Minor problems include : –
- The bandage is too tight
- The bandage is too loose
- Discharge coming through the bandage.
This can be easily solved by removing the bandage, cleaning the ulcer and putting on new bandages and applying “just the right” pressure.
More severe problems include : –
- severe pain
- fever (signs of infection)
- bleeding.
If the infection is very localised, it can usually be settled by taking antibiotics for a couple of weeks. Spreading of the infection into the tissues lying deep under the ulcer or into your bloodstream is a serious condition. It will require you to stay in the hospital and take antibiotics given into one of your veins and possibly an operation to clean the infected tissues. Bleeding is very rarely a serious problem. Most of the time it consists of some oozing under the bandages and can usually stopped by applying some extra pressure. Very rarely it will require another operation to stop it.
In order to prevent the recurrence of a healed ulcer you will need to wear supportive stockings in the long run.