How to choose compression tights for varicose veins

Compression stockings how to choose

Do you think it is appropriate to ask a pharmacist the following question: “I have varicose veins, please advise which stockings to buy?”

It seems that everything is in order, but with a thoughtful attitude - no!

Varicose veins come in different forms – different stages, different degrees of tissue damage and different places of manifestation:

— venous insufficiency in the initial stage (three stages)

- varicose veins without trophic disorders

- varicose veins with trophic disorders

and many individual features. Only a phlebologist can accurately prescribe both the degree of compression and the type of product itself: for some, compression socks are enough, for others, stockings are enough, and for others, just tights - both in winter and summer!

For each type of compression product - stockings, knee socks and tights, the degree of maximum compression is written on the box: it is written either in “den” or in mmHg.

Different manufacturers interpret compression levels differently, but the maximum compression values ​​themselves are always indicated on the boxes.

Let's say a doctor reveals that you have varicose veins without trophic disorders and advises you to wear stockings to prevent thrombosis with a density of 23-32 mmHg.

The VINOTEX company will have stockings with the second compression class:

Class 2 (23-32 mm Hg): varicose veins without trophic disorders, after surgery on the veins, prevention of thrombosis and embolism, venous insufficiency during pregnancy.

And for the Italian TIANA it is the 1st compression class 22-27 mm Hg (280 den)

How to choose compression stockings

Once you have tackled the vital issue of how to choose compression stockings for varicose veins, first discuss your diagnosis in detail in terms of the digital compression values ​​you need, rather than the compression class:

— compression 18-22 mm Hg. Art. (140) : hereditary predisposition, excess weight, prolonged work sitting or standing, heavy lifting; venous insufficiency in the initial stage, slight dilatation of veins.

— compression 23-32 mm Hg. Art. (280) : varicose veins without trophic disorders, after venous surgery, prevention of thrombosis and embolism, venous insufficiency during pregnancy.

— compression 34-46 mm Hg. Art. (340): varicose veins with trophic disorders, lymphovenous insufficiency, post-traumatic edema.

— compression > 49 mm Hg. Art.): deep vein thrombosis, elephantiasis of the lower extremities.

For example, to prevent further development of varicose veins in the early stages, compression hosiery is produced in three degrees of compression:

The pressure at the ankle is 8-11 mm Hg. Density 40 den;

Improves blood circulation in the legs, relieves fatigue.

The pressure at the ankle is 13-15 mm Hg. Density 70 den.

The pressure at the ankle is 18-21 mm Hg. Density 140 den.

Used to treat the initial manifestations of chronic venous insufficiency. Improves blood circulation, relieves swelling of the legs.

How to choose the right compression stockings High levels of compression are selected ONLY on the recommendation of a phlebologist.

This diagram of pressure distribution along the length of the stocking will tell you how to choose the right compression stockings:

In compression hosiery, the pressure is distributed from bottom to top: in the ankle area it is maximum, in the knee area it is average, and towards the thigh it is minimal. The presence of a precisely dosed pressure gradient ensures that the veins work as closely as possible and return venous blood to the heart.

Compression stockings how to choose the size

The sign below will tell you how to choose compression stockings by size. This plate takes into account both the height and weight of the buyer.

Compression knitwear is a fairly expensive product, and various manufacturers improve the toes and heels of products, insert figured gussets or weave complex “breeches” shapes. All this is aimed at extending the wear life of an expensive product and increasing the degree of comfort for sore feet.

In any case, do not be shy and ask the pharmacist to take the stockings out of the box and show them unwrapped.

Additionally, it is worth knowing all the intermediate sizes of your feet.

This especially applies to compression above 36 mmHg. These tights can be made to order.

It is recommended to put on compression products in the morning without getting out of bed.

We remind you that first of all you should remove rings and other jewelry from your hands.

Then carefully assemble the product from the top to the toe.

Correctly fix the toe and heel of the product on the foot.

Gently, with little effort, stretch the product from the ankle to the knee.

Straighten out the wrinkles on the shins.

Distribute the product over the thigh (for stockings and tights).

For golf shoes, use the shoe size table:

Compression tights for varicose veins: features of selection and use

In addition to medications and procedures, the treatment course for varicose veins may also include some auxiliary agents. These include compression tights for varicose veins.

They can act as an excellent prophylactic agent and are also recommended for use after surgery or at the end of sclerotherapy.

Specific features of therapeutic knitwear

Compression knitwear can have an additional corrective effect on the vessels, especially on the affected ones. This method of treatment cannot be considered new, because it has been known for a long time.

However, compared to ordinary underwear, which has a squeezing effect, tights for varicose veins will have some characteristic features.

First of all, it is necessary to highlight the gradation of compression, which will be optimal for the affected veins. It is distributed like this:

Thanks to this distribution, tights for varicose veins will promote maximum blood flow from the lower extremities. It is almost impossible to achieve a similar effect from ordinary compression knitwear.

Another important feature of special underwear is strict adherence to the recommended parameters. These include compression indicators and sizing.

Is it possible to use special underwear for expectant mothers?

Tights for pregnant women against varicose veins have no contraindications. On the contrary, many doctors strongly recommend their use. Each stage of pregnancy has its own purposes:

• During the first trimester - for preventive purposes.
• In the 2-3 trimester - in order to optimize blood flow in the lower extremities.

