Seeking all over www re: over-calf support socks info

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Hi, I had posted this in response to someone else's Q about support stockings.

But now I'm asking the Q as a new posting, hoping for helpful info:

I found these forums though I'm not a nurse, because I'm planning on travelling soon 10 hrs. by plane & was desperately searching high & low for info re: travel socks.

I'm 47, and I have horribly painful legs & feet for decades already.

Note that 20-25 mmHg Caralon hose cause my knees/ankles/arches to ache after awhile.

As for 20-30 mmHg, I have many pairs from AARP purchased long ago, but gathering dust, because they just absolutely killed my knees/ankles & feet.

So I've been trying to decide which is the best source/brand/value:

Comparison:

Sigvaris - 66% cotton, 8% spandex

(but how durable is that much cotton, despite breathability?

TravelSox - 15% lycra & no cotton, so maybe more supportive AND durable?

Thorlo Western Boot Socks - 74% thorlon, 5% spandex

(but how supportive is only 5% spandex, or even 8% for that matter, as compared to the 15% of travelsox?

Then there's Therawear's 15-20 mmHg with no breathability (but hey, maybe they're still comfortable? Like, maybe they're warm & not clammy even if they're just nylon/spandex?

And Therawear is most affordable too. The others are more expensive.

I also can't find any info re: whether there's any correlation between mmHg & percentage spandex?

Any advice from people in a similar situation would be appreciated. (i.e. if you too find heavy-support too binding). I suspect I have bad DVT.

Thanks!

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

well, i use bright life direct allergo 20-30mmhg for work and i love them.

if you suspect you have a bad DVT, then you'd better go to the ER and be seen by a DR.

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

If you suspect a dvt, for heavens sake go see your doctor.

As to support hose you can buy them at your local Walmart. To each their own as to what brand or how supportive they are. We have a few different kinds in our home and it much more depends on how much edema darlin has in his legs as to which ones we choose to put on him for the day. When they are at their worst, I wrap in a spiral fashioin with ace bandages starting at the foot and working my up .

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My local Walmart's mediped stockings only come in M & L

Nothing fitting my size 5 feet.

Does anyone know which compression is Travelsox?

20-25?

or 15-20?

or other?

Please I'm under pressure to get something due to travelling soon.

I just need some useful hints/leads from someone who has bought and tried alot of such stuff.

That someone should preferably be as close to my situation as possible (with bad circulation and achy screamingly painful legs). Otherwise, it would be like apples giving tips to oranges.

Thanks!

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Hey Minnimall,

I hope this message reaches you in time! You have a lot of great questions and I hope this reply can be of some help.

To answer your questions about the correlation between mmHg and the percentage spandex, there is no correlation between the two. MmHg (millimeters of Mercury) is a measure of pressure that is used to designate the amount of support that the compression stockings give you. When looking for a compression stocking that will give you the adequate amount of support, look for how much compression it has in it. The content of materials only marginally affects the amount of compression is given in the stocking.

If you’re having leg pains and you’re about to take a 10 hour flight, I would recommend a 20-30 mmHg compression stocking for you. Also, wearing a knee high compression stocking would make it more comfortable to travel in (as opposed to a thigh high). In terms of brands, I would recommend a Sigvaris or Mediven brand. They make better quality compression stockings, when it comes to the health of your legs, you really do get what you pay for.

If you’re looking for a compression stocking with cotton in it, I suggest the Sigvaris Cotton 232. It’s a great compression stocking with 20-30 mmHg compression in it. It has 25% Supima cotton lining the inside of the sock. This helps with heat and moisture management. You generally want to avoid synthetic materials because you can never tell if they are going to wick away moisture or just trap it in. Mediven makes a great travel sock called the Motion Sport. They come in 15-20 and 20-30 levels of compression. The Mediven Motion Sport comes in black and white and is plush. It looks like a sport sock and feels really supportive. They are also pretty durable.

In general, most knee high compression stockings that are 20-30 mmHg are good for travel when you experience leg pains. Also, you should avoid generic brands or drugstore brands of compression stockings. They sometimes don’t guarantee the level of compression in their socks. Stick with Sigvaris, Mediven and Juzo as they are the best brands currently in the United States. They all started off as European companies and within the last couple of decades established themselves in the United States.

In terms of sizing, you should measure yourself to get an accurate size for compression stockings. Sizing is so important when it comes to compression stockings because if you want to get 20-30 mmHg and if it’s too large or too small, you won’t actually get that level of compression. For knee high compression stockings, you need to measure the smallest part of the ankle (just above the ankle bone), the largest part of the calf (not necessarily in the middle of the calf, you’ll have to hunt for it) and the length of the lower leg from heel to the back of the bed of the knee. Then you’ll want to match up those measurements with the sizing chart for the compression stocking you’re looking for.

Hope I was able to help! Good luck and safe travels!

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