Venous Ulcer Treatment in Chicago
A venous ulcer is an open sore, usually on the inside of the leg just above the ankle, that won’t heal because leaking leg veins keep the pressure in the skin too high. Healing depends on treating the vein problem as well as the wound. Every visit starts with a venous duplex ultrasound, so treatment is matched to what is actually happening in your veins.
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Workers’ Comp, HMO referral or complex insurance? Call (312) 414-1088.
Signs of infection
Spreading redness, warmth, increasing pain, pus, a bad smell or a fever around a leg wound can mean infection. Contact your doctor the same day, or go to the emergency room if you feel very unwell.
Why the wound won’t heal
Varicose veins develop when the valves that keep blood moving toward the heart stop working correctly. Blood pools inside the vessel and causes it to stretch and bulge. The underlying problem is called venous insufficiency.
Over time, the high pressure in the lower leg damages the skin near the ankle: it darkens, hardens and breaks down easily. A small scrape there can turn into a wound that stays open for weeks or months.
Signs of a venous ulcer
- A shallow, often weeping sore on the inside of the leg, above the ankle
- Darkened, hardened or itchy skin around it
- Swelling in the same leg
- Aching that eases when you raise the leg
- Varicose veins nearby, or none you can see
Also called
Venous ulcer, venous leg ulcer, venous stasis ulcer or stasis ulcer.
When it’s something else
Wounds on the toes or feet, wounds that hurt more when the leg is raised, and wounds with weak pulses in the feet can come from poor arterial circulation. Diabetic foot wounds need a foot or wound specialist. Dr. Elbaridi checks the leg arteries with an ankle-brachial index (ABI) or arterial Doppler when needed, and coordinates with your primary care doctor and the right specialist.
It starts with a duplex ultrasound
A visual exam alone isn’t enough. Your evaluation begins with a venous duplex ultrasound, a non-invasive study that measures blood flow direction and velocity, identifies which vessels have valve failure, and shows whether the problem starts in the deep or superficial venous system.
Dr. Elbaridi reviews your ultrasound with you and performs your procedure himself.
Visits
The first visit, with the ultrasound, takes about an hour. Ulcer patients are usually seen more often, every 1 to 2 weeks, until the wound has healed.
How venous ulcers are treated
Treatment works on both parts of the problem: compression wraps or stockings to bring down the pressure in the leg, wound care to keep the ulcer clean and covered, and closing the leaking vein when the ultrasound shows reflux.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
Radiofrequency heat delivered through a thin catheter closes the vein, which is gradually replaced by scar tissue.
More about vein RFA Foam injectionVarithena
A medicated foam injected through a small needle under ultrasound guidance. It fills the diseased vein and closes it, with no heat and no incision.
More about Varithena InjectionsUltrasound-guided sclerotherapy
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy reaches deeper veins not visible at the surface.
More about sclerotherapyWound care
Dr. Elbaridi treats the vein problem underneath the wound and works with your primary care doctor or a wound care clinic on dressings, so the wound and the vein are treated together.
Comfort
Local anesthetic only for most patients. Sedation is available if you want it. Vein procedures are done away from the wound when possible, and the skin around the ulcer is handled gently.
Healing and keeping it healed
Treating the leaking vein along with compression often helps an ulcer heal and lowers the chance of it coming back. Healing takes weeks to months, depending on the size of the wound and how long it has been open.
Compression stockings, regular movement, and periodic follow-up help manage long-term recurrence.
At home
- Wear your compression wraps or stockings every day, as directed
- Raise your legs above heart level several times a day
- Walk every day; your calf muscles help push blood back toward the heart
- Keep the dressing clean and dry, and change it as instructed
- Keep wearing compression after the wound closes
Dr. Nidal Elbaridi, MD
- Harvard Medical School phlebology training (2015)
- Medtronic VenaSeal and radiofrequency ablation certification (2019)
- Boston Scientific Varithena certification (2023)
Insurance and pre-authorization
Medical vein treatment is covered by most insurance when ultrasound confirms venous insufficiency. We verify benefits and pre-authorize before your procedure, so there are no surprise bills afterward. We do not charge out-of-network rates.
Ulcer care and your insurance
Ulcer care and vein treatment for an ulcer are medical care. Plan requirements can differ when there is an open wound, and we check yours before treatment.
Most insurance accepted, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, PPO and HMO plans. Coverage depends on medical necessity — we verify before your visit.
What Chicago patients say about Loop
Dr. Elbaridi and the entire team are truly exceptional. Their bedside manner and genuine care make you feel like more than just another patient…
I’ve been coming to Loop Medical Center for my vein procedures with Dr. Nidal, and I couldn’t be more impressed…
Venous ulcer questions, answered
Why won’t the wound on my ankle heal?
When leg vein valves leak, pressure stays high in the skin near the ankle, and the skin can’t repair itself well. Until that pressure comes down, with compression and often vein treatment, the wound tends to stay open.
Can treating the vein help the ulcer heal?
Often, yes. Closing the leaking vein lowers the pressure in the lower leg, which helps the wound heal and lowers the chance of it coming back.
Do I need compression wraps?
Usually, yes. Compression is a core part of healing a venous ulcer, and most patients keep wearing stockings after it heals.
Will the ulcer come back?
It can, especially if the vein problem isn’t treated or compression is stopped. Treating the leaking vein and wearing compression lower that chance.
Should I see a wound clinic or a vein doctor?
Both can help, and the two go together: wound care heals the surface, and vein treatment brings down the pressure underneath. If your wound hasn’t healed after several weeks of care, ask for a venous duplex ultrasound.
Is treatment covered by insurance?
Medical vein treatment is covered by most insurance when ultrasound confirms venous insufficiency. We verify benefits and pre-authorize before your procedure, so there are no surprise bills afterward.
Book your vein evaluation at Loop Medical Center
Same-week appointments at our South Loop and Streeterville locations.
Opens our secure booking calendar — this page stays open.
Workers’ Comp, HMO referral or complex insurance? Call (312) 414-1088.