However, for expectant mothers, the design of compression garments will be slightly different compared to regular models. Special tights against varicose veins for pregnant women have the following features:

• Elastic, comfortable bandage (for optimal and reliable support of the protruding abdomen) - in the upper part of the product.
• The material from which the products are made has a high degree of air permeability.

Tights can be replaced with stockings, especially in the last trimester. This is due to the large girth of the abdomen, which not every model of medical product can accommodate.

All stockings can be divided into several types, depending on the individual characteristics of the physiological structure of the patient’s body:

• Classic.
• With practical silicone rubber at the top.
• Equipped with a corset belt (stockings and belt are connected to each other with Velcro).
• With an open toe shape and a closed heel.

When choosing a stocking model, you can be guided not only by the doctor’s advice, but also by your own preferences.

Principles of classification of therapeutic knitwear

Unfortunately, it is impossible to find varicose tights at regular lingerie retail outlets. To purchase them, you need to visit a specialized salon with orthopedic products and arm yourself with a doctor’s prescription in advance.

Depending on the amount of pressure exerted by the underwear on the limbs, tights against varicose veins are divided into the following classes:

• Class 1 – with compression no more than 23 mm Hg. Art. (recommended for spider veins and enlarged veins that are visually noticeable).
• Class 2 – with pressure up to 33 mm Hg. Art. (for the middle stages of varicose veins and thrombophlebitis).
• Class 3 – with a compression value of up to 45 mm Hg. Art. (in severe forms of varicose veins, when trophism is disrupted).
• Class 4 – with strong pressure, over 50 mm Hg. Art. (to eliminate disorders associated with improper outflow of lymph, as well as to eliminate severe swelling).

Depending on the shape and size of the product, there are not only orthopedic tights for varicose veins, but also the following knitwear items:

• Knee socks (knee cap length).
• Stockings (to the top of the thighs).

Tights will have the greatest length, therefore, a wider area of ​​coverage of the veins.

Depending on the gender of the patients, all knitwear can be divided into:

• Female (plain or patterned).
• Male (standard plain).

Among the many manufacturers, there are several of the most well-known and proven:

• Relaxan (Italy).
• Intex (Russia).
• ORTO (Spain).
• Venotex (USA).
• Medi or Bauerfind (Germany).
• Sigvaris (Switzerland) - belongs to the elite species.

The differences between them are in the design features and period of use, as well as in the pricing policy.

How to choose the right products for yourself

People often ask a standard question when buying tights for varicose veins: how to choose them successfully? The answer to it will depend on the stage of the disease and on individual symptoms. Therefore, a preliminary consultation with an experienced specialist will never hurt.

If you follow the classification by class, then the patient can choose a class 1 model independently. As for how to choose tights for grade 2-3 varicose veins, you can’t do without the advice of an experienced phlebologist. He will be able to suggest not only the optimal mode for wearing underwear, but also teach you how to use it correctly.

As for price categories, they depend on the base material and the manufacturer. However, the purpose of all models is the same:

• Stopping the progression of venous disease.
• Elimination of blood stagnation.
• Elimination of swelling (especially on the ankles).

Therapeutic tights for varicose veins should be worn in a special way, following the following recommendations:

• Putting on underwear is done in the morning (you can do it right in bed).
• At the same time, the legs are slightly raised, which allows you to maintain an almost ideal position of all the veins.
• Try to avoid twisting the tights or stretching them too much.
• Dressing begins by gathering the top part, slowly distributing the product from the toe to the shin and beyond.
• In the hip area, tights are pulled on not while standing, but lying down.

With a little practice, you can master all these subtleties in a few techniques. It is acceptable to use latex gloves to avoid damaging the microscopic fibers of the tights.

Additional properties of compression garments

Slimming tights for varicose veins, in addition to the pronounced basic beneficial properties, also have a lot of additional advantages. This allows them to be used not only in the treatment of affected veins, but also in the fight against other diseases. Examples of the need to wear tights include:

• The process of losing excess weight. In order to remove excess fluid accumulated in the body and smooth out fat deposits.
• The period after childbirth (during the first months) - to prevent complications (uterine prolapse, etc.) and support the abdominal muscles.

Even athletes can use such underwear to increase endurance.

What care is required for special medical underwear?

Tights for varicose veins, unlike regular knitwear, require special care. However, it will not present any particular difficulties. It is enough to follow a number of simple requirements:

• Daily hand wash, no spinning or twisting.
• The optimal water temperature is up to 40°.
• The most delicate detergents are used (shampoos, liquid soap, gentle powders).
• Any active ingredients (bleach, dry cleaning, hot air drying, drying in direct sunlight) are strictly prohibited to avoid deformation of the product.
• If there is a strip with silicone rubber on the product (for example, on knee socks), you must avoid getting water on it. To clean such a strip, a cotton swab dipped in any alcohol solution is suitable.

All these measures will allow you to keep compression products in their original form. So their useful characteristics will delight you for quite a long time. A completely reasonable step when purchasing would be to choose not just one, but several pairs at once.

How legs hurt with varicose veins - forewarned is forearmed

The most significant symptom of varicose veins is pain along the veins, but how do your legs hurt with the disease when it just begins to develop? If you suspect varicose veins, you need to know not only the characteristics of the pain, but also how to deal with it, since the rhythm of life requires movement, and sometimes unpleasant sensations greatly interfere with this.

