Should I wear support hose?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 22, 2008

can anyone tell me where to get support knee hi stockings from. i am a full figure nurse with naturally very large legs, (calves and ankles). i work 12 hour shifts and reallyneed the support , but the panty hose are entirely too warm. i am having problems finding knee hi stockings that are large enough. please send any websites or suggestions. it would be greatly appreciated.

have you tried "just my size"? (justmysize.com, i think.)

casi, ASN, RN · Aug 22, 2008

I used to wear knee high support socks that I got from Target and they worked wonders for what I needed them for. Every morning I would leave work with painful puffy feet. Once I invested in the support socks the pain pretty much stopped.

I don't wear them anymore because it turned out that I had something else going on and onceI got it controled with meds the poofy painful feet pretty much stopped.

cat-cat · Sep 29, 2008

I use to wear light-support pantyhose under my white pants since my mom recommended them to me. I wear white cotton socks over them to cover the nylon fabric around my ankles.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Sep 29, 2008

Footsmart.com may have the socks and all of the foot supplies to your dreams. I am thinking of trying support socks. I am not a stocking wearer, unless I am going somewhere special. I get overheated as well.

Bjabski · Sep 4, 2011

:yeah: :nurse:

i bough these off of ebay & absolutely love them.

[color=#3b5998]knee high 20-30 compression support stocking

http://www.ebay.com/itm/260779505747

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2011

wear support hose if they are comfortable for you. lots of people swear by them. they make my legs hurt like crazy, though, so i don't wear them. i can't be the only person who can't stand support hose!

you're not alone ruby vee- i can't stand them either.:)

op- i had my veins stripped the christmas before nursing school graduation and had the sort that required a satin foot cover to get the stupid things on. i looked like a bent bratwurst. one of the veins grew back gnarly, since the doc did a partial 'strip' on that side in case i needed a cabg in the future (i was 21 at the time). so, had them stripped clean the second time. i didn't wear them post-op because of the sutures sticking out- but had ace wraps. :down:

as for regular use while working- i never did. i had nasty veins when i was normal weight- was predisposed to them. working didn't help, but it wasn't the be all end all reason i had them.

unless they're an md order- wear them if you want, don't if you don't.....but if you do, plan on being hot. also check latex if you've got allergies. :eek:

czyja, MSN, RN · Sep 5, 2011

\ I don't want to end up with vericose veins from working long 12 hour shifts....

To the best of my knowledge there is no evidence that suggests support hose will prevent varicose veins.

That said, they sure make the day easier. I have worked on my feet since I was a kid on the farm. At age 46 there is no way I could make it through a shift without em.

As an aside, I was assured by an Iraq war vet that there are a sizeable number of our men in uniform that wear support panyhose on marches and when deployed. Helps prevent blisters and keeps them more comfortable in field. Curious.

LouisVRN, RN · Sep 5, 2011

Since becoming pregnant I can't live without my TED hose. They make my feet/legs hurt SOO much less. I too wear ankle socks over them. When they are on I don't notice being particularly warm, and this is in the middle of the Arizona summer being 9 months pregnant. That being said it also feels soooo good to get them off at the end of the day. :)

walkingon, CNA, LPN · Sep 5, 2011

Hmmmm...maybe this would help my feet, which are sometimes puffy and almost always painful by the end of the shift. TEDS or support hose? How do you know what size to buy? Knee-high or thigh-high? I already have spider-vein legs...pain control, not prevention of more spider veins, is my goal. :)

Gregory2012 · May 26, 2012

You may want to experiment a little with different types and sizes of support hosiery. If you don't like pantyhose styles you can also try knee highs and thigh highs depending on where you need the support. Footless support pantyhose, tights or legging are another option.

Bottom line you just have to figure out what is most comfortable and most suitable for your situation. Proper sizing is also a very important factor - you'll find that different brands and styles can feel quite different and often it takes some trial and error experience to find the best fit.

You can also find lots of info on the subject here ...

http://www.compressionstockingssite.com/index.php/2010/09/03/top-reasons-why-you-should-be-wearing-support-hosiery-or-compression-stockings/

I hope this helps.

sauconyrunner · May 26, 2012

I can recommend some calf sleeves or socks from Zensah. They are made for runners, and I do use mine for running, but I also sometimes wear them at work. Zensah Compression Apparel - Not all Compression is Created Equal

They are much more comfortable than the usual support socks. Sadly they aren't cheap!

rubato, ASN, RN · May 26, 2012

I can recommend some calf sleeves or socks from Zensah. They are made for runners, and I do use mine for running, but I also sometimes wear them at work. Zensah Compression Apparel - Not all Compression is Created Equal
They are much more comfortable than the usual support socks. Sadly they aren't cheap!

I was curious about these. I have lots of pairs from my marathons. But, they're all in ridiculously bright colors. Hot pink, apple green, etc... Will anyone see them?