Buying Compression Stockings

The High Cost of Compression Stockings: Tips on Cutting Costs

The high price tag associated with compression hose keep many users from wearing compression stockings as recommended. Here are tips for cutting costs.

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Buying Lymphedema Products

For many people with lymphedema, you may need to buy lymphedema products from a reliable source. You may hold in your hands a prescription from your health care provider, but 1) have no idea what you’re buying, 2) have no idea where to purchase it, and 3) feel unsure that you’re getting the most features or capabilities for your money.

Feeling confused and concerned about the cost of lymphedema products, patients may put off purchases or even ignore their doctor’s suggestions for buying products that could make their lives easier and their health better. Fortunately there are a few simple tips that can make selecting products easier.

1. Go with your doctor or health care provider’s advice. Usually, people with lymphedema need a few items, including compression stockings or arm sleeves, lymphedema bandages and foam padding, sequential compression devices or compression pumps, and other durable medical supplies. For stockings, your doctor may recommend a brand like Mediven, Jobst, Juzo, or Sigvaris.

For sequential compression devices, your doctor may recommend a brand like PresSion, Flexitouch, BioCompression, Wright Therapy, or Kendall. Both compression garments and compression pumps are medical devices, can be somewhat complicated to operate if you’re new to using them and may require assistance to learn how to use properly. It’s tempting to go with an off-name brand to save a few bucks, but your doctor made a recommendation for a tested product for your situation, so it’s advisable to follow the advice of someone familiar with your specific health situation.

2. Don’t purchase a used or refurbished model – you don’t know what you’re getting! Going with a used model could put your health at risk if it doesn’t work properly. The investment you make in a compression pump machine will be one of the most important investments you make because it will help you live a longer and healthier life, allowing you to succeed at work and home and spend more time with family and friends. Unauthorized dealers may purchase your sequential compression device from a middleman. They may not work properly and you will never know. In addition, you may pay a significant amount of money and not have warranty coverage. The risk isn’t worth it.

3. Avoid websites that offer cheaper brands when buying lymphedema products. Instead, look for a website that offers machines with warranties from the quality manufacturers (PresSion, Kendall, Flexitouch, BioCompression, or Wright Therapy, or Jobst, Juzo, Mediven, and Sigvaris) and offers free customer care and support. When you’re buying equipment that costs you or your insurance company hundreds to thousands of dollars, you deserve access to customer support if you need it.

4. Look for brands recommended by recognizable organizations, such as the American Cancer Society. If you’re unsure about a specific brand, contact the manufacturer for information about their product offerings, warranties, customer service, and more, so you can compare.

Travel Compression Socks: What to Look For Before Buying

Before you board the plane or gas up the car for a road trip, consider choosing a pair of travel compression socks, especially if you suffer from varicose veins, lymphedema, deep vein thrombosis, leg swelling, or general leg fatigue. The tight fibers of a travel compression sock help to promote blood and fluid flow in your feet and legs, reducing swelling and the risk of dangerous blood clots. In fact, your doctor may even insist that you wear travel compression stockings or support hose, especially during longer flights or car rides.

So, how to buy travel socks? Here are a few suggestions:

Consider length. Travel socks come in a variety of lengths – you can choose knee highs, thigh high stockings, or full-leg varieties. For people without major medical conditions who just want to combat the fatigue of long flights, knee highs purchased online or from the drugstore may prove supportive enough. For those with serious thrombotic conditions, like deep vein thrombosis, ask your doctor about tighter compression that may require a prescription.

What about washability? You’ll want stockings you can easily wash after wearing. Be sure that your stockings don’t require machine washing if you won’t have access to those facilities.

Color coordinate. People prone to leg swelling may want the extra support and compression of travel socks when sightseeing. In that case, you’ll want to be sure your socks match the majority of the travel outfits you’ve chosen. You’re in luck, though – many of today’s socks come in a variety of colors.

Here are a few socks that can help you stay stylish and swelling-free on your travels:

Ariva Travel Legwear – Womens Black

Thomas M. said: “Worked as promised on a 30 hour trip, 26 hours of flying. Still felt good at end. Used as regular socks on vacation. Washed and dried easily in hotel sink. Still felt good on return trip, after 4 or 5 washings.”