Like any other disease, varicose veins do not develop on their own; there are a number of prerequisites that provoke its development:

• Heredity . In fact, heredity cannot be considered an independent cause of varicose veins, that is, heredity plays a role only when there are other precedents for the development of the disease. The appearance of pathological symptoms does not happen simply due to heredity.
• Wrong shoes. High heels are just the tip of the iceberg; in fact, varicose veins can be caused by any incorrectly chosen shoes. Constant pressure in the foot area negatively affects the outflow of blood, thereby causing discomfort in the area of ​​​​compression, or along the veins.
• Constant load on the legs. This affects people whose professions involve constantly being on their feet (hairdressers, surgeons, salespeople, etc.). People employed in such industries face painful sensations every day; fatigue in the legs very often gives way to discomfort, which is quite simple to cope with, you just have to raise your legs above the level of your heart.
• Injuries . Oddly enough, the pathology may well develop in connection with injuries to the vascular wall. Visually, such an injury may be completely invisible, and the patient will pay attention only to subcutaneous manifestations, such as a hematoma. Pain with this development of varicose veins can be confused with unpleasant sensations associated with injury.
• The problem is inside the body . All kinds of infections, endocrine disorders, and intoxications can provoke the development of varicose veins; often the disease does not have any symptoms, they develop only after further progression.

Important! Every disease must be monitored by a doctor, because it is he who must be told even about those symptoms that, it would seem, are not directly related to the disease.

Pain due to varicose veins is a common, but not unambiguous, phenomenon. The presence of a symptom, as well as its nature, can vary significantly in each patient. Anatomical changes are in no way related to the intensity of manifestations.

So here's what you can feel:

1. Nothing. Indeed, at times, varicose veins do not bother the patient at all, do not manifest themselves in any way, and do not affect the quality of life.
2. Swelling from time to time. In medicine, this symptom is called “episodic edema.” The pain that accompanies such swelling is most often caused not by the pathology itself, but by compression from shoes or clothing. Swelling and pain, which occur sporadically, appear only in the afternoon, and not always every day.
3. Fatigue . The sensation is quite close to pain, but nevertheless it is not pain. Patients notice fatigue first in the afternoon, but as the disease progresses, fatigue also increases. Some patients may experience a feeling of fatigue even after minimal exertion.
4. Heaviness. The so-called “heavy leg syndrome” is the first truly painful manifestation of the disease. With varicose veins, discomfort in the legs can be bursting, pulling or even sharp. It is possible to combat such pain with the classic technique of raising the legs only in the initial stages of the disease; the rest of the time, the pain requires the use of local pharmacological drugs. Very often, it is at this stage of development that convulsions occur during sleep.
5. Constant swelling . Such swelling signals a serious degree of development of varicose veins and may be accompanied by pain along the vein, or discomfort in the lower leg or foot.
6. Ulcers and other disorders . Impaired blood flow over time leads to a stable lack of tissue trophism. Because of this, external lesions appear in the form of dermatitis, eczema or ulcers. Thus, the previously described symptoms are joined by symptoms of dermatological diseases, which can also manifest themselves in the form of pain.

Note! Fatigue and heaviness in the legs are sometimes associated not so much with varicose veins, but with the patient’s excess weight; when overlapping, one circumstance strengthens the other, which provokes a more pronounced manifestation of symptoms.

The appearance of the first symptoms is a reason to visit a doctor, but in some cases even a specialist needs the results of instrumental and laboratory tests.

It is important to remember that varicose veins have different localizations, and the formation of nodes does not occur symmetrically. If one leg hurts due to varicose veins, the second may not show any symptoms.

The symmetrical appearance of pain or swelling in the lower extremities may be associated not only with the pathology in question, but also with other diseases of the blood and lymphatic vessels, heart or kidneys.

What does it mean to prevent the development of pain?

It would seem that everything is simple, sometimes your legs hurt, sometimes they don’t, but the more the disease progresses, the greater the likelihood of pain. When varicose veins progress to grade 2-3, they are almost inevitable. Therefore, it is important not only to know how to deal with pain, but also to be able to prevent it in time.

So, instructions for healthy people:

7. Fight heredity. If you have a predisposition to varicose veins, then it is advisable to visit a doctor at least once every two years to identify even the asymptomatic course of the pathology.
8. Walk. An active lifestyle is beneficial regardless of the manifestations of various diseases. Fresh air has a positive effect not only on the cardiovascular system, but also on other body systems.
9. To refuse from bad habits. Smoking and alcohol, and all types of drugs cause vasospasm. In the future, the vein wall becomes more vulnerable, gradually developing into varicose veins. Intravenous drug use directly injures the vascular wall, not only at the puncture site, but also along the veins.
10. Do not lift heavy objects. If you are used to carrying heavy bags from the store, then it's time to give it up. Excess weight in the arms significantly increases the load on the legs. If lifting weights is associated with a profession (powerlifters, loaders, bodybuilders), then special underwear used for sports will help prevent the development of varicose veins.
11. Choose comfort. It is worth choosing the right shoes, because only by choosing comfortable, orthopedic correct shoes can you not worry about the occurrence of the disease. The same applies to socks, they should not only be comfortable, but also not be compressed by an elastic band, since this also interferes with the outflow of blood.

