title: Topical dressings to manage pain in venous leg ulceration.
abstract: The pain experienced by patients with venous leg ulceration can be severe, disabling and have an impact on their quality of life. Pain assessment should be an integral part of leg ulcer assessment, since unless pain is successfully managed, the patient may not be able to comply with compression bandaging or exercise and elevation, all of which are crucial components in the successful management of venous leg ulceration. Neuropathic pain can be difficult to identify for both patient and healthcare professional, if it is unrecognized and untreated the patient's ulceration may persist due to an inability to tolerate dressings or bandaging.
authors.affiliation: Epsom, St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. pauline.beldon@esth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beldon
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001458:Bandages; D047070:Bandages, Hydrocolloid; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D007052:Ibuprofen