So you have a diabetic foot ulcer that just won't heal. Or maybe it has healed but keeps coming back. I'm sure you are frustrated and feel that it may never heal. In some cases you may have dressed your wound with the same medication for months...even years!
A diabetic foot ulcer should show continuous progress towards healing. If your wound stops healing, there must be a reason why or a change in therapy is needed. First of all, no ulcer will heal if there is not a sufficient blood supply to the foot. Poor circulation is common in people with diabetes. At our Houston podiatry practice, we use a non-invasive, painless system for evaluating your circulation called PADnet. Everyone with diabetes should be evaluated for circulation. Restoring circulation will help your wound to heal.
The underlying cause of your diabetic foot ulcer is pressure. This same pressure that initially caused the wound will prevent it from healing. For this reason, management of your ulcer must include the relief of pressure. The is achieved by casting, wearing a surgical boot, or surgical shoe. If you are not wearing something to manage these pressures, you should ask your doctor or get a second opinion from another podiatrist in Houston.
Finally, not all dressings for a diabetic foot ulcer are the same. Some should be used with a dry wound, others for a draining wound, and still others for a wound that is infected. There are dressings that use living cells and growth factors to speed healing. If the dressing you are using hasn't made your wound close after 4 weeks, ask if another type of dressing may be better.
If you feel that your diabetic foot ulcer is not healing, contact Tanglewood Foot Specialists and schedule and appointment with Houston diabetic ulcer specialist Dr. Andrew Schneider.