Important! No one is forcing all women to give up high-heeled shoes, since this is practically impossible. It is important for healthy people to carefully choose shoes; you can even choose orthopedic insoles.

The following recommendations apply to those who have already been diagnosed with the pathology. This does not mean that recommendations for healthy people do not apply to patients with varicose veins; preventive measures to prevent the disease also prevent its further development. Thus, treatment of varicose veins includes practical lifestyle recommendations.

1. Socks, stockings, tights. All of the above must be purchased at a pharmacy and have compression properties. When choosing, you must rely on the degree of compression recommended by your doctor. It is the use of compression garments that provides significant pain relief at the end of the day.
2. Take medications. Depending on the degree of development of the disease, the phlebologist prescribes drugs of local or general action. Venotonics improve blood flow, but do not relieve pain, that is, the pain goes away only with the systemic use of topical drugs.
3. Standard painkillers. A number of analgesic drugs are almost powerless in the development of pain in varicose veins, but a group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are quite capable of coping for a relatively short period of time. Ointments with a similar effect will also help cope with constant pain, but again, the duration of action of the drugs is not long enough.
4. Physical training. There are some reservations here, since heavy loads on the legs only produce a worsening result. It is necessary to consult a doctor to choose a short course of therapeutic and preventive physical education. As in the case of venotonic drugs, exercise therapy, in relation to pain, will only work with systemic exercise. But the overall effect will be noticeable immediately, that is, the load will not cause a feeling of extreme fatigue in the legs.
5. Useful sleep. The simplest advice on how to relieve leg pain due to varicose veins is to keep your legs elevated, but no one can lie all day with their legs elevated. Therefore, it is very effective to compensate for this during sleep and/or evening rest. All kinds of foot pillows recommended for patients can be replaced with a regular blanket while sleeping.

Important! Sometimes the patient needs to take anticoagulants to thin the blood, and sometimes taking such drugs will only worsen the patient's general condition. General anticoagulants are prescribed only by a qualified specialist, under the mandatory supervision of laboratory blood tests.

Get rid of it in one fell swoop

Chronic diseases haunt a person throughout his life, but in our case there is still a solution. If a patient is wondering how to relieve discomfort in legs with varicose veins forever, it means that his quality of life has dropped significantly, or he is simply tired of following an endless number of recommendations.

Surgical interventions for varicose veins are a long-proven method; it is only important to decide to take this step. In fact, by analyzing all types of operations, you can decide what is suitable for a particular person. The decision to perform an operation should be made by a vascular surgeon, since some patients cannot “go under the knife” due to contraindications.

How to choose compression garments

Compression hosiery is widely used to maintain correct, from a physiological point of view, pressure in the lower extremities of a person. Such stockings are used in the complex treatment of varicose veins , as well as for the prevention of this disease. In medicine, special underwear for veins is usually called medical knitwear. It is also called compression or anti-varicose underwear, therapeutic knitwear.

Phlebologists recommend wearing tights, socks, and compression socks for varicose veins. Such underwear should also be worn for thrombosis , thrombophlebitis , lymphedema and other problems with the blood vessels of the extremities.

What types of compression underwear are available, what is better - compression tights or stockings, the doctor will tell you and recommend during your appointment.

The therapeutic effect when using such underwear is manifested due to the fact that stockings, leggings or tights support the blood vessels and compress the dilated vein. This, in turn, evenly redistributes blood flow from dilated vessels to healthy ones.

Such underwear helps to activate blood circulation and improve tissue nutrition.

If you choose the right compression hosiery, it will help reduce the risk of developing blood clots .

Another important argument in favor of using such underwear is that there are almost no contraindications to the use of therapeutic knitwear. It does not cause side effects, but at the same time it is a good method of preventing the progression of varicose veins and helps maintain veins in a physiological state.

How do compression garments work for varicose veins?

Previously, when therapeutic knitwear was not produced, elastic bandages . However, their use has several significant disadvantages.

6. First of all, elastic bandages take a long time to apply, and in order to get the desired effect, this must be done correctly.
7. An important disadvantage is the inability to wear an elastic bandage all the time. Its non-aesthetic appearance does not allow it to be worn every day, whereas, for example, Medi and knitwear from other modern manufacturers look very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
8. Despite the fact that bandages have a low price, you won’t be able to save money when wearing them. After all, such a bandage very quickly becomes unusable. Therefore, it is better to find out how to choose high-quality knitwear and buy compression underwear for varicose veins.

Why do you need compression underwear and what is its effect? By squeezing dilated veins, such knitwear accelerates blood flow through the deep veins. As a result venous congestion , which is a prerequisite for the development of varicose veins. Those who are interested in which compression garments are best for varicose veins should take into account that it is worth buying quality products. After all, branded high-quality knitwear provides a graduated, that is, gradual decrease in pressure from the hand to the shoulder or from the shin to the thigh.

For example, a good online store for compression garments for varicose veins offers stockings that provide maximum (100%) pressure at the bottom of the calf and partial (40%) pressure in the thigh area. It is this distribution that is most correct from a physiological point of view, and therefore provides the greatest therapeutic effect. With this mode of pressure distribution, blood outflow is normalized due to the following effects:

9. The functioning of the valve apparatus improves and returns to normal.
10. The expanded lumen of the peripheral veins of the thighs and legs, especially the subcutaneous ones, decreases.
11. The muscle pump effect increases. When muscles contract during exercise, blood is pushed upward.

