“It’s your blood that carries nutrients and oxygen throughout your body. If your blood isn’t flowing to your feet, they’re not getting what they need to start the healing process.”
A wound can be anything from a scrape that never really heals to an open sore that slowly gets larger. “It’s a spot on your leg or foot that just doesn’t get better and over time may get worse, but never better,” explained Perry.
Diabetes, neuropathy, obesity or poor circulation can play a role in how a wound occurs and how the body reacts. “In many cases, patients with diabetes have some loss of feeling in their feet, meaning they don’t feel pain,” explained Perry. “For those patients, something as small as a pebble in a shoe can create a sore that they don’t notice, or a blister can turn into a wound before they realize it.” She advises they check their feet daily and actually look to see if there are any changes on their feet.
Once identified, it’s important to start treatment. “We can’t wait to see if it will get better on its own,” cautioned Perry. “Time is tissue. That means the longer you wait, the greater your chance for losing a toe, foot or leg.”
The main reason sores don’t heal is because there is a decrease in the amount of oxygen and nutrients in the area, both of which are needed start the healing process. “One of the first things we do is check your circulation,” said Perry. “It’s your blood that carries nutrients and oxygen throughout your body. If your blood isn’t flowing to your feet, they’re not getting what they need to start the healing process.” It’s important to have good blood flow to the area because sores and wounds have difficulty healing when there isn’t enough blood supply.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) could be the reason for poor circulation. PAD occurs when there is a buildup of plaque in the arteries, limiting the amount of blood that passes through them. Interventional radiologists are trained to treat PAD. “The good news about PAD is that there’s hope. There is treatment and it’s excellent,” explained Dr. Joel Rainwater, M.D., an interventional radiologist and chief medical officer of CIC. Lifestyle changes, medication and treatment can help prevent PAD from progressing to dangerous consequences. Rainwater advised, “The earlier the condition is identified, the better your opportunity for preventing it from getting worse.”
Because there are many different processes involved with wound healing, the best opportunity for success is with a team approach. “I need to work with the patient, their primary care physician, a wound care specialist and sometimes an interventional radiologist who treats PAD. We all have a role in helping a wound heal.” FBN
By Reisha Zang
Dr. Diana Perry, DPM, specializes in limb preservation and trauma of the foot. She can be reached at CiC 928-719-7400.
Reisha Zang is director of communication at CiC. You may contact her at 928-719-7400 or reisha.zang@ciccenters.com.