Age and Ulcers...
A person aged 65 years can now often look forward to a life expectancy well into or beyond their 80's. Varicose veins might not cause any physical symptoms however over time they will become progressively larger.
This can result in tissue damage to the skin around the feet and ankles because of the lack of oxygen and the buildup of toxic waste metabolites. The concern about this is that the skin may breakdown and ulcerate.
Varicose ulceration is the end stage of varicose vein disease and it is a debilitating complication because of the discomfort and substantial inconvenience (if left untreated) required due to the long term involvement of nursing care in wound management.
Fortunately The Leg Vein Doctor at its Brisbane and Toowoomba clinics offers various treatment options that can prevent the eventual complication of varicose ulceration. Age is hardly ever a barrier for appropriate treatment if there is a risk of venous ulceration of the legs.
Patients already presenting with venous ulcers can still undertake treatment, if recommended. The venous ulcer is carefully monitored post treatment and healing should be complete in 6-12 weeks given the correct selection of dressings and compression therapy.
Compression therapy is considered the most important conservative modality in the treatment of venous ulcers, this has been well established by a number of randomised controlled trials* . This is not new news! Hippocrates (450-350 BC) treated leg ulcers with strong bandaging as described in his book Corpus Hippocraticum**.
Sadly many suffering with venous ulcers remain confused about the treatment options available to them. Often believing that an ulcer is just something they need to tolerate for the rest of their lives.
* Goldman M.P, Bergan J.J, Guex J-J. et al. (2001) Sclerotherapy Mosby Elsevier
** Myers K, Hannah P. (2018) Manual of Venous and Lymphatic Diseases CRC Press
