Options For Treating Lipodermatosclerosis

Vein Surgery

Vein surgery is an invasive procedure requiring sedation and recovery. Furthermore, if the patient has other underlying issues, like diabetes, it may take them longer to recover from any procedure. When an individual has a weakening of the valves in the veins, it can cause blood to pool in the ankles and lower limbs and create undue pressure on the veins. This forces blood and fluid to leak out of the veins because they are at full capacity and cannot force the fluid against gravity back up to the heart. This leakage causes the skin and surrounding tissue to become saturated and swell up the leg and result in skin changes. Vein surgery involves and outpatient procedures where the doctor’s goal is to close off the diseased and affected vein in the leg. Incredulously, when the bad vein is closed off, the blood will reroute itself through healthy veins. It typically takes a few weeks for the full effect to be evident. After the procedure is completed, the patient will still have to use different kinds of maintenance to increase the healthy functioning of the good veins in the leg.

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Leg Elevation

A good way to reduce swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet is through leg elevation. Elevating the legs helps take some pressure off the veins and makes it easier to force fluid and blood up the circulatory system because it is no longer flowing against gravity. It might be difficult to do this continuously, but patients should try to work it in as much as possible. For instance, if they have a desk job and are at work, they could use a stool under their desk to let them raise their legs. Being able to elevate the legs for any length of time will give the veins in the legs a reprieve, and the patient may enjoy less pain for a period. This break for the legs is important because it might reduce the chances of the skin of the leg breaking down. Because the skin is being pulled too taut due to the fluid build-up, it can deteriorate and cause breaks and ulcers in the skin. This can be dangerous because it gives bacteria a place to enter the bloodstream and cause infections.

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