Compression Socks - Few Questions Please (ache, heart, symptom, specialists)

[Forever Blue]

Submariner, thanks so much again for replying & I wish your wife well! OK, so she has had a surgery in the past. I'm so sorry her quality of life is decreasing. I'm starting to see how it feels when the body won't allow us to do what we want to do. I never took that for granted though.

So I've been wearing the compression sock for the last few days for about 8-9 hr during the day & it's not bad. I guess if I have to wear this regularly forever to avoid vein ablation surgery, which I've read a couple of horror stories about so far, then I will. I'm thinking of starting a thread about that soon too (vein ablation).

I just hope I don't forever have to limit my walking, which I like to do for exercise.

[Threestep2]

Originally Posted by Forever Blue

Thanks a lot guys! I'll return to this thread to read any more posts. Had my vascular dr/surgeon appt this past Wed. He said to get some compression socks off Amazon & to get the 20-30 mercury, which I later found out also meant mmhg. I'm to try them for about a month to see how they work, otherwise, the next step is vein ablation in which he'll burn the vein &/or insert foam. I surely don't want that! He said the socks have helped some people.

My foot started swelling out of the blue for the first time in my life in mid-Sept (2022). I guess it's from a combo of a 15-yr old Achilles tendon rupture injury (which is the ankle) in which things have gradually built up in the foot PLUS for the last 8 yrs, 7 mos, I work at a desk & sit 9-10+ hrs/day for 6 or sometimes all 7 days a week. I've gotten up to move around as much as I could.

So, all this compression sock stuff is all new to me & when I got home from the vascular appt, there were a couple questions I forgot to ask as many of us may because we're trying to write down the initial info the dr says, so I'm learning about the socks as I got. In looking around on a few sites, they say to measure the calf & ankle, which I did.

I did order a couple of brands to try in which I got those brand recommendations (from surely NOT the dr).

I've started to wonder if compression socks are alright for people who've had achilles tendon ruptures, anyone happen to know? I'll ask the podiatrist I'm also working w/. See, I have 2 separate issues going on w/ my foot, so I'm working w/ 2 types of specialists (podiatrist & vascular).







Yes well, he surely wasn't that involved in my sock-buying process as you see what I told you he said above. I don't know know how thorough w/ their patients drs were yrs ago OR even pre-COVID since I never had to see drs really much before), but they seem to just tell you the minimum nowadays IF even that.

Check with your insurance. Some require medical compression socks for 90 days prior to approval of surgery. They should get fitted. If what you posed here was the conversation with your physician - you may want to get a second opinion. Do go over all details of the surgery (probably out patient), side efects and healing process.

[DubbleT]

Originally Posted by Forever Blue

So I personally have a leaking vein. (snip)



Is DVT = Deep Vein Thrombosis? What's PE?

I ordered 2 brands so far to try...Doc Miller & another pair from this site called Pro Compression.

I imagine it's Pulmonary embolism https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...ombosis%20(DVT).

[Forever Blue]

Originally Posted by DubbleT

I imagine it's Pulmonary embolism https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...ombosis%20(DVT).

Thanks a lot! Probably so.

[Southern man]

Originally Posted by Forever Blue

How many hours a day do they say to wear them?

If the issue is just with one foot, do you have to wear on both feet?

Can anyone suggest the best compression socks for the cheapest $? I need 20-30mmHg (mercury). TIA!

(Any other info, tips, etc. would be appreciated!)

Here is a tip I find useful. Wear surgical gloves when putting the socks on. They enable you to grab the sock and work it on over your foot.

[Forever Blue]

Originally Posted by Southern man

Here is a tip I find useful. Wear surgical gloves when putting the socks on. They enable you to grab the sock and work it on over your foot.

Thanks a lot for the tip!

[Forever Blue]

My knee's been extremely painful ever since about 2-3 wks of wearing this sock...been wearing for total of just about 3 wks. I'm short (5'3") & therefore hv shorter legs. I think this sock I've been wearing is too long. I wear it up to my knee which is bent all day for 8+ hrs while I'm working at my computer, so that's the only thing I can think of as to why my knee's been really aching. I've put a heat pad on it for a few nights, but that hasn't helped. I need a shorter sock. I hope I didn't mess my knee up!

[Forever Blue]

For anyone who has to wer compression socks (CS) very long-term or forever, have you ever ran across these & if so, what do you think? I just saw them on this medical supply site:

https://www.allegromedical.com/produ...end-+Therabody

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by Forever Blue

For anyone who has to wer compression socks (CS) very long-term or forever, have you ever ran across these & if so, what do you think? I just saw them on this medical supply site:

https://www.allegromedical.com/produ...end-+Therabody

Before I'd throw more $ at the problem buying $200+ gadgets I'd consult the professional who suggested the compression socks. Clarify exactly why socks were suggested and what benefits you should expect from them. Also, the design and intent of these wraps may be somewhat different. That being said, obviously socks could be worn while active or away from the house. The wraps not so much. I'd also report back to the MD about the trouble you've been having with your knees. There is probably a solution to that.

[guidoLaMoto]

Originally Posted by Forever Blue

Submariner,

Do you happen to know if compression socks are fine if one's had an achilles tendon rupture in the past? (I'm trying to find out from a dr in the meantime.)

A compression sock would be too weak to provide much help in supporting a muscle than can lift 100s of lb. An Ace Wrap can be made tighter, but best would be athletic adhesve tape applied by an experienced trainer.

My take on "compression socks"-- Useless for orthopedic problems except to hold heat in, and warm joints work and feel better than cold. Any old sock would do that.

For venous circulation problems-- The theory is that by putting pressure on the superficial veins, all the blood is forced to find the deeper, faster flowing veins to get back to the heart...

...The problem is in practice where the sock almost always curls up at the tight spots above the foot, under the knee and at the tight elastic at the top to form a "rubber band" situation, cutting down flow even in the deep veins. They are prone to make the problem worse. ..Be careful of that if you decide to use them.

I'vee seen miracles, OTOH, in getting rid of that serious chronic leg edema when progressive Ace wrapping is done--The 6 inch wide elastic wraps are applied -- tightest at the toes, and each successive wind around the leg a little less tight. You probably need 2 or 3 bandages to go up each leg. Just a piece of tape to hold it on at the top....Home-care nurses usually know how to do this...It's easy to learn--"See one. Do one. Teach one- You're an expert now." ..Most people aeren't limber enough to appliy it to themselves.