Effective compression garments for pregnant women. But during pregnancy , you need to select such knitwear based on the individual recommendations of your doctor.

How to choose compression hosiery?

Before choosing compression hosiery for varicose veins, you need to clearly understand that such underwear cannot eliminate the serious causes of venous insufficiency. Therefore, it is used before radical treatment. Medical knitwear simulates the situation as if veins that have dilated, been removed or sealed.

In addition, it is important to understand that non-surgical treatment of leg diseases should always be comprehensive. Only in this case the effect will be maximum. It is very important not only to wear compression garments, but also to use ointments and creams prescribed by your doctor, practice folk remedies for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins, and also lead a healthy lifestyle.

In order for the effect to be most noticeable, it is important to choose the right medical underwear. In this case, you need to take into account not only the reviews that you can read on the Internet and the prices of underwear, but also its quality and compression classes.

Compression knitwear is usually divided into three types:

But, regardless of whether knitwear is needed for treatment or prevention, it should be purchased exclusively in specialized stores or in retail outlets that are official dealers of medically recognized manufacturers of such underwear. It is important that in such stores consumers are always helped to choose the correct size of knitwear, since the effectiveness of treatment depends on this. To find the perfect underwear, the seller first measures the leg in four places. Next, a special table of sizes is used, according to which stockings or tights are selected.

As for different manufacturers, reviews of their products can often be found on the Internet. Many women write about how high quality the Sigvaris knitwear is, which costs between 4000-5000 rubles. But there are many positive reviews about “Copper” knitwear, the price of which is lower - about 3,000 rubles. You can learn more about this underwear and choose “Medi” compression hosiery on the company’s official website. Compression underwear from Venotex and Ortho is also of high quality, the prices for which are slightly lower - from 2000 rubles.

You can purchase underwear in four levels of compression:

• First compression class(18-21 mm Hg) – preventive knitwear, wearing which is indicated in the following cases:
  • during pregnancy ;
  • with a tendency to varicose veins ;
  • in the presence of initial symptoms of varicose veins: if the veins are noticeable under the skin, after prolonged standing or sitting the legs hurt, pronounced spider veins can be seen on the legs, and swelling appears in the evening;
  • if a person leads a lifestyle in which he is forced to sit or stand a lot - in the office, driving a car, behind the counter, etc.
  • The second compression class (23-32 mm Hg) is the most popular underwear. Compression hosiery of class 2 compression is used to treat varicose veins and thrombophlebitis . Hospital knitwear of class 2 compression is also used in the hospital.
  • Third class of compression (34-46 mm Hg) - compression tights of this class are used for patients with trophic disorders and severe venous insufficiency.
  • The fourth compression class (from 49 mm Hg) - this class is used very rarely - for men and women with lymphatic edema.

  Before purchasing stockings or tights for varicose veins, you should decide exactly what kind of underwear is best to buy. Those who are buying anti-varicose tights for the first time should not immediately choose compression class 2. After all, it may well be that this will be too strong a compression for the vascular system.

  First, it is better to purchase inexpensive underwear - the price of class 1 compression tights from some companies will be quite acceptable. After wearing it and gradually getting used to such underwear, you can later buy more expensive orthopedic tights for varicose veins.

  For the purpose of prevention, only class 1 underwear is used. If a person is already developing varicose veins, then a phlebologist will help you choose tights. You should also ask your doctor about how to choose compression tights for pregnant women so that the expectant mother feels good while wearing such underwear. In this case, it is important to choose the size of anti-varicose tights or stockings so that they do not cause noticeable discomfort.

  But no matter how enthusiastic the reviews about this or that underwear are, you need to understand that it will not be possible to cure varicose veins with its help, since wearing underwear does not eliminate the causes of the disease. Compression hosiery helps stop the progression of the disease and prevent the appearance of new veins affected by varicose veins.

  It is impossible to wear such underwear in hot summer weather, so during the summer you need to take medications for varicose veins and use other methods to combat this disease.

  In order not to damage the product and get the greatest effect, you need to know how to put on compression tights correctly - this is indicated in the instructions.

  Regardless of the price of such underwear, it can maintain compression for about 5-7 months.

  What do you need to know when buying compression stockings?

  Before purchasing such underwear, you need to clearly know how to choose compression stockings correctly for varicose veins. Special quality standards for compression garments have been defined. The most important and strict among them is the European RAL-GZ-387 .

  Any manufacturer seeking to produce knitwear that conforms to it must initially undergo very strict certification in Switzerland or Germany. Therefore, if elastic orthopedic stockings for varicose veins have such a certificate, this indicates its high quality. Knitwear with such a certificate provides pressure that is distributed over the limb (40-70-100%) and is therapeutic. The standard is evidenced by the packaging of the product, as well as the presence of a special label.

  To choose a good product, you need to focus not only on how much such socks or stockings cost, but, above all, on the manufacturer and a proven point of sale of the product. After all, on the domestic market it is very easy to make a mistake and buy fake medical stockings or tights. In addition, in specialized stores they will definitely tell the buyer how to determine the size for both men and women. You should also buy compression hosiery for pregnant women from trusted stores.

