If you have been battling with varicose veins or have noticed pain from a shallow sore, a venous ulcer may be forming. Venous ulcers start small, but without treatment, they can develop into sores that lead to serious complications.
Venous ulcers require treatment, and even then, can take weeks or months to heal. At Florida Lakes Vein Center, we provide venous ulcer treatment near Lakewood Ranch with wound care and VenaSeal, a nonsurgical treatment.
Read on to gain insight into venous ulcers, their causes, and your treatment options.
An Overview of Venous Ulcers
Venous ulcers are a late symptom of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a type of vein disease characterized by damaged veins. Leg veins work against gravity, pushing blood back up to the heart. Sometimes, veins may malfunction or weaken, causing blood to stop flowing or travel backward and pool in the vein.
When blood pools, it increases pressure in the lower leg, damaging the veins and leading to spider or varicose veins. Over time, these veins can swell and eventually rupture, leaking fluid into the nearby tissue, which slowly breaks down, forming an ulcer on your skin.
When left untreated, damaged veins can lead to a venous ulcer, and blood flow issues can create shallow sores. Venous ulcers can also develop from veins damaged by surgery, inflammation, or injury. They start as small sores inside the leg around the damaged vein. Without proper medical attention, these ulcers become chronic wounds that cannot heal on their own.
How We Treat Venous Ulcers
At Florida Lakes Vein Center, we care for wounds and offer VenaSeal, an injection of medical-grade adhesive, as a venous ulcer treatment near Lakewood Ranch.
Venous Ulcer Wound Care
Once an ulcer has formed, it needs to be cleaned and treated. Without proper care, you risk infection and further complications to the skin and bone.
When you come to our clinic with a wound or ulcer, we carefully clean and treat the wound to optimize healing. We gently disinfect and wrap the wound while showing you how to do the same at home.
Healing a venous ulcer can take a long time, and you need to continue the wound care at home, on your own time, to make progress. We provide you with all necessary instructions on how to properly dress and clean the wound and keep it protected from irritants.
In addition to cleaning and caring for the venous ulcer sore, we treat it with VenaSeal. We can also use this formula as a preventative measure to treat vein disease before it forms an ulcer.
VenaSeal for Treating Venous Ulcers
For effective venous ulcer treatment near Lakewood Ranch, we cut the problem off at its source. Once we seal the vein responsible for the ulcer, the healing process can begin. With VenaSeal, our providers can effectively treat venous deficiency and venous ulcers.
VenaSeal is a minimally invasive procedure with little downtime. Your provider fills a syringe with the specialized solution, cyanoacrylate, a medical adhesive used to seal off varicose veins. Then, they insert it into a dispensing gun attached to a catheter, a hollow tube that helps deliver the adhesive. The procedure doesn’t require numbing, but we offer a topical numbing cream for those with concerns about discomfort.
Using ultrasound imaging as a guide, your provider locates the problematic vein(s) and inserts the catheter to administer the VenaSeal solution with a series of injections. The specialized adhesive seals off areas of the vein, rerouting blood to healthier veins, so your venous ulcer can begin to heal. Your body naturally forms scar tissue around the area where the adhesive was placed, keeping the vein closed permanently.
Our founder, T.C. Lackey II, D.O., is a certified VenaSeal trainer in Central Florida. As he runs the only VenaSeal teaching facility in the area, he also strives to provide effective and compassionate care.
Key Benefits of VenaSeal
For those seeking venous ulcer treatment near Lakewood Ranch, VenaSeal provides many benefits compared to surgical vein procedures or other treatments. Let’s explore how VenaSeal can reduce your symptoms and get you back to doing the things you love.
No Thermal Energy
Treatments that use thermal energy to seal the veins are usually more invasive than non-thermal vein treatments like VenaSeal. They cause more pain, bruising, and discomfort. Additionally, thermal treatments require longer downtimes and recovery times.
