Venous leg ulcer pain.

Venous disease and venous leg ulcers are frequently painful. The pain experienced may be constant or intermittent. Constant pain can originate from vascular structures (superficial, deep phlebitis), pitting edema, collagen (lipodermatosclerosis), infection, or scarring (atrophie blanche). Ulcer region pain is often episodic and may be due to surgical or other debridement procedures. Intermittent pain is often related to dressing removal or recent applications of new dressings. An approach to pain control will consider the cause of pain and utilize local measures, regional approaches to edema control, and systemic medication aimed at constant, episodic, or intermittent pain triggers.