Compression Stockings
An Overview

Medical elastic compression stockings are widely used in venous diseases. Their effects on the venous system have been shown in the past. Medical compression stockings help the veins pump blood back in the direction of the heart by gently compressing the blood vessels at a very specific pressure. Medical compression stockings can be worn for a variety of reasons. Often, men and women wear these compression stockings because of chronic medical conditions, like diabetes.

Compression stockings are elastic support stockings which hug the legs and are thought to assist venous return -- the flow of blood through veins back to the heart. Rubber mats, often designed with irregular surfaces, may help stimulate leg muscles into more varied activity than might occur on hard, smooth flooring. Compression stockings may be purchased without a prescription or an order from a doctor and are available online at discount prices.

Practically everyone can benefit from wearing compression stockings regularly and promote excellent leg health. Compression stockings are specially designed stockings which steadily squeeze your legs to help improve your circulation. They may help to relieve any pain , discomfort, or swelling in your legs which is being caused by your varicose veins .

Compression stockings are meant to be quite snug. In fact, they are available in different levels of compression for different kinds of physical problems. Refer to the charts on this site.

Patients with edema and with venous leg ulcers have been characterized according to the international clinical CEAP-classification of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). The diagnosis was confirmed clinically by duplex scanning, Doppler sonography and by photoplethysmography.

Patients with CVI or lymphedema may require bed rest for 2 to 7 days to reduce edema (swelling) as much as possible. If the patient has infected leg ulcers, antibiotics may be prescribed. Patients wearing one or two stockings for any period of time during the first 10 days had a non-significant increase in the risk of symptomatic VTE. In contrast, those wearing bilateral stockings for 10 days had a non-significant reduction in the odds of symptomatic VTE as compared to those who wore no stockings or wore them for less than 10 days. Patients may improve their chances of remaining ulcer-free by maintaining treatment protocol by wearing compression stockings on a daily basis. If a venous skin ulcer develops, healing can be maintained by wearing compression stockings during waking hours and elevating the legs above heart level whenever possible.

Post thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a burdensome and costly complication of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) that develops in 20-40% of patients within 1-2 years after symptomatic DVT. Affected patients have chronic leg pain and swelling and may develop ulcers. Post-thrombotic syndrome is sometimes referred to as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) or as post-phlebitic syndrome. Graduated compression stockings can also be used to help reduce the swelling for patients who have developed post-thrombotic syndrome.

Medical elastic compression stockings are widely used in venous diseases. Their effects on the venous system have been shown in the past.

For more information please refer to the following pages.  Varicose Vein Information, More about Compression Stockings, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Compression Socks and Compression Stockings. 

by Gail Burton -

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