  Since therapeutic underwear is worn daily, it is very important to choose a hypoallergenic model. Therefore, you need to focus not on user reviews, but, first of all, on personal feelings. The linen must bear the sign of the European eco-safety standard Oeko-Tex Standard 10 - this guarantees that the product is made of material that does not cause allergies .

  How to put on compression stockings correctly?

  When buying treated knitwear, you need to know how to put on and how to wear such underwear correctly.

  Most often, people trying to prevent the progression of varicose veins wear compression stockings of compression class 2. After all, both the effectiveness and the price of compression stockings of compression class 2 often turn out to be the most acceptable for the patient. However, it often happens that products of the 2nd degree of compression are very uncomfortable for a person to wear. Moreover, most often, class 2 compression for men and women turns out to be uncomfortable precisely because a person puts on such a product incorrectly. After all, you can’t put it on like tights for a child, gathering them into an accordion and pulling the stocking up to the thigh. Both tights and knee socks or stockings should be put on slowly, gradually straightening them on the leg.

  Such underwear will be difficult for obese people to wear. To facilitate this process, you can purchase special devices in the store. How much such devices cost depends on the manufacturer. Compression hosiery should be worn with gloves to avoid damaging the underwear with your nails. In addition, if a person is wearing medical or other gloves, then the underwear glides better.

  If wearing compression underwear of the second class is uncomfortable, in some cases you can limit yourself to the first class. Moreover, the price of compression stockings of 1st compression class for women and men (Ortho, etc.) is lower. However, the price of stockings for varicose veins on the legs depends on other factors.

  A person who wears therapeutic knitwear should have smooth feet - without roughness or calluses. It is necessary to cut your toenails short and file them to avoid the appearance of puffs on your underwear.

  It is better to put on such underwear in the morning, on rested and, therefore, not swollen limbs. In this case, both legs and jerseys must be completely dry.

  Those who are interested in whether it is possible to sleep in such stockings need to understand that this is not necessary, since during sleep the load on the limbs is minimal.

  If the phlebologist prescribed the patient to wear class 3 products, putting them on will be more difficult and, accordingly, more time will have to be spent on it. For this it is better to use special devices.

  If the size chart provided on a particular website seems unclear, it is better to ask a specialist about how to choose the size of compression stockings for surgery or for everyday wear. After all, if the size is chosen incorrectly, it will be extremely uncomfortable to put on and wear such underwear.

  It is important to properly care for such products and know how to wash and dry them.

  Caring for compression garments

  When buying orthopedic underwear for women and men, you need to take into account that it is most convenient to have at least two pairs of such knitwear. After all, you need to wash it daily to get rid of dust, debris and dead skin particles, which can very quickly damage the fibers of the laundry.

  Washing is carried out only by hand, using baby soap. This type of laundry cannot be washed in a machine. It must be washed at a temperature of no more than 40 C. It is forbidden to iron or bleach it. Conditioners and rinse aids should also not be used. After all, they also destroy the structure of the contracting tissue.

  Dry the compression jersey by spreading it out on a horizontal surface. You cannot twist it or wring it out; you can easily blot it with a towel. Drying knitwear in the sun or in a vertical position is not allowed.

  You need to be very careful with silicone strips, which are important for securing the laundry. When washing, it is better not to wet them and wipe them with a disinfectant wipe.

  What to wear with such products depends on the woman’s taste. But, as a rule, knitwear from modern manufacturers is very beautiful and elegant.

  Contraindications for wearing compression garments

  Before choosing compression socks for varicose veins, you need to clearly know whether the patient has any contraindications to wearing them. Medical knitwear has several such contraindications.

  There are categorical contraindications, as well as relative ones, in which it is permissible to wear such knitwear after consultation with doctors - a cardiologist, dermatologist, endocrinologist.

  Wearing medical knitwear is absolutely contraindicated for the following diseases:

  In such conditions the lumen of blood vessels , and systolic blood pressure drops to 80 mm. rt. Art., therefore it is strictly forbidden to reduce the pressure in the lower extremities.

  Compression garments should be worn very carefully by those who have skin problems and high skin sensitivity.

  You should not wear stockings or tights if you have allergies and inflammatory processes on the skin, as well as dermatitis , bedsores, eczema , thrombophlebitis , and open wounds.

  If varicose veins appear due to diabetes , such underwear should not be used either. Compression hosiery is not used in cases of septic phlebitis , severe cardiopulmonary failure

  You can also come across the opinion that knitwear can provoke atrophy of the muscular layer of the vein walls . When a person stops wearing therapeutic underwear, the opposite effect is likely, as a result of which the venous wall will stretch, and varicose veins will progress even more.

  Of course, there is no way to check the condition of every vein in a person wearing such underwear. However, most phlebologists consider this theory to be erroneous, citing the following evidence in favor of this:

  • a person cannot wear therapeutic knitwear around the clock;
  • if the veins are subjected to compression, then the flow of blood in them decreases, but it does not stop;
  • as a rule, atrophy of the muscle wall develops if a person has a genetic predisposition, as well as if a local specific inflammatory process develops during venous stagnation, and when using knitwear, these phenomena are reduced;
  • sometimes, after stopping the use of underwear, a person initially feels a little worse, since the tone of the venous wall decreases for a while, but there is no talk of atrophy.

