Venous Ulcers 101- part 3

Washing solution: The medical field is inundated with thousands of anti septic solutions. You do not need any of these. The more solutions you use, the greater is the probability that these chemicals will destroy your normal tissues and prevent healing. The best solution to clean an ulcer is warm water and a clean dressing. Why the consumer is so preoccupied with medical antiseptics and disinfectants is hard to understand. The majority of these solutions are best reserved for hospital use.

Occlusive dressings: Over the years, there have been many types of dressing developed to treat a venous ulcer. Both occlusion and on occlusive dressings are widely sold on the market. May of these dressing have exotic antibiotics and chemicals impregnated. Other dressings have growth factors. These dressing are expensive, and there is little evidence that they are better than a simple gauze and a compression bandage.

In some people, the ulcer does get small but fails to heal completely. The wound appear red and painful. Once the ulcer is small and is clean, then a skin graft can be done. However, before you go for this surgical procedure, it is vital that the pressure in the veins has been eliminated. Plastic surgeons often apply skin grafts on venous ulcers. However, it is vital that the varicose vein gets treated before the skin graft is applied. Skin grafts have a 100% failure rate when the venous pressure is not treated. This procedure is expensive, painful and requires anesthesia. - there are no refunds when it fails.

Growth factors are the IN- thing today. Almost all wound clinics apply these growth factors on wounds. Growth factors do work in a few cases but in most cases, they are just an expensive gimmick. You need to control your venous pressures before you can have any of these exotic treatments. Venous ulcers heal without any of these treatments if the venous pressure is eliminated. Growth factors are best limited to radiation induced ulcers or chronic bed sore ulcers.

Compression garments are the best treatment for a venous ulcer. Once pain has subsided and the ulcer is clean and dry, start to wear a compression stocking. This will help reduce pressure in the lower leg and slowly heal the ulcer. Compression stockings come in many sizes and you may need a large size because of the dressing. Wear the stocking every single day during daytime. Do not worry if the stockings get soaked with fluid from the wound. You can always wash your stockings. If you do this for a few months, your ulcer will start to heal and pain will decrease. Treatment with compression garments takes time, patience, and motivation.

Initially, you may find stockings hard to get used to and uncomfortable. Stocking may also need to be changed everyday. Nevertheless, if you do this, you will definitely get your ulcer to heal. There is no treatment out there that is better than a compression stocking for venous ulcers.

Final point

Please consumers do not go for all the fancy treatments available at wound clinics if you have a venous ulcer. You must control venous pressure first before your ulcer will heal. The best and most effective way to control your venous pressure is to wear compression stockings. Varicose veins can also be treated surgically if they are large and incompetence has been demonstrated by ultrasound. Once the venous pressure is controlled, your ulcer should heal within 6-12 months. Do not expect miracles, but if you remain, persistent and motivated, you will get the desired result.