Do you suffer from varicose veins like millions of people? If so, you probably do not have complaints that change your quality of life, such as pain, edema, heaviness in the legs. Maybe you have veins that are bulging from the skin, that is, internal varicose veins, and you know that these veins can cause serious health problems such as thrombus formation and venous ulcers in the future. We are here to reduce your risks and alleviate your complaints.  

WHAT ARE COMPRESSION STOCKINGS?

Compression stockings are aids developed to apply pressure to your legs. The pressure created will help regulate your circulation, thereby reducing your pain and edema. In general, the pressure, which is at the highest level around the ankle, decreases gradually in thigh. The good news is it's no longer in the thick brown nylon canvas form your grandmother used to have.

With the developing technology, thin, beautiful, even fashionable socks are available. The stockings on the market are available in different forms and colors as below the knee, above the knee, crotch and pantyhose.

WHAT DO THE COMPRESSION STOCKINGS DO?

As we explained in the formation of varicose veins, unfortunately, the venous system lacks a pumping heart and has to move passively upwards to the the heart against gravity. For this reason, there are valves in our veins. The blood will not return to the heart at a sufficient level in vein and valve dysfunctions that occur in cases of insufficiency. Instead, it will be pooled in the leg, wrist and foot. Compression stockings will support your leg health by providing a suitable, constant and continuous pressure at this stage. Thanks to the applied external pressure, the blood will move more easily in the vein, the circulation will be improved and the ponding in the legs will be prevented. In this way, ponding and the edema it causes, heaviness in the legs, fatigue and pain will disappear.

WHEN TO WEAR THE COMPRESSION STOCKINGS?

If you are in a risk group, that is, if you have one or more of the following, we recommend that you consult your cardiovascular surgeon and use compression stockings.

• Family history
• Female gender
• Fertility
• Obesity
• Old
• Pregnancy
• Sedentary life style
• Sitting for long periods of time
• Standing for long periods of time.

It is recommended not only for those in the risk group, but also for leg swelling, long journeys, athletes to protect or reduce pain.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COMPRESSION STOCKING AND HOW TO USE IT?

Compression stockings are the simplest and most affordable protective method that can be easily found everywhere for patients with a risk group or diagnosed. However, one of the important points is that they should be properly prescribed and used permanently. For this purpose, I will seek answers to a few frequently asked questions.

1.  How Should I Wear Compression Stockings

Your doctor will prescribe you the most suitable stockings. The stockings you receive should fit tight the foot, ankle and leg well. It should not be wrinkled, it should be folded. Especially below the knee, above the knee and in the crotch type socks, as the folds from the upper elastic area are very common, they should definitely be avoided. Because such curls disrupt your circulation and harm you as well as removing the socks from its purpose. Unless your doctor recommends otherwise, compression stockings are normally worn before getting out of bed in the morning, after your legs are lifted to the wall and emptied in the direction of gravity for a few minutes, unrested all day and are removed in bed.

2. Which Size Compression Stockings Should I Prefer?

Compression stockings are measured with pressure, mmHg. Low numbers indicate low pressures and high numbers indicate high pressures. Your doctor will determine the socks that are suitable for you for your intended use. If your intended use is a previous deep vein thrombosis or a high risk of deep vein thrombosis, a high pressure stocking will be recommended to you. Antiembolic stockings with the highest pressure will be recommended after long hospital stays and major surgeries. If our intended use is varicose veins, that is, chronic venous insufficiency, the socks we will prefer will be medium pressure socks. Socks, which we call resting or low pressure, will be given to patients who do not have a diagnosed disease and have symptoms similar to venous insufficiency.

Stockings according to pressure degrees:

• Low grade (8-15 mmHg) is recommended for those who stand for a long time, pregnant women, and those with mild leg edema.
• Medium stockings (15-25 mmHg) are suitable for the relief or prevention of complaints in this group, patients with venous insufficiency. It is recommended for long-term travel, patients at risk of DVT and after venous surgeries.
• High-pressure stockings (25-35 mmHg) are recommended for patients with orthostatic hypotension, as well as for patients with severe edema or DVT after some venous surgeries.
• Extra tight stockings (35-45 mmHg) can also be used for severe venous insufficiency, edema, DVT risk, orthostatic hypotension.

WILL STOCKINGS HEAL MY VARICOSE VEINS?

The answer to this question is definitely NO. Compression stockings are not curative for venous insufficiency. Its main purpose is to relieve complaints, slow down the course of the disease and increase the quality of daily life. Compression stockings have absolutely no therapeutic effect.

CAN EVERYONE WEAR COMPRESSION STOCKINGS?

The answer to the question is also NO. If you have one of the following diseases or complaints, you should definitely consult your doctor.

• Congestive heart failure
• Septic phlebitis
• Advanced arterial disease and circulatory disorders in the legs
• Skin infections
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Allergies
• Dermatitis

WHAT SIZE SHOULD THE COMPRESSION STOCKING BE

The most preferred type of socks is below the knee. Studies have shown that knee-high socks are sufficient for protective purposes. However, if you have a widespread insufficiency diagnosed by ultrasonography along the entire leg, it is also beneficial to wear crotch type or pantyhose. Take your socks in line with the recommendations of our doctors.

SHOULD I WEAR COMPRESSION STOCKING in SPORTS?

The answer to this question is definitely YES for patients in the risk group and with ultrasonography-proven venous insufficiency. In the worst case scenario, you can wear your daily socks recommended by your doctor, as there are compression stockings specially manufactured for sports purposes.

HOW TO WASH COMPRESSION STOCKINGS?

Do not forget, compression stockings are a medical product and are adjusted for pressures that decrease from the ankle to thigh. For this reason, they should be washed carefully and with care. When I tell these to my patients, I say you should wash them like a sweater. In other words, it should be washed in warm water with gentle movements without rubbing it, and it should be dried at room temperature, without wringing it too much, by laying it on a towel as if drying a sweater. It should never be dried in a dryer, heater or under the sun. In applications made in this way, the compression stocking will immediately lose its feature and its life will be shortened, Regardless of the conditions used, I recommend my patients to buy 2 socks for washing one and to change them in every 6 months.