Less Discomfort
The entire VenaSeal process requires less poking, moving, and pinching than other procedures. You should expect to receive a few injections along the vein that creates the ulcer. We don’t require numbing for VenaSeal, as it is a relatively comfortable procedure. We offer numbing cream if you have concerns about discomfort.
Quick and Easy
Your appointment should last only 20 to 30 minutes. VenaSeal is a one-and-done treatment; it doesn’t require follow-up appointments to treat the vein. However, you may need additional VenaSeal treatments in the future if other problematic veins or venous ulcers form.
No Downtime and Minimal Compression
After your VenaSeal treatment, you can return to normal activities. Many patients resume daily activities immediately and report only minor bruising and discomfort post-treatment.
We advise against using hot tubs, saunas, baths, and swimming pools for 2 to 3 days after your injections. Additionally, we recommend walking for 20 minutes several times a day to promote blood flow.
Your social life shouldn’t suffer because of vein disease. With our advanced treatments, you can get back to what matters most, quickly.
Commonly Asked Questions: Venous Ulcers and VenaSeal
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about venous ulcer treatment near Lakewood Ranch.
How do I prepare for my VenaSeal procedure?
While the VenaSeal treatment does not require much preparation, we do ask you to do a few things before your procedure. These include:
- Wearing loose-fitting clothing to your appointment. This allows us to access the treatment area while also ensuring blood flow is not restricted by tightly fitting clothing.
- Refraining from using lotions, serums, or creams on the treatment area the day of your procedure.
How can I prevent venous ulcers?
To prevent venous ulcers, you must prevent vein disease. Through healthy habits and an understanding of any predispositions, you can help prevent worsening vein disease that leads to venous ulcers. To prevent venous insufficiency:
- Move frequently: Exercise and physical activity encourage blood flow. When your calf muscles flex as you take a step, they squeeze your veins, helping to push blood back up to your heart. This is known as your “second heart.” Walking is vital for proper circulation, as flexing your calf muscles keeps blood moving.
- Avoid prolonged periods of sitting or standing: Take time to move regularly throughout the day, especially if you have a job that requires you to sit or stand for long periods of time. Remember to move around and stretch your legs throughout the day.
- Elevate your legs: When resting, elevate your legs above your heart by propping them up on pillows or blankets. When elevated, blood from your legs flows up to your heart more easily.
- Quit smoking: Smoking and tobacco use damage veins and blood vessels and can worsen existing vein problems.
Manage current conditions: Consistent treatment for existing chronic conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes can prevent vein damage. - Maintain a healthy weight: Staying at a healthy weight for you can minimize excess pressure on veins, leading to vein disease.
Do I need to wear compression socks after my VenaSeal appointment?
Yes, after VenaSeal venous ulcer treatment near Lakewood Ranch, we will wrap your leg in a pressure dressing. In order to make the most of the treatment, we ask that you keep the pressure dressing on for 24 to 48 hours, the only compression time you will need.
Find Treatment at Florida Lakes Vein Center
Venous ulcers can be a huge source of discomfort. Finding the right treatment allows you to start healing the venous ulcer and reduce the risk of infection. Our specialists are committed to finding the right treatment for you, your situation, and your symptoms.
After your screening, we can guide you towards venous ulcer treatment near Lakewood Ranch, so you can experience relief and begin healing.
We also have a vein screening tool, which allows you to receive expert recommendations and understand your candidacy for treatments.
You deserve the best care for managing the effects of your vein disease. Take on the day confidently, knowing your venous conditions can hardly slow you down. Let us guide you to healthier veins through our comprehensive approach to vein care.
About Florida Lakes Vein Center
Built on the promise of providing advanced vein treatments in Florida, the Florida Lakes Vein Center serves patients in the area with expert care. Dr. Lackey II, the founder, and the team of talented, certified professionals treat patients of all walks of life who suffer from venous concerns.
Let our team help you start living your life more fully through personalized vein care. Contact us to start your journey towards healthier veins. “It’s a No Veiner®.”