Without the support of the affected person, any therapy is doomed to failure.
Venous and arterial leg ulcers.
For venous leg ulcers, compression therapy is effective only if it is used regularly and if the calf muscles are activated by repeated walking. Sitting or standing in the same position for long periods is poison for the veins, as is sitting with the legs crossed. Regular elevation of the legs, on the other hand, is good for them. By the way: What has been said still applies when the ulcer has healed – otherwise it will quickly return!
Eliminating risk factors is the best therapy for arterial ulcers: stop smoking, reduce excess weight, keep blood sugar and lipids within the normal range. Appropriate, comfortable footwear is just as important as avoiding injuries when caring for the feet and nails. Particularly diabetics, whose sense of pain is often limited, should regularly examine their legs and feet for skin changes – early therapy prevents protracted treatment!
What is the course and prognosis?
With adequate therapy and patient cooperation, most ulcers heal within months. If there is no improvement within three months or healing within a year even with optimal treatment, the condition is referred to as a “therapy-resistant” leg ulcer. In this case, a rarer cause for the ulcer must be sought.
Arterial ulcers heal worse and longer than venous ulcers; in the worst case, amputation is imminent as a result of the circulatory disorder. Leg ulcers have a tendency to recur, which is why follow-up is also an important consideration.
