Wounds are common and aren’t always a big deal if they’re properly dealt with and are healing correctly. When a wound doesn’t heal or reoccurs continuously, it’s known as an ulcer and it could be related to other issues that aren’t being treated. Often, this could be a complication known as neuropathy, which is related to diabetes and causes a numbing feeling in your feet. Ulcers can cause infections and infections can be serious when they aren’t fully treated or are fighting against treatment.
Dealing with Foot Ulcers
Foot ulcers are common in those with diabetes and can often occur on the bottom of the foot. When an issue is severe, it could require hospitalization for certain complications, which is why it should be dealt with as soon as possible. Ulcers are another reason to regularly check your feet and make sure that you’re always taking the proper precautions to ensure that your feet are healthy.
Foot ulcers can vary in color and shape, depending on where it is on the foot. If you’re dealing with an ulcer that has turned black, it could be a sign of gangrene and usually means that the tissues around the wound have died. Foot ulcers can vary in size and can expand to the size of your foot if they aren’t dealt with.
There are two common types of foot ulcers. This includes:
- Neurotrophic ulcers- These are diabetes-related and don’t normally cause pain.
- Arterial ulcers- These are caused by issues that reduce blood flow to the extremities and cause your feet to feel numb. When this happens, the tissue in your limb begins to die off.
Contact Your Doctor Today
Letting a foot ulcer go untreated could cause severe issues and even lead to amputation. Contact your doctor at Pennsylvania Vascular Institute in King of Prussia, Philadelphia, Bethlehem, and East Stroudsburg, PA, for more information today at (800)296-9294.