Compression Stockings 101

If you have suffered from any type of vein condition, you may have been advised by your physician to wear compression stockings. These specialized socks are recommended for everything from preventing blood clots after surgery to reducing the painful symptoms associated with varicose veins. If you have been advised to wear compression stockings, it is time to get educated on this non-invasive vein treatment.

How do compression stockings work?
Compression stockings offer gradient pressure that is tighter at the foot and loosens as the sock moves up the leg. The purpose of the design is to help the veins in the lower leg push blood back up the body to the heart. By promoting healthy blood flow in the lower leg, these stockings can help to prevent conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and varicose veins. They can also help to minimize painful symptoms that sometimes accompany these conditions, like cramping and swelling.

Why would I wear them?
Your doctor may recommend you wear these stockings after some types of surgery to prevent the formation of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs. Known as DVT, this condition can occur without any visible symptoms. However, if the clot breaks loose, it can travel through the bloodstream to the lungs where it can lead to a potentially life-threatening condition known as pulmonary embolism.

Compression stockings are also advised after many types of vein treatments. Once procedures like sclerotherapy and laser treatments eliminate visible spider and varicose veins, blood must reroute through healthy veins nearby. Compression stockings make this process easier for the vascular system, improving blood flow and promoting healing to the treatment area.

How do I put them on?
One of the most challenging components to compression stockings is learning to put them on properly. In most cases, physicians will recommend you put the stockings on first thing in the morning and take them off when you go to bed at night. Using rubber gloves or a special tool will make it easier to smooth these tight socks over your feet and legs. Avoid wrinkles in the socks and never fold or roll them down, as this can affect the pressure of the stocking.

Compression stockings are usually recommended as a follow-up to other vein procedures at Center for Vein Restoration. They may also be prescribed prior to vein treatment to minimize uncomfortable symptoms the patient may be experiencing. However, compression stockings are not a “cure” for spider and varicose veins. To eliminate unsightly veins entirely, we offer innovative treatments using injectable solutions, laser or radiofrequency energy that are safe, effective and require no downtime afterward.

To learn more about compression stockings or the other vein treatments we offer, contact Center for Vein Restoration at 240-965-3915.