3 Reasons You Should Never Ignore a Slow-Healing Leg Wound

Perhaps you’ve noticed a small cut on your leg that seems to scab over and reopen again and again, with no end in sight. Or maybe it’s a small sore on your ankle or foot that just doesn’t seem to want to heal up and skin over. Whatever your exact issue, slow-healing leg wounds should always be cause for concern.

At Apex Endovascular, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. Shawn Ahmed can check out your leg wound and screen you for potential conditions that could pose a more serious threat.

Why you should worry about slow-healing leg wounds 

Slow-healing leg wounds are typically a sign of poor circulation. Without proper blood flow, your body can’t conduct normal healing processes, especially on a weight-bearing limb like your leg. Wounds that don’t heal can end up ulcerating, becoming infected, and even requiring limb amputation due to gangrene.

3 reasons not to ignore slow-healing leg wounds

Three reasons not to ignore what you think is just a slow-healing cut or mysterious sore on your leg include very serious conditions that could lead to even more serious consequences. You shouldn’t ignore a slow-healing leg wound because:

1. You could have complications from diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common reasons for a foot or lower leg ulcer that won’t heal. In 15%-20% of such cases, amputation is required because the ulcer reaches a point where there is no other treatment. If you’re diabetic and have discovered an ulcer on your foot or ankle, you need to see a vein specialist right away to get proper care. Controlling your diabetes properly can help you reduce your risk of ulcers and amputation.

2. You could have peripheral artery disease

Another common cause of slow-healing wounds or ulcers on the legs is peripheral artery disease, also called PAD. This condition allows plaque to build up in your arteries, restricting blood flow. Left untreated, PAD can result in severe blockage of the arteries in the legs, known as critical limb ischemia. When this happens, any cut or sore will be slow to heal and can quickly become gangrenous. Many people with PAD are asymptomatic in the early stages of the disease, so a slow-healing leg wound could be the first sign of an issue.

3. Your venous insufficiency could be worsening

If you have varicose veins, leg pain, and/or heat or swelling in your legs, you could have venous insufficiency, or VI. VI is caused by damaged valves in the veins of the legs, which allow blood traveling back to the heart to slip backwards through the one-way valve and pool, slowing or blocking circulation. Left untreated, venous insufficiency can lead to ulcers around the lower legs and ankles, which may refuse to heal. This means you need to see your vein specialist immediately to discuss treatments.

Treatment for slow-healing leg wounds

At Apex Endovascular, Dr. Ahmed suggests a comprehensive approach to slow-healing leg wounds.

• Identify and manage underlying health conditions that could be affecting circulation
• Partner with a Front Range-based wound care facility specializing in treating leg wounds
• Provide appropriate vascular care, including minimally invasive procedures  

By addressing causes and contributing factors for slow-healing leg wounds, caring for and curing existing wound(s), and providing vascular treatments to address the root cause of your slow-healing cuts, sores, or ulcers, Dr. Ahmed can relieve your pain and restore your mobility.

If you’re concerned about slow-healing leg wounds, call Apex Endovascular at 970-508-8439, or book a consultation online with Dr. Ahmed today.