Decubitus ulcers, also known as deco ulcers, pressure ulcers, or sore ulcers, are an inflamed skin ulcer that is often characterized by pain and swelling. Deco ulcers frequently occur on the lower limbs (peripheral veins) and can be accompanied by fever and chills. Pressure ulcers are also a source of pain and swelling and can occur at any site in the body.
The first sign of decubitus is usually a feeling of extreme pressure or heaviness in the legs, hips, or abdomen. At this stage, pressure ulcers typically look red, swollen, and achy, but the actual symptoms may differ depending on the location. Eventually, the affected skin becomes damaged, and as a result, infection occurs.
There are three types of deco ulcers: internal, external, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Each form has different symptoms and treatment is different. Internal decompression ulcers, which are the most common, are usually painful and itchy. Sometimes patients have nausea and vomiting. These symptoms usually last for several days before disappearing.
External deco ulcers, or DVTs, look like red, irritated blisters that can be very painful. They often develop after years of sitting in a stagnant pool of stagnant blood. They may be preceded by fever, chills, and abdominal pain.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that becomes a clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis), where it clogs the vein to which it is attached. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can occur from a high dose of aspirin, a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), or a blood clot in the spleen (plasma thrombosis).
The symptoms of a pressure sore can vary from person to person and from case to case. Sometimes patients are asymptomatic. In other cases, the symptoms can be quite severe. Most patients who develop a decompression ulcer require a medical treatment plan that relieves pain and inflammation to address the underlying cause of the problem. (Treating the cause is more effective than treating the symptoms.)
Sometimes blood tests can help determine the exact cause of the problem
Your doctor may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium, or take an x-ray to determine where the bleeding is. When doctors suspect there is a problem with a lower limb, they may order blood tests that can confirm or rule out a herniated disc.
Surgery may be recommended to repair the damaged blood vessel and help the body heal. If surgery is needed, it may be necessary to cut the affected blood vessel, remove the ulcer, or both. If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disk, then the surgery may also be used to help increase circulation, which will allow the body to heal itself.
Surgeries done to correct a herniated disk, such as a disc prolapse, may involve one or both of the legs and sometimes both. The surgeon removes the disk or causes it to prolapse through surgery, which causes the damaged vein to drain, allowing the damaged blood vessel to heal.
If the pain is so severe that it interferes with your work, you may be referred to a podiatrist for pain relief. They may recommend heating pads or electrical devices to provide temporary relief. To relieve pain, your doctor may also suggest the use of anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the inflammation.
Medications can be given to help alleviate pain, such as acetaminophen, and anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed. These may be taken to relieve pain or to prevent the onset of new pain. Your doctor will assess your symptoms and then determine the best course of treatment.
Treatment of decubitus ulcers depends on the type of injury caused by the lesion. If the injury is minor, then non-surgical treatment may be recommended, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, which help to ease pain and inflammation, or pain relievers, which prevent further damage.