Do you have open sores on your feet and ankles?
Previous articles have described foot problems that cause sore feet. Today, we will focus on sores on the feet and ankles, and the causes and wound care involved.
Open wounds/sores on your feet and ankles can include relentless open sores, and have names such as: diabetic ulcers, lesions, blisters, wounds from injuries, abrasions, lacerations.
A brief history…
The history of the treatment of foot/ankle sores dates to ancient times of the Greeks and Romans. Thankfully medicine and treatment has evolved along with better hygiene, antiseptics, antibiotics, and surgical techniques.
What type of wounds do we see and what causes them?
Our patients usually suffer from open sores due to:
- Arterial Wounds: a foot sore that looks punched out with well defined edges, caused by reduced blood flow to the legs and feet from blocked arteries.
- Venous Foot Ulcers: sores that have jagged edges. Poor circulation is the culprit here and often found near the ankles.
- Neuropathic Wounds: Sores appearing on the bottom of the feet, AKA Diabetic Neuropathic Ulcers. Not being aware of the ulcer due to nerve damage, or poor blood circulation are a couple of reasons these type of sores can get out of control.
- Pressure Wounds: Also called pressure ulcers are located on the heel. Bed-bound and wheelchair folks frequently develop these nasty sores because of prolonged pressure in a certain spot.
The causes of these sores range from loss of blood flow to an area, leaky veins and illnesses to name just a few.
Treatment for your wounds:
There is a wide range of treatment for sores appearing on feet and ankles. Much of our wound care involves wound cleaning and infection control, wound dressings, and the use of engineered tissue.
The best medicine is to check your feet frequently, and to seek timely treatment to avoid more serious complications such as infection and the death of the surrounding tissue. Our goal is to work together to heal the wound and reduce the chance of an amputation.
When should you see a doctor about your wounds?
- If you have severe pain or swelling, especially after an injury.
- If you have an open wound or a wound that is oozing pus.
- If you have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, and tenderness in the affected area
- If you are unable to walk or put weight on your foot.
- If you have diabetes and have any wound that isn’t healing or is deep, red, swollen, or warm to the touch.
- If you have swelling that doesn’t improve after 2 to 5 days of home treatment.
- If you have pain that doesn’t improve after several weeks.
- If you have burning pain, numbness, or tingling, particularly if it involves most or all of the bottom of the foot.
At Harbor Foot and Ankle, we are happy to perform an exam and offer a treatment plan that best suits your specific needs. Call (360) 533-7388 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sheikhizadeh today.