J.R. M. said: “A bought them for a trip to Europe after reading several medical articles about DVT. Wow! They are truly comfortable. No leg pain at all on the long flight. I now wear them on all flights no matter the length. I’m going to get a couple of more pair for auto trips and anything where I will be seated for long periods of time. Buying these is just the safe thing to do if you travel any at all.”

Mediven Travel Compression Socks – Medium Compression

Finally, here are some other suggestions that may help your travel compression socks work better:

• Drink up. Drinking plenty of water, juice, and other hydrating beverages during your flight or ride will be helpful, because dehydration can reduce blood volume and increase the likelihood of clots.
• Move around. When your seatbelt sign is off, try to get up regularly to walk the aisles or move around in your row. If you’re driving somewhere, stop regularly and take brisk walks to keep blood flowing.

Discount Compression Stockings: Are They Worth the Bargain?

Has your doctor told you that you need to wear compression stockings for your varicose veins, lymphedema, pregnancy, or deep vein thrombosis?

With prices ranging from $50 to even $150 or more per pair, your first response is probably sticker shock when you visit a medical supply store to purchase them. In many cases, your health care provider might recommend purchasing two or more pairs, the cost of which can be a definite budget buster.

It’s tempting to search for the lowest priced stockings, thinking you’re saving money. But when it comes to compression gear, there are a few considerations before beginning a bargain hunt.

Buying Cheap Could Hurt Your Health

Discount stockings come in a variety of compression levels. Typically, lighter stockings with less compression are less expensive than higher level stockings. But stockings in the 8-15 mmHg  range, the cheapest varieties, only help people with minor vein problems, such as aching legs from pregnancy or people in careers that have them on their feet a lot.

People with serious vein problems, whose doctors recommend firmer compression, may be putting their health at risk if they try to skimp on cost by using a lighter compression than they need. If you need cheap compression stockings in the 30-40 mmHg or higher range, expect to pay $75 or more per pair.

Off-Brand Stockings May Not Work as Well

Juzo, Jobst, Sigvaris, and Mediven are some of the most common manufacturers of compression stockings. Those looking for discount stockings may come across drugstore brands or knockoff varieties produced overseas on auction sites, but often you get what you pay for: the compression level may not be as advertised, or the stockings may be low quality and wear out more quickly than a name brand carried by medical supply stores.

Buying Used Often a Bad Idea

Online auction sites like Ebay and even Craigslist may turn up deals on lightly used stockings. But consider this: With used stockings, it’s hard to verify the stocking’s compression level, especially if there is no original packaging. The previous wearer may have weighed more or less than you, stretching out the stocking and compromising the compression.

For these reasons, doctors do not recommend wearing used stockings, but instead getting those fitted for you. However, if you can find new cheap medical stockings that come in their original packaging, and you’re certain you’re getting the brand, size, and compression level you need, you may be able to snag a deal.

Discount Medical Stockings: You CAN Find Deals

Buying medical stockings online can net you some bargains, though. Here are a few tips to get online deals on name brand stockings:

1) Purchasing through a retailer like Amazon can get you free shipping for orders over $25 (free 2-day membership if you have a Prime membership). They carry brands like:

• Juzo (30-40 mmHg Unisex Thigh Highs; 40-50 mmHg Open Toe Thigh Highs)
• Jobst (20-30 mmHg Knee Highs Unisex)
• Sigvaris (20-30 mmHg Truly Transparent Thigh Highs; 30-40 mmHg Open Toe Thigh Highs Unisex)
• Mediven (20-30 mmHg Open Toe Knee Highs)
• Compression Stocking Aids

2) Look for coupon codes for online discount compression stocking retailers. Try Googling “coupon code” and the name of the supplier website to find codes that you can enter to get a percentage off your order or free shipping.

3) Buy multiples. It’s not as good a shipping deal as Amazon, but other medical supply retailers often offer free shipping on orders $65 and above, so buying stockings in bulk (and you’ll need at least one pair to wear, one pair to wash) can save some money.

Compression Stockings for Men: Tips to Make It Easier to Wear Compression Garments

In a previous post, we discussed how compression men garments can help guys with varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis, and other circulatory concerns. But many guys may still balk at the idea of wearing compression stockings, even when their doctors highly recommend it. To make things easier, we’ve included a few tips that may make wearing stockings for men more bearable.

