Gangrene of the lower limb is the necrosis of a certain part of the leg, accompanied by blueness of the skin or a change in color to a black tint. This is due to a sharp cessation of oxygen supply or its intake in an amount insufficient for normal circulation.
The causes of gangrene include the impact of external and internal factors. An external factor is mechanical damage to the limb, burns or frostbite of the legs, the effects of radiation or hazardous chemicals, such as acid, arsenic. Internal factors leading to gangrene include blockage of blood vessels due to the formation of a blood clot, spasm of soft tissues, and infection.
Gangrene of the lower limb may be dry or wet. The first type involves the drying out of a limb due to a sharp cessation of blood flow. With wet gangrene, the leg festers and becomes soft. In this case, a person is tormented by convulsions, and then lameness appears.
The first sign of gangrene is expressed in numbness of the limb, partial loss of sensation, while pallor of the skin appears . Inaction at this stage leads to a change in skin color to blue, black or even green. With dry gangrene, the patient experiences acute pain in the leg. The affected area of the body collapses and is gradually rejected. There are cases when a putrefactive microflora is formed, as a result of which the gangrene of the lower limb is transformed into a wet form. Then the general condition of the patient worsens significantly, because the leg begins to emit an unpleasant odor due to tissue decay and is terribly sick.
In medical practice, gangrene is most often found in diabetes mellitus. With constant movement, a small ulcer may form on the foot, which the patient usually does not even notice due to reduced skin sensitivity. Such a neoplasm, as a rule, exists for a long time, slowly developing and penetrating deep into the skin. As soon as the ulcer reaches the bone or tendons, it damages them, which leads to further death of the tissues. The most common cause of leg amputation is precisely diabetes, therefore, in the presence of this disease, it is necessary to carefully monitor the feet and be regularly examined by a doctor.
When choosing a method of treating gangrene, the specialist relies on the degree of development of the disease. If the stage of the disease allows, then with amputation, you can take a while and try to save the leg by bypassing the arteries. This is an extremely difficult microsurgical operation, thanks to which the patient can keep the leg. If this procedure is successful, then the blood flow to the leg has been restored and the dead tissue can be treated with a medication. To fully return all functions, a person undergoes a course of massage, exercise therapy and physical therapy without fail.
Gangrene of the lower limb is a problem that can be fought. And in the fight, all methods are good, so trying traditional medicine will not hurt. Previously, the first signs of gangrene were removed with a compress with clove oil. Bacteria of fermented milk products can also become serious helpers in getting rid of the disease. To do this, you need to apply gauze soaked in yogurt several times a day. A decoction of the fruits of bird cherry is used as an external remedy; for its preparation, you need to boil the pharmacy herb over low heat for half an hour in the proportion: 1 tablespoon of fruits in a glass of water. With wet gangrene, juniper leaves help well, they are applied to the affected area, like powder.