Support stockings or knee-high support socks?

ErNrsLynzzie · Mar 21, 2009

From what I've reasarched - wearing knee highs cuts off circulation at the knee level which isn't good. If you feel like you need to wear them - either wear a low-compression level knee high or any level compression full hose.

I wear full strength knee highs after a foot injury that causes swelling while I work and the cut off below the knee is often painful by the end of a 12 hour shift but they are necessary for me.

DroogieRN · Mar 21, 2009

I wear Nurse Mates Supp Socks and I love them, however dorky they appear! :yeah: The sales assistant told me to make sure I bought the correct size so they wouldn't constrict my leg at the knee -- I think that's key. I love them so much, my husband bought himself some to wear when he travels, because he's in the car so much and he thinks they're great, too. The downside is that they're $8 a pair. But to avoid varicose veins and all the leg fatigue, that's not so much to pay...

I'm a student and our clinical instructors recommend support hose, even for the men! I just know I would literally melt in them, so I went for the socks.

SusanKathleen, RN · Mar 21, 2009

Knee highs won't cut off circulation if they're sized properly. I get the ones with no holes in the toe. Those holes drive me crazy!

RNKPCE · Mar 21, 2009

I had varicose vein problems while pregant, discomfort more than cosmetic, and in my thighs not my lower legs. A vascular surgeon that worked on my unit recommended full prescription support hose, toes to waist. They were a pain in the butt to put on and one of the two pairs were hideous but they worked. I even wore the one decent looking pair with shorts during the summer of my pregnancy. They are pricey but worth it. Kids are grown and I just wear knee high off the rack support stockings now.

Jamesdotter · Mar 21, 2009

I have varicosities (hereditary weak valves:sniff:) and usually wear knee-highs. I agree with the above posters--be sure you get the right size. Then, unless your legs swell, you shouldn't have a problem with them cutting off your circulation.

Cat in TX · Mar 23, 2009

I was glad to see this post; I was wondering the same thing SeattleU08, thanks for starting the thread!

A couple of follow-up questions:

How do you know what the "right size" is of knee-highs? I assume the package gives guidelines, but is there anything else I need to know?

What should I look for in support hose? What level of support? Is there a brand that is better than others?

Thanks!

mama_d, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2009

I had to wear Jobst stockings for a long while due to vein issues. They look just like full pantyhose but have graduated compression. I hated putting them on, they're even worse than teds, but they worked really well.

minnimall · Mar 24, 2009

Hi, 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!

TERESAKIM77 · Apr 11, 2009

Hey Cat in TX

I have had the same problem of not knowing exactly how to get the right measurement that seems to be crucial for the compression stockings to work properly.

mama_d- Try using the donning gloves. I wear higher level compression stocking and it was so hard putting them on. I was recommended to use donning gloves and they work really well. It is a rubber glove that provides a good grip of the stockings. I just slide my hand over the stockings and it smoothly pushes them to place. On top of that I don't have to worry about my nails or jewelry scratching the stockings.

I hope this helps. :)