Home remedies and medical treatment options
Chronic leg ulcers are open wounds or sores that do not heal even after a long period of time. They are often associated with poor blood circulation which then deprives the tissues in certain areas of oxygen and nutrients, thus leading to the deterioration of these tissues to form leg ulcers. This can be caused by a variety of conditions such as varicose veins, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. This list is not exhaustive but if you fall under these categories you may be at risk of leg ulcers.
A clear warning sign would be when you notice that your wound has not been able to heal and has even become infected. Do also look out for symptoms like heaviness in the leg, pus in the wound, swelling around the wound and pain, as this indicates that you may need to seek leg ulcer treatment in Singapore.
HOME REMEDIES FOR CHRONIC LEG ULCERS
These are some home remedies you can try to help VENOUS leg ulcers to improve. It is recommended that you first seek your doctor’s advice before attempting such remedies, as these methods may actually make your ulcer worse if it is due to ARTERIAL issues and not VENOUS ones. If when attempting these home remedies you find increasing pain/discomfort or notice your ulcer worsening, stop immediately and seek your doctor’s advice.
● Elevate your leg: Place your leg in a position such that your feet are above your heart, by propping it up on pillows or cushions. You can do this up to 4 times a day for 30 minutes each time. This will make it easier for blood to return to your heart, therefore improving blood circulation and speeding up the healing process of the wound. [1]
● Wear compression garments: Compression garments help to place some pressure on the blood vessels in your leg, to prevent blood from accumulating or pooling in your veins. The pressure also helps the blood to flow continuously throughout the body, in a way that is able to support the healing of the wound.
● Wash your wound with a saline solution: Saline solution is essentially saltwater, that has disinfecting and sterile properties. Washing the wound with it helps to destroy the bacteria in the wound, minimizing infection and providing a clean environment for the leg ulcer to heal naturally.
● Apply aloe vera: Aloe vera gel may be able to give pain relief and lessen the swelling slightly. Studies have found that aloe vera is both a safe and effective home remedy method to take care of your wound. It seems to also promote faster wound healing.
● Simple exercise: Just flexing the ankle back and forth is able to improve blood circulation throughout the leg. Do this throughout the day whenever possible. [4] Walking also has the same effect and is a non-strenuous way to increase your heart rate slightly and get blood pumping throughout your body.
MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC LEG ULCERS
Medical treatment for leg ulcers focus on two main areas: improving blood circulation by treating varicose veins, as well as cleaning up the wound. You can receive leg ulcer treatment in Singapore clinics with vascular surgeons.
Improving blood circulation: Percutaneous foam sclerotherapy, Endovenous Laser Ablation and Radiofrequency Ablation are different methods available to seal off unhealthy blood vessels. The body then naturally diverts the blood to other healthy blood vessels so that proper blood circulation is restored. This ensures that all parts of the body and all tissues receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients, simultaneously assisting the healing process of any current wounds and lowering the risk of any future chronic leg ulcers forming.
Cleaning up the wound: Debridement surgery is where the surgeon removes dead tissue from your wound and thoroughly disinfects it from bacteria so that the wound can be redressed in a completely clean environment. This prevents further infection and also promotes healthy tissue growth.
Find out more about the treatment methods available for chronic leg ulcers in this article, [Chronic Leg Ulcer Treatment, Singapore] where we explain in more detail the specifics of each type of treatment.
For leg ulcer treatment in Singapore, do consider the Vascular and Interventional Centre, located in the Novena Specialist Centre, 8 Sinaran Dr, #06-08 Specialist Centre, Singapore 307470. We have in-house vascular surgeons to provide you with the treatment you are looking for. Feel free to book an appointment with us to consult with the specialists today! Contact details have been included below:
6694 6270 (Call)
9898 3595 (WhatsApp)
[email protected] (Email)