Tip #1: First get a good fit

Compression socks that are too loose are likely to sag, bag, and generally cause you frustration, whereas stockings that are too tight can literally cut you off at the knees, making even walking difficult. What you need is a just-right fit. From the comfort of your own home, the best way to do that is to check out the manufacturers’ size chart and following their measuring instructions. The major manufacturers, including Sigvaris, Juzo, Jobst, and Mediven, all offer sizing information and measuring instructions online. That way you’ll get the fit that’s right for you.

Tip #2: Invest in a few color choices

Compression hosiery for men comes in a variety of color choices, but because of the potential expense, you may be hesitant to order more than one pair. If at all possible, buy at least one dark pair and one light pair of stockings so you won’t be tempted to leave them at home because they don’t match your pants.

Here are a few color choices for men:

• Over-the-Calf Dress Socks – Brown, Navy, Khaki, Black
• Over-the-Calf Socks – White
• Mens’ Dress Knee High Socks – Brown, Navy, Black, Khaki

Tip #3: Get them on easily

These stockings can be tough to get on, even for the most macho. Try slipping on a pair of latex gloves so your hands don’t snag the stocking’s fibers, and remove all rings before putting on your stockings.

Easy Roll Stocking Donner

IT Stays Body Adhesive – helps compression stockings stay up better

Tip #4: Buy brands that last

You can purchase compression gear for men over the counter at most drugstores and pharmacies, but you may find your money better spent going for quality. Manufacturers such as Sigvaris, Mediven, Juzo, and Jobst offer quality products for not much more than drugstore brands, and they’re made to last for months and years instead of a matter of weeks.

There are ways to get cheap medical stockings, too.

Jobst Compression Stockings: User Reviews

Jobst compression stockings (a brand of BSN Medical) is one of the foremost brands of graduated medical hosiery available (other popular brands include Sigvaris, Mediven, and Juzo). If your doctor has recommended you wear support stockings for varicose veins, spider veins, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, lymphedema, or other vein or circulatory disorders, it’s likely that you’ll encounter Jobst compression socks on the shelves of your local medical supply store or online retailer.

But how well does Jobst hosiery really work? How easy are they to get on and use? Although medical supply salespeople or catalog operators can offer advice, if you’re forking over money for these stockings, you want to be sure you’ll like what you get. Here are some comments we’ve found about the quality and use of Jobst support stockings.

One user said of Jobst thigh-high 15-20 mmHg stockings: “Have been wearing support stockings for 14 years. Have always needed ‘It Stays’ to hold them up. Those days are thankfully over. The new Jobst Stocking, with its built-in suction design, stays up without glue. Cleaner, easier, and more comfortable. Good job, Jobst.”

Another user praised the product, with one caveat: “It really helps my painful legs. They are too thick to use during the hot summer of Texas, but can use them at home.”

Of the Jobst brand compression socks for diabetics (men or women can wear this product), one woman noted both benefits and potential drawbacks: “I have mostly appreciated these socks. The price is reasonable, they are soft and comfortable, and they are supportive without making your legs feel squeezed. They do get a bit warm and sweaty sometimes. The top band is mostly very good – not too tight, not too loose. The socks stay up very well – they never turn slack even after many washings. However, the top band has a tiny elastic edge that can leave a red line across your skin after many hours. This tiny elastic edge is not uncomfortable nor does it affect circulation. To avoid developing the red line, I either fold the top edge down or occasionally I wear the socks inside out. For me a pair lasts about a year and then wears out at the heel (I land on my heels pretty hard). I am buying more of these because overall they are very good to have in your pressure-sock collection.”

Another user noted: “These socks are the best. They give your feet and calves life. I am extremely happy with them and have been using them for about 4 years. They are usually difficult to get online but they came on time and as ordered from this vendor.”

The general consensus from user reviews? Jobst stockings work great, but can make your legs feel hot and sweaty at times. But if you need gradient compression hosiery for medical reasons, Jobst brand stockings are a great option.

Maternity Stockings: Pregnant Women Find Relief from Maternity Stockings

Pregnancy can be a time of incredible joy, hope, and excitement – and a time of physical discomfort. The increased blood volume and weight gain that pregnant women experience puts pressure on the veins in the lower body, making women susceptible to both spider veins and varicose veins. To prevent varicose veins during pregnancy, health care providers often recommend maternity stockings.

What are maternity stockings?

