leg ulcers

[ilovemarkb]

Do any of you suffer from leg ulcers. I am a student and trying to find out what journey a typical leg ulcer patient would take?

i.e G.P full blood count ??
refered to practice nurse?
vascular surgeon?
compression bandage?antibiotics ?etc or any other healthcare professional ??
thank you x

[bednobs]

i think you'll find a lot of people would try treating it themselves first

[cathfromsaron]

diabetic tests?

[shaneystar2]

I had leg ulcers caused by cellulitis .
Antibiotics etc got rid of the cellulitis .The ulcers were a different matter .Various ointments and powder didn't work and I ended up
treating the ulcers myself with Manuka honey and had good results .
I was also given a Dopler scan and then referred to the dermatology clinic..Leg dept .
Given compression socks and advice on how to keep my legs healthy .

[Sqad]

No! no! no!....do some research your self, people are now "spoonfed" due to the IT.

Now"

Define an ulcer.....what do you mean by an ulcer?

Poor venous drainage, e.g varicose veins is bar far .....by far....the commonest cause of leg ulcers.

Poor blood supply is another cause, but far....far less common.

What impairs the arterial blood supply to the legs?

Those points will give you a starter to this question.

YOU find out..............we will help out later.

[woofgang]

Sqad i don't think this is about how to best treat leg ulcers but about what REALLY happens to folk with leg ulcers. I did a similar thing for my rehab service to find out what really happened to older folk who had a stroke...the results were enlightening and worrying.

[boxtops]

The amount of untreated (or badly treated) leg ulcers is worrying - I heard a tale a while ago from a nursing colleague of a patient who presented with a leg ulcer she'd had for 17 years....

[woofgang]

yes indeed boxy, also the number of folk who get the nursing advice and care but not the lifestyle advice, also people who are at higher risk of leg ulcers who are not warned about what to look for and what to do. Add in misdiagnosis (my late Mum's "leg ulcer" was skin cancer) and you have a mess!

[ilovemarkb]

thanks for replies!! shanystars answer is what I was after! Sqad I have lots of anatomy and physiology regarding arterial,vasculitic, malignant ulcers ,dopler ,NICE guidelines etc........for this essay the uni only want an account of a patient journey and who and what are involved in it. I do have a date for venous ulcer clinic but not until three weeks time. I want to start soon as poss!

[Sqad]

Sorry folks.........I got the wrong end of the stick.............I will step back to allow more informed replies.........

Sorry ilovemarkb.

[ilovemarkb]

completely forgiven x

[bednobs]

probably not "typical" but i used tp see some leg ulcer patients for pain relief advice when i was a macmillan nurse

[ilovemarkb]

shaneystar not sure if its appropriate for me to ask your age and any other past medical history?? I could give you my email address if you are able to enlighten me?

[shaneystar2]

Of course you can ask ilovemarkb ...
I'm 64 .My past medical history is pretty uninteresting .I do have an underactive thryroid though for which I take thyroxine.Never had any serious illnesses .Had the usual childhood stuff .Hysterectomy late thirties .I do however have whole body osteoarthritis and secondary rheumatoid which is not too high so manageable .
It was just my bad luck to be bitten on the leg ,it all became infected and turned into a long nightmare .I have to say the treatment I recieved was excellent though .Good luck with your studies.
Shaney x

[ilovemarkb]

thankyou so much Shaney,that is incredibly helpful !! one more little question ....did you say your leg ulcer originated from being bitten? or cellulitis? (or bit of both lol)??

[shaneystar2]

Hi again ilovemarkb
I got bitten by mossies .Scratched them and infection got in and caused cellulitis .It looked like an elephants leg:)
It was very painful and of course the skin was so tight it split and that's when it ulcerated .They muttered about taking me into hospital and being put on an antibiotic drip it was so bad. But I said noooo...I'll be OK!
But I had to sit about with my leg up for ages .My leg is badly scarred too from the dead tissue under the skin .

[ilovemarkb]

thanks shany for your time and trouble!!! youve been so helpful once again Massive thankyou Julie xxx

[shaneystar2]

My pleasure Julie ..all the best xx