  Also, after the end of the period of wearing such underwear, people with varicose veins may feel that it has become more difficult for them to walk. Therefore, many people prefer not to give up wearing it.

  Thus, compression garments, which have been used for many decades, are a convenient and effective method for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins. However, before you start using it, you need to consult a phlebologist. The doctor will determine what the patient's condition is and help choose the most suitable product.

  What kind of compression knitwear is there for varicose veins, features of choice

  To maintain physiologically correct pressure in the lower extremities, in complex therapy and prevention of varicose veins, compression hosiery is widely used today.

  In the medical literature, such special underwear is also called medical hosiery, anti-varicose, compression underwear or therapeutic compression hosiery.

  These are hosiery products that are recommended by phlebologists as a treatment and prevention for various problems of the blood vessels of the legs. Compression garments are mainly used for varicose veins, thrombosis, epithelializing trophic ulcers, thrombophlebitis, and lymphedema.

  • The therapeutic effect of compression garments is due to the effect of supporting and squeezing an enlarged vein, which promotes the redistribution of blood flow from altered, enlarged veins to healthy ones
  • It improves tissue nutrition and increases blood circulation
  • The most important thing is that such knitwear, when used correctly and in the correct size, reduces the risk of blood clots
  • And what is also important is that if there are no contraindications to compression garments for its use, there are no side effects; it is a safe and simple method of preventing varicose veins and maintaining veins in a natural, physiological state.

  Therapeutic effect of compression tights for varicose veins?

  Previously, before the large-scale production of high-quality medical underwear, elastic bandages were widely used, the use of which has a number of disadvantages:

  • firstly, they must be applied very correctly each time, which does not always work out and takes a lot of time
  • secondly, the appearance of the bandages does not allow them to be worn, for example, to work
  • thirdly, their low price turns out to be deceptive, since the bandages very quickly become unusable, which negates all savings.

  What is the effect of using medical therapeutic knitwear? When squeezing dilated veins, compression garments for varicose veins help accelerate blood flow through the deep veins, thereby eliminating venous congestion (more about the mechanism of varicose veins). Moreover, high-quality modern compression hosiery provides for a graduated, that is, gradual decrease in pressure from the lower leg to the thigh, or from the hand to the shoulder.

  For example, in the lower part of the lower leg the pressure created by compression stockings or tights is a maximum of 100%, and in the upper part of the thigh it is 40%. This is the most appropriate and physiologically determined change in pressure, which has a therapeutic effect. This mode of pressure distribution on the veins stimulates and normalizes the upward flow of blood due to:

  • improvement and normalization of the valve apparatus
  • reduction of the expanded lumen of the peripheral, especially saphenous veins of the thighs and legs
  • increasing the effect of a muscle pump - when muscles contract due to physical activity, blood is pushed upward.

  However, it should be remembered that treatment with compression garments for varicose veins does not eliminate the deep causes of venous insufficiency, and it is used before radical surgical treatment. This knitwear simulates the situation - that dilated veins are sealed or removed.

  In addition, non-surgical conservative treatment of leg diseases should be comprehensive. The maximum effect can be obtained if you use creams and ointments recommended by your doctor, lead a healthy lifestyle, wear compression socks or tights every day, and also use folk remedies for the treatment of varicose veins (see treatment of varicose veins).

  Contraindications for the use of compression stockings

  As with any treatment, each product or medicine has a number of contraindications, and therapeutic medical knitwear is no exception. Some people should absolutely not use compression garments, while others should use them with caution after careful diagnosis and consultation with a doctor. If relative contraindications occur, you should consult a dermatologist, cardiologist, or endocrinologist.

  • Such underwear is absolutely contraindicated in cases of atherosclerosis, thromboangiitis obliterans, endoarteritis, orthoarteritis. With such chronic diseases of the arteries of the legs, leading to a decrease in the lumen of blood vessels and systolic blood pressure less than 80 mm. rt. Art. It is strictly forbidden to reduce pressure in the lower extremities using medical knitwear.
  • People with overly sensitive skin should use therapeutic knitwear with caution.
  • It is not advisable to use compression garments for inflammatory skin diseases, allergic reactions on the skin, various dermatitis, bedsores, open wounds, acute thrombophlebitis and eczema.
  • A relative contraindication is diabetes mellitus, since if the blood vessels in the legs are damaged due to diabetes, such underwear should also not be used.
  • In case of septic phlebitis and severe cardiopulmonary failure, when circulatory disorders occur at rest, compression hosiery should also not be used.

  Many are afraid to start wearing compression garments due to the fact that there is an opinion that knitwear provokes the development of atrophy of the muscular layer of the vein walls, and when their use is stopped, the opposite negative effect may occur - when the venous wall will not be able to counteract the blood pressure in the lumen of the vessel. Therefore, due to atrophy of the vein walls, existing varicose veins will progress even more.