This supportive legwear squeezes the veins in the legs, making blood flow more easily and reducing the likelihood of developing varicose legs, which are bulging masses of swollen veins, which often occur in the legs. Varicose veins can occur in other areas of the body, too; when they occur in the rectal area, they’re known as hemorrhoids. Pregnant women who are overweight, carry twins, triplets, or other multiples, or who have a genetic predisposition to varicose veins are more likely to develop them.

What brand should I choose?

Maternity compression stockings don’t have to be unfashionable. There are several popular retailers, including Juzo, Jobst, Mediven, and Sigvaris, that make patterned, colored stockings that are perfect for wearing with skirts or professional attire.

Where do I get them?

You can get these stockings at a drugstore or pharmacy, medical supply store, or from online retailers. Pregnancy stockings come in different levels of compression; the higher the level, the more tightly they squeeze the leg veins. Your doctor or midwife may suggest that drugstore legwear is good enough for you, or he or she may recommend higher levels available only with a prescription.

How do I use them?

These stockings should be worn daily, but taken off at night. Slide your foot into the foot of the stockings, and then gently roll the stockings up the leg. Be careful not to tug the stocking into place; you could ruin the elastic compression fibers if you do this. Avoid putting lotion on your legs or wearing rings or other jewelry when you put on your maternity stockings. If you have trouble getting the stockings on, you can use a device called a compression stocking aid (or stocking donner) to help make it easier.

Compression Men: What They Can Do for You

For guys who need compression garments, choosing them can be intimidating. After all, unlike women, most guys may have no experience buying legwear. But buying compression men garments doesn’t have to be a challenge. Compression stocking retailers are well aware that men experience varicose veins, leg cramps, leg fatigue, and other ailments that can be aided by support stockings. Or maybe you’re a runner or cyclist looking for the athletic edge offered by calf sleeves, sports compression, or running compression.

Common brands of compression gear for men include Sigvaris, Jobst, Juzo, and Mediven. A sales person at your local medical supply store, online legwear retailer, or running or cycling specialty store can suggest some pros and cons of each available brand.

Compression garments for men come in a variety of styles, including:

• Knee high support hose (available in common men’s sock colors, such as black, white, and tan) and ribbed socks
• Thigh high support hose (also available in common colors like black or tan)
• Compression shorts
• Compression socks
• Compression shirts and sleeves

Before you can buy, you’ll need to measure yourself carefully. Generally, you’ll need to measure the circumference of each calf, thigh (around the top part of the leg, by the buttocks), and knee, as well as the overall length of your leg.

Sigvaris, Juzo, Jobst, and Mediven compression for men come in the following mmHg compression levels (mmHg stands for millimeter of mercury):

• 8-15 mmHg

• 15-20 mmHg

• 20-30 mmHg

• 30-40 mmHg

• 40-50 mmHg

• 50-60 mmHg

Once you choose, you’ll have to learn how to care for your garments properly. Whatever brand you choose, the retailer should provide washing instructions. If you’re using medical stockings, your doctor can tell you how long to wear your stockings each day.

Using your support hose properly will help reduce the risk of varicose veins, ensure your legs are fatigue- and ache-free, and reduce the risk of dangerous blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis and other ailments. People with diabetes often wear men support socks since their circulation is often impaired due to diabetes.

mmHg Compression Stockings: What Do Compression Stocking Levels Mean?

Mmhg stands for millimeter of mercury, a unit of measuring pressure. When it comes to compression stockings, mmHg refers to how tightly the elastic medical stockings support the veins in the leg. The higher the mmHg number, the greater the graduated stocking will squeeze the patient’s leg.

mmHg stockings come in a variety of brands (such as Sigvaris, Mediven, Jobst, and Juzo), styles, and compression levels. Here is a list of compression levels and who they’re used for:

8-15 mmHg

Doctors typically recommend these stockings for people with aching, fatigued legs; pregnant women; or people with careers that have them on their feet a lot. You can buy 8 to 15 mmHg stockings over the counter.

15-20 mmHg

This therapeutic version of stockings is often useful for people whose legs are prone to fatigue and swelling. Pregnant women, people with spider or varicose veins, or people with inherited circulatory problems may need to wear 15-20 mmHg stockings.

20-30 mmHg

Patients with a lot of heaviness and swelling in the legs, mild varicose veins, varicose veins during pregnancy, or who’ve just undergone vein surgery wear 20 to 30 mmHg stockings.

