How to Tell if a Leg Ulcer is Venous or Arterial
A venous leg ulcer can be painful and life-altering, but we consider them “extremely treatable.” The reason many ulcers fail to heal is that the “root flow problem” was missed or ignored.
Why do venous ulcers hurt so much and are they serious?
Venous ulcers are often preceded by skin changes like dark discoloration and thickening. They are notoriously painful because they destroy numerous sensory nerve endings in the skin. To treat them properly, we must first determine if the ulcer is venous (caused by blood pooling) or arterial (caused by a lack of oxygenated blood flow). The gold standard for distinguishing between the two is a vascular ultrasound study.
What is the gold standard or “new” treatment for ulcers?
Our protocol focuses on correcting the underlying vein problem first. Once the “pressure” is off the skin, we initiate local wound care with proper bandaging and medication. While an untreated ulcer can lead to infection or, in very rare cases, even turn out to be a cancerous lesion, most venous ulcers show significant improvement or complete resolution within six weeks to two months when the root cause is addressed.
“If a leg ulcer fails to heal, the most likely cause is the root flow problem was missed or not properly treated.”
Specialized Care for Chronic Wounds
At Vein Health Centers, we specialize in healing what others may call “unhealable.” We believe in a comprehensive approach that treats the wound by first fixing the flow. By combining advanced vascular ultrasound with expert wound care protocols, we help our patients regain their quality of life. If you have a leg wound that has struggled to heal or want to understand the root cause of your skin changes, we invite you to request an appointment for a specialized evaluation.
