
Symptoms of Leg & Foot Ulcers
The most common symptoms of chronic venous disease leading to leg/foot ulcers include:
- Heaviness or aching legs
- Swelling or tightness of the legs and ankles, especially after standing
- Leg cramping
- Skin color changes, usually dark red or purple discoloration
- Skin flaking, itching, or leathery-looking skin
- New spider veins or varicose veins
- Cellulitis (infection)
- Leg or foot ulcers, or open wounds with drainage
Causes of Leg & Foot Ulcers
Valves in the leg veins prevent blood from flowing backwards while traveling up to the heart. When the blood pools in the legs due to higher pressure, the veins expand leading to dysfunctional valves. Over time, this can lead to worsening symptoms such as pain, heaviness, or open wounds. The most common causes of chronic venous disease leading to leg/foot ulcers are:
History of Blood clots in the legs
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
Varicose veins
Obesity
Smoking
Family history
Aging and decreased mobility
Prior leg injury or surgery
Diagnosis of Leg & Foot Ulcers
To diagnose the cause of chronic venous disease, or leg/foot ulcers, a cardiologist or vascular specialist will ask you questions about your medical history and perform a physical examination. Duplex ultrasound, a non-invasive imaging test, is used to evaluate the leg veins to confirm the diagnosis
Treatment of Leg & Foot Ulcers
Black Hills Heart and Vascular offers minimally invasive and extremely effective treatment for chronic venous disease.
A small catheter uses high-frequency radio waves to close the diseased veins improving blood flow. Complementary sclerotherapy may also be used.
Usually a medicine or chemical solution (Varithena® or Venaseal®) is injected into the diseased veins causing them to collapse and disappear.
Experienced Care for Leg & Foot Ulcers Symptoms in the Black Hills
If you or a family member are concerned about chronic venous disease, or leg/foot ulcers, please call Black Hills Heart and Vascular at (605) 503-8192 to schedule an appointment. Treatment for this condition becomes more challenging as the condition progresses, so it is best to seek treatment before ulcers or sores develop.
