Symptoms
- Feeling of heaviness in the legs
- Taut, thickened and darkened skin of lower limbs
- Hair loss on shins and feet
- Frequent leg cramps
- Foot and ankle swelling (decreases with rest and elevation)
- Varicose and spider veins (twisted, bulging, dark purple or blue veins)
- Dryness and itching
- Pain
- Skin sores that ooze, crust or look scaly
Why is compression so important?
Compression therapy is a mainstay for venous insufficiency. It reduces tissue swelling by pushing excess fluids back into the blood vessels. Compression also prevents veins from expanding too much, normalising blood flow and prevent it from flowing backwards. This increased blood flow can help to speed up wound healing, reduce leg discomfort, and prevent infection.
Compression will reduce oedema surrounding the wound/ulcer; the surrounding tissue around the wound/ulcer will then be able to receive the oxygen needed to facilitate healing. Using compression therapy combined with appropriate wound care, in many cases venous leg ulcers can heal faster than standard wound care alone.
Specialist knowledge, a hands-on skillset, and optimal handling of complex wounds mean that lower extremity venous conditions can have a good outlook. Our team of podiatrists will ensure a proper application of both therapy and wound dressing to help heal leg ulcers, preventing infection and leg amputation.