  Unfortunately, it is impossible to conduct clinical studies on every vein subject to compression, but phlebologists believe that this opinion is erroneous, because:

  • The patient cannot wear compression garments 24/7
  • In veins that are subject to compression, the flow of blood decreases rather than stops altogether.
  • Atrophy of the muscle wall most often occurs due to a genetic disposition and a local specific inflammatory process during venous stagnation and filling of the vein. And this all decreases when using knitwear.
  • This can only happen based on the initial sensations of patients when the use of underwear is stopped. In this case, a temporary deterioration in condition and well-being occurs for some time, which is explained not by atrophy and progression of varicose veins, but by a temporary decrease in the tone of the venous wall.
  • Reviews and feelings of patients when they stop using compression stockings for varicose veins - most find it difficult to get used to starting to walk after using compression stockings. Many claim that when using a medicinal product, their legs become as if light and many do not want to give up using them anymore.

  How to choose compression garments

  Medical compression garments and knitwear are divided into: hospital, which is used only in hospitals, preventive and therapeutic. We will look in detail at the compression classes of therapeutic anti-varicose compression hosiery, how to choose compression garments, how to wear them and how to care for them.

  The most important point is that you should buy compression stockings, tights, and knee socks exclusively in specialized orthopedic salons or dealer salons of famous brands. In them, trained staff know how to accurately select the size of underwear, since the wrong size can turn the treatment completely ineffective. In a special store, the seller will measure your leg in 4 places and select the size of tights or stockings according to a special table.

  There are 4 compression levels:

  • 18-21 mm. rt. Art. Compression class 1 is a preventive compression that can and even should be worn constantly by persons:
    • prone to varicose veins
    • pregnant women
    • persons with initial signs of varicose veins, when the veins under the skin stand out strongly, if after prolonged sitting or standing there is pain in the legs, if spider veins are pronounced and swelling appears in the area of ​​​​the feet and ankles at the end of the day.
    • healthy people whose lifestyle and work requires them to sit or stand for a long time - office workers, drivers, hairdressers, salespeople.
    • 23 – 32 mm. rt. Art. Class 2 compression is the best, most popular class, which is used to treat thrombophlebitis and varicose veins.
    • 34 – 46 mm. rt. Art. Compression class 3 - used for trophic disorders and severe venous insufficiency.
    • 49 and more compression class 4 - used extremely rarely, for lymphatic edema.

    Those who are choosing anti-varicose jersey for the first time should not immediately buy expensive underwear of 2nd degree compression, it is possible that your vascular system will not be able to withstand it. When you wear inexpensive underwear for some time, get used to it; if you feel comfortable in it, you can then select higher quality and more expensive compression underwear.

    For prevention, of course, you should use only compression class 1 underwear, and if varicose veins develop, the compression class is determined by a phlebologist. Compression underwear cannot cure varicose veins, since the causes of its appearance are very deep and with external influence it can only be stopped and prevented from developing further, that is, compression tights for varicose veins are designed to prevent the appearance of new varicose veins. In the summer, of course, it is impossible to wear knitwear, so in the warm season you should take medications orally or use other methods of treatment.

    You should also know that any compression garment maintains compression for no more than 5-7 months.

    Reviews from some women about the quality of compensation underwear from various manufacturers - knitwear from the Sigvaris company, the average price for which, within 4,500 rubles, is almost no different from Copper, which costs about 2,500 rubles. Also quite good quality underwear made in Germany is Ortho and Venotex, the prices for which are quite reasonable 1000-1500 rubles.

    What to look for when buying and how to avoid counterfeiting?

    There are quality standards for therapeutic compression garments for varicose veins, one of the most significant and strict is the European standard RAL-GZ-387. In order for a manufacturer to use the logo of this standard, it must undergo strict certification in Germany or Switzerland. If the underwear has such a certificate, it means it is really high quality, creates a distributed pressure of 40-70-100% and is therapeutic; you can learn about this standard from the packaging and the label on the product.

    It is worth choosing the manufacturer very carefully, since there are a lot of fakes on the wild Russian market, so it is better to purchase compression stockings or compression tights either in dealer stores or in specialized stores, where specialists will accurately select the appropriate model according to your standards.

    Since such knitwear should be worn every day, it must be hypoallergenic; in order to determine this, the purchased product must bear the Oeko-Tex Standard 10 European environmental safety standard mark.

    Are there any special features when putting on compression stockings, tights, or knee socks?

    You should know that even the second class of compression hosiery, which is considered the most common, is sometimes “beyond the patient’s strength”:

    • This often occurs due to the inconvenience and difficulty of putting underwear on your legs. The peculiarity of such knitwear is that it cannot be worn like children's tights, gathered into an accordion and then pulled up. Both stockings and tights should be put on gradually, straightening them on the leg. If a person has a large belly, and tying a shoelace is already a problem, then putting on underwear will also be difficult.
    • To make it easier to put on, many people use special devices offered in the same salons. And also gloves, which should definitely be worn, they can be both household and medical, since expensive linen can be ruined by a manicure and the linen will slide better if your hands are in gloves.
    • Naturally, toenails should be trimmed and filed, there should be no calluses or roughness, otherwise the underwear will quickly tear or there will be a lot of puffs.
    • It is also important that your feet are dry, as well as your underwear; you should wear compression stockings in the morning, when your feet are not swollen and rested.
    • It is especially difficult to put on compression class 3 products - it is a lot of work, and if the patient trusts his phlebologist and is sure that he needs such treatment, then he should be patient, otherwise he should not start treatment with this class. It is usually recommended to wear compression classes 3 and 4 using a special special device.
    Categories : Legs