Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Should I Be Doing For Compression On My Legs Hurts?
Question: When I get a scrape on my legs it often will blister and then open and take a long time to heal and or get infected. I am diabetic. However, I have had the problem with the easy scraping long before becoming diabetic. Recently I have had noticeable swelling in my legs, ankles and feet. Being outside a lot and active - I scraped both my left and right legs and they both blistered, opened and now being treated. One leg was scraped about a week or so before the other. I noticed when the leg that was scraped first and more painful, that leg, ankle and foot seemed to swell much more than the other. My doctor started me on lasix to get the fluid down so the legs would heal faster. The clinic also wrapped my legs with compression material to also aid in the fluid reduction. The only medications I take is losartan 50mg 1 x daily and 1000 mg of metformin ER. Just prior to this I was doing mostly sitting due to a low back issue effecting the hips for a couple of weeks. Normally I try to walk 2 - 3 miles about five days a week.
I did have a number of cortisone injections in low back and hips during that time that I was doing a lot of sitting. I Have also been losing weight on purpose and before the lasix. I was at about 250 and have a goal of 225 (10%) reduction and I was about 240 when this recent swelling occurred. Again, it was close to the time I had the cortisone injections. I see a vein surgeon next week as I have varicose veins and my doctor thinks dealing with those will help my legs also. Throughout all of this, I have never been given an idea of what the cause is so we can approach it from the cause. What should I be doing? asking for? Other? I actually feel okay. The compression on my legs hurts more than anything.
I did have a number of cortisone injections in low back and hips during that time that I was doing a lot of sitting. I Have also been losing weight on purpose and before the lasix. I was at about 250 and have a goal of 225 (10%) reduction and I was about 240 when this recent swelling occurred. Again, it was close to the time I had the cortisone injections. I see a vein surgeon next week as I have varicose veins and my doctor thinks dealing with those will help my legs also. Throughout all of this, I have never been given an idea of what the cause is so we can approach it from the cause. What should I be doing? asking for? Other? I actually feel okay. The compression on my legs hurts more than anything.
Brief Answer:
Please see details
Detailed Answer:
HI,
I am really sorry to hear about your sufferings and I understand your problem.
While the most important part of patient management is explaining the disease and its treatment to the patient, it's Unfortunate that you were not given details about your disease. Let me explain few things regarding your problem.
One reason for your wounds not healing may be diabetes but yes if you say it's even before dibates we need to focus on more causes.
One possible cause of your Swelling and not healing of wounds may be the vericose veins. If blood cannot be pushed up back from the leg,(that is what happens in vericose veins where the valves that stop the backflow of blood in legs are non functional.) blood may store in legs. This may cause Swelling and easy scrapes. As blood flow is not very good here this may also be reason why your wounds don't heal quickly. Compression here are good. However first we need to confirm it (let the vascular surgeon see you and he may do dopler ultrasounds that would see how is the flow in your vessels and then manage ahead )
One another reasons that is logical here is that too many cortisone injection may be one reason for your leg Swelling and wounds. Cortisone is steroids and excess steroids not only causes leg Swelling but also cause easy skin tears because it make skin very thin. It also suppress our immune system so may lead to delayed wound healing. So we should also keep this point in mind. And discuss this with your vascular surgeon if this could be contributing to your problem.
Hopes this help you understand your query. Let me know if you have any further questions about it. I would be glad to answer that.
Kind regards Dr Rahman
Please see details
Detailed Answer:
HI,
I am really sorry to hear about your sufferings and I understand your problem.
While the most important part of patient management is explaining the disease and its treatment to the patient, it's Unfortunate that you were not given details about your disease. Let me explain few things regarding your problem.
One reason for your wounds not healing may be diabetes but yes if you say it's even before dibates we need to focus on more causes.
One possible cause of your Swelling and not healing of wounds may be the vericose veins. If blood cannot be pushed up back from the leg,(that is what happens in vericose veins where the valves that stop the backflow of blood in legs are non functional.) blood may store in legs. This may cause Swelling and easy scrapes. As blood flow is not very good here this may also be reason why your wounds don't heal quickly. Compression here are good. However first we need to confirm it (let the vascular surgeon see you and he may do dopler ultrasounds that would see how is the flow in your vessels and then manage ahead )
One another reasons that is logical here is that too many cortisone injection may be one reason for your leg Swelling and wounds. Cortisone is steroids and excess steroids not only causes leg Swelling but also cause easy skin tears because it make skin very thin. It also suppress our immune system so may lead to delayed wound healing. So we should also keep this point in mind. And discuss this with your vascular surgeon if this could be contributing to your problem.
Hopes this help you understand your query. Let me know if you have any further questions about it. I would be glad to answer that.
Kind regards Dr Rahman
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you for your response.
I am normally very active with the exception of the approx two week period when I was having the hip pain but the doctors thought it was actually low back vs hip using the problem. But in a short amount of time, I had cortisone in both hips and then bilateral at L5/S1.
I want to continue walking even with these wraps on but they actually hurt. I have some compression socks that my doctor advised me to use (not the same brand he advised) he had recommended an over the counter type.
Any reason I can't walk while the compression wrap or socks are on? It would seem like walking would serve the same purpose as the socks in improving fluid movement.
I just want to get off of medication, compression, etc.
I am normally very active with the exception of the approx two week period when I was having the hip pain but the doctors thought it was actually low back vs hip using the problem. But in a short amount of time, I had cortisone in both hips and then bilateral at L5/S1.
I want to continue walking even with these wraps on but they actually hurt. I have some compression socks that my doctor advised me to use (not the same brand he advised) he had recommended an over the counter type.
Any reason I can't walk while the compression wrap or socks are on? It would seem like walking would serve the same purpose as the socks in improving fluid movement.
I just want to get off of medication, compression, etc.
Brief Answer:
Please see details
Detailed Answer:
HI Mr XXXXXXX great to hear from you back.
Most of the times the stocking don't hurt, however it may heart if the size is not a proper one and is too tight.
Infact if it's hurting too much then the best strategy is not to use it before proper assessment. Some loose stocking may be available over the counter but best is that these should be prescribed by proper person who would take your leg measuments and then proper size as these are very specially designed regarding its size. So you can wait for its use till you see your vascular surgeon.
While walking has all its benefits and must continue but may not be an alternative to compression stocking regardings vericose veins or edema. However if the stocking are hurting too much that one cant walk, for sure we won't be using such stockings.But as I said it never hurts this much if done properly.
I hope these problems would be least once you are assessed properly by vascular surgeon.
Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any further question.
Please see details
Detailed Answer:
HI Mr XXXXXXX great to hear from you back.
Most of the times the stocking don't hurt, however it may heart if the size is not a proper one and is too tight.
Infact if it's hurting too much then the best strategy is not to use it before proper assessment. Some loose stocking may be available over the counter but best is that these should be prescribed by proper person who would take your leg measuments and then proper size as these are very specially designed regarding its size. So you can wait for its use till you see your vascular surgeon.
While walking has all its benefits and must continue but may not be an alternative to compression stocking regardings vericose veins or edema. However if the stocking are hurting too much that one cant walk, for sure we won't be using such stockings.But as I said it never hurts this much if done properly.
I hope these problems would be least once you are assessed properly by vascular surgeon.
Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any further question.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
