Struggling with a painful, lingering wound on your lower leg can be frustrating and exhausting. The discolored area refuses to heal, no matter how well you care for it. Everyday tasks become harder, and you wonder if you’ll ever get relief. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
At Clover Podiatry, our Vancouver wound care specialists, led by Dr. Tek Fish and Dr. Jeffery Linscheid, understand how venous leg ulcers affect your physical and emotional well-being. These persistent wounds require more than just basic care; they need a specialized treatment approach that targets the wound and the underlying issues. Here’s what you should know.
What Are Venous Leg Ulcers?
Venous leg ulcers are open sores that often appear on the lower leg or ankle and are caused by poor circulation. Fluid builds up in the tissues of your legs if your veins can’t effectively return blood to the heart, creating an environment where healing becomes difficult.
Poor blood flow prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching a wound such as an ulcer. Unfortunately, that means bacteria may thrive and increase the risk of infection. Inflammation and fluid retention can both become a constant problem without treatment.
Even the best wound care efforts can fall short without addressing these circulation issues. That’s why seeking professional podiatric care is crucial for effective treatment and future ulcer prevention.
Five Key Treatment Strategies
At Clover Podiatry, we use a comprehensive approach to treating venous leg ulcers. Here are five essential strategies we recommend for healing and preventing recurrence.
1. Thorough Vascular Assessment
The characteristics of your ulcer, such as depth, drainage, or size, provide important clues about the healing process and infection status. Before treatment can begin, we need to understand what’s happening with your circulation. A thorough assessment includes:
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Ankle-brachial index testing to measure circulation problems
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Doppler ultrasound to check blood flow and identify blockages
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Evaluating medical history to identify contributing factors like past injuries or family history
These steps ensure we have a complete picture of your condition and can create a tailored treatment plan.
2. Specialized Wound Care
Once we understand the root cause of your wound, your Vancouver podiatrist will implement wound care techniques specific to venous ulcers, such as:
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Debridement. Removing dead tissue to promote healing
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Dressings. Utilizing advanced dressings suited to your wound type.
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Growth factor therapy. Using therapies like platelet-rich plasma to stimulate healing.
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Infection management. Treating any infections that arise.
Each patient is unique, and not all wounds heal the same. That’s why regular wound monitoring helps us adjust your treatment as needed.
3. Compression Therapy
Compression is often considered the “gold standard” and is one of the most effective treatments for venous ulcers. By improving blood flow, compression helps reduce swelling and supports healing. We may recommend:
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Compression bandages that provide the correct amount of pressure
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Custom compression stockings tailored to your feet to maintain circulation improvements
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Pneumatic compression devices that use gentle pressure to stimulate blood flow.
We’ll also teach you how to properly apply and care for your compression garments to ensure they work effectively.
4. Lifestyle and Self-Care
Your daily habits play a significant role in the healing process. Even small lifestyle changes can make a big difference in your recovery. If you suffer from venous ulcers, we can provide guidance on at-home options like:
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Exercise. Engaging in activities that promote circulation, such as walking or specific ankle exercises.
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Leg elevation. Keeping your legs above your heart to reduce swelling.
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Skincare. Protecting the area around the ulcer with proper cleansers and moisturizers.
5. Advanced Treatments for Stubborn Ulcers
In rare cases when an ulcer doesn’t respond to standard care, we offer more advanced options, such as:
- Bioengineered tissue substitutes that provide growth factors and stimulate healing
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy to boost oxygen levels in your tissues and accelerate healing
- Negative pressure wound therapy to remove excess fluid and promote tissue growth
- UltraMIST therapy to deliver low-frequency ultrasound and saline mist that promotes healing
- Sclerotherapy or endovenous procedures to treat underlying vein issues
- Skin grafting to help cover large or slow-healing ulcers
Don’t Let Venous Ulcers Control Your Life
At Clover Podiatry, we take a whole-person approach to treating venous leg ulcers, addressing the wound and base circulation problems. Our goal is to help you heal, get back to your regular activities, and prevent future ulcers from forming.