30-40 mmHg

Who wears 30-40 mmHg stockings? Patients prone to blood clots (such as deep vein thrombosis), post-surgery patients, pregnant women with phlebitis, people with severe leg swelling and scars, stasis dermatitis sufferers, and those with lymphedema.

40-50 mmHg

People with severe venous ulcers, severe circulatory problems, and lymphedema need to wear these medical grade 40 50 mmHg compression levels.

50-60 mmHg

People with severe lymphedema, who’ve undergone surgery for compression lymphedema, and severe post thrombotic syndrome need to wear 50 60 mmHg ones.

Your doctor will help you decide which compression level is best for you and your medical condition.

Thigh High Compression Stockings or Knee Length: Which Works Best?

Graduated compression stockings come in a variety of lengths. From thigh length to knee length stockings, you might be wondering which style works best to prevent post thrombotic syndrome and other vein disorders.

When it comes to ease of use and effectiveness, knee length stockings win out over thigh high compression stockings, says a study published in the January-February 2009 issue of the medical journal Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Because staff nurses noted that thigh high stockings were difficult to use with patients, researchers evaluated the use of different lengths of stockings in general surgery and urology patients. They found that compared to thigh high stockings, knee length stockings proved:

• more comfortable for patients
• easier for the staff to use
• less expensive
• less likely to cause injury
• just as effective as thigh high stockings

At St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota, where this study was conducted, general surgery and urology patients will now wear knee high stockings, and the department of obstetrics and gynecology is considering the change for maternity compression stockings as well.

Graduated stockings, such as those made by Sigvaris, Mediven, Jobst, and Juzo, are available in multiple lengths, depending on your health condition. If your thigh high stockings are uncomfortable or difficult for you to put on, consider using a compression stocking aid – a device that makes it easier to pull the stockings over your legs.

You may also want to talk with your doctor about whether knee length stockings would work just as well to reduce your risk of varicose veins and venous disorders.

Measure Yourself for Compression Stockings

Wearing compression stockings that don’t fit can be a daily drag. Most physicians recommend that people who need to wear stockings for varicose vein treatment get specially fitted for these special support hose that increase circulation and reduce leg swelling.

A representative at your local medical supply store can fit you for your stockings and teach you how to wear them properly. However, if you want to buy stockings from an online retailer, you’ll need to measure yourself. Here are step-by-step instructions to measure yourself for stockings. Be sure to record each measurement for each leg.

1. Measure around your ankle (this measurement is called the circumference). Place the measuring tape at the narrowest part of the ankle, above the ankle bone.
2. Find the widest part of your calf. Measure the circumference of your calf.
3. Sit on a chair with your legs at a 90-degree angle. Measure the distance from the bend in your knee to the floor.
4. Find the widest part of your thigh – right under your buttocks. Measure the circumference of this part of your thigh.
5. Measure the distance from the bottom of your buttocks to the floor.
6. Find the widest part of your hips/waist and measure the circumference.

Take these recorded measurements and use them in conjunction with the sizing chart for the brand of stockings you’ve chosen, such as Mediven, Sigvaris, Juzo, or Jobst. All of these compression stocking manufacturers offer sizing charts that will ensure you get the proper fit.

Where to Buy Compression Stockings

Your doctor or physical therapist has told you you need compression stockings. Now where do you go to buy them?

Support Hose

You can buy support pantyhose online at Amazon or at most grocery stores, drug stores, and super stores. This type of stocking works best for people with mild cases of varicose veins, which are swollen and twisted veins that occur under the surface of the skin. Some brands of support hosiery include Sigvaris, Mediven, Jobst Support Hose, and Juzo.

Compression Stockings

You can buy stockings (sometimes called compression hose) online and over the counter at medical supply stores and pharmacies, like Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. These types of stockings offer more support than support pantyhose, so they’re also useful for people with varicose veins and other vein problems.

Prescription Strength

You can buy stockings that are prescription strength at medical supply stores or pharmacies, like Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. The pharmacist or salesperson will need to fit you for these stockings. A person would buy compression stockings like this if he or she had a more serious clotting condition, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. To prevent clots, these types of stockings are very tight at the foot of the stocking and loosen as they go farther up the knee to help reduce blood clots and blood pooling. For people who have deep vein thrombosis, doctors recommend they buy and wear compression stockings for a year after being diagnosed.