Lymphedema is a condition of the lymphatic system that causes lymphatic fluid to be retained in the limbs because of blockages in the channels that typically carry it back toward the heart and into the bloodstream. Symptoms can range from slight swelling and a feeling of “heaviness” in the lower limbs to extreme deformity – also known as Elephantiasis.

Ways to Help Manage Lymphedema

Lymphedema is typically addressed using a variety of approaches, including:

Compression. Compression stockings or socks are often recommended for lymphedema. Wearing compression socks helps relieve early-stage fluid retention before it worsens. Compression stockings can also aid in keeping patients active, which is a necessity, and keeping fluid from returning to affected limbs in more advanced cases.

Massage. Affected limbs can be massaged to encourage fluid to leave the area. This manual compression is performed by a therapist.

Pump therapy. A pneumatic sleeve applies sequential compression to the limb to aid in drainage of lymph fluids.

Surgery. In severe cases of lymphedema where the limbs are not only unable to be drained but have hardened, surgery is sometimes performed to reduce the amount of fibrous tissue in the affected area. This may or may not be effective in the long term.

Why Compression Socks are Important

Compression garments are an essential part of helping control lymphedema. These can include compression socks, compression stockings and compression sleeves.

At an early stage, lymphedema can spontaneously reverse if aided by compression garments. At minimum, medical-grade compression socks and stockings can help stop early-stage lymphedema from progressing. Additionally, after having the limbs drained via decongestive therapy, wearing compression stockings every day helps prevent the fluid from returning.

In an effort to raise public awareness about this often debilitating and potentially deadly disease, November has been declared American Diabetes Month, with awareness events and fundraisers taking place across the country. To get involved, visit StopDiabetes.com.

Here’s a look at some facts about diabetes:

• At least 79 million Americans are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
• Between 60 and 70 percent of diabetics have some form of nerve damage that can cause pain in the feet. Wearing diabetic socks can help alleviate the pain by ensuring proper blood flow to the feet.
• People with diabetes are 10 times more likely to require amputation than people without, as diabetes reduces the body’s ability to heal itself. Compression stockings can help improve the foot health of diabetics by preventing blood from pooling in the lower legs.

Living with Diabetes

The statistics may be alarming, but the truth is that people with diabetes can vastly improve their health simply by getting out and being more active. Here are some tips for healthy living to help prevent or minimize the development of diabetes:

Eat well. A moderate diet loaded with fruits and veggies can not only help reduce the risk of developing diabetes, but it can make the disease easier to manage. Avoid sodas and sugary juices, and watch your portion sizes.

Exercise. Exercise helps lower your glucose levels. For some diabetic patients, increasing physical activity can reduce the amount of insulin that must be taken. Wear compression stockings both during and after exercise; compression stockings help ensure maximum blood flow in your lower legs, which will help energize your body and reduce your recovery time.

Wear diabetic socks. Protect your feet on a daily basis by regularly wearing diabetic socks, which are specially designed to counteract many of the foot problems associated with diabetes. Diabetic socks help prevent the accidental constriction of blood flow and minimize the likelihood of ulcers and other foot injuries.

If anyone on your gift list wears compression stockings for diabetes, varicose veins, edema, lymphedema or other vein diseases, here are a few easy stocking stuffer ideas to make wearing and caring for compression stockings easier:

Sigvaris Washing Solution.

Compression stockings are delicate and must be washed carefully in order to preserve their elastic fibers. Sigvaris Washing Solution is a pure, organic and biodegradable cleaner that’s specially formulated to keep compression stockings functioning at maximum capacity. Only half a teaspoon of Sigvaris Washing Solution is needed for a small wash load; it comes in a 16-ounce bottle for the home and a 2-ounce travel-size bottle for travelers who wear compression stockings to prevent edema and thrombosis when they fly.

It Stays Roll-on Skin Adhesive.

Compression stockings don’t do you much good if they don’t stay up – a common problem for wearers of thigh high or knee high compression stockings. It Stays skin adhesive rolls right onto the skin and keeps your thigh high and knee high compression stockings in place all day. It Stays comes in a leak-proof, 2-ounce bottle.

Sigvaris Donning Gloves.

From full-length to knee high, compression stockings can be tricky to put on. Sigvaris Donning Gloves have soft yet textured fingers that make it easy to put on your sheer compression stockings without snagging or damaging them. While Sigvaris Donning Gloves are handy for anyone who wears compression stockings, they’re a must-have for those who are new to these garments.

In general, compression support stockings work by applying graduated pressure along the legs. (In other words, compression stockings are tighter at the ankle and decrease in pressure as you move up the leg.) This pressure improves blood circulation, as compression of the surface arteries, veins and muscles in the lower legs helps propel blood back up toward the heart.

This increased blood circulation can help relieve many different medical conditions and is the key benefit people receive when wearing compression support stockings from brands such as Sigvaris. Compression socks can help alleviate various medical conditions, including the following chronic diseases:

Edema

Edema is a general medical term that simply refers to swelling in the body. In this sense, edema can be used to describe anything from the swelling around the eyes that occurs first thing in the morning to the swelling around the brain that naturally occurs at high altitudes.

Juzo, Mediven and Sigvaris compression socks are made to treat a specific type of edema that occurs in the lower legs. Called peripheral edema, this lower-leg swelling manifests as shiny, stretched skin and swelling around the ankle and calf. When peripheral edema occurs, liquid becomes trapped in the interstitial areas of the body, outside of the blood vessels. Swelling naturally occurs in the lower areas of the body as gravity pulls liquids down into the legs. Walking may be painful for those with peripheral edema.

In general, there are two types of edema: pitting and non-pitting edema. Pitting edema may be identified by applying pressure to the swollen area. If an indentation remains after you remove the pressure, you are looking at a case of pitting edema. Skin around non-pitting edema will bounce right back after you relieve the pressure.

Compression stockings are useful for treating non-pitting edema. They help by forcing blood to flow into new areas, as mentioned above. Pitting edema is a more serious condition and should be shared with your medical professional, as it is often linked with heart, liver and kidney conditions.

Phlebitis and Thrombosis

Phlebitis and thrombosis occur when veins become inflamed. Phlebitis occurs in superficial veins closer to the skin’s surface; thrombosis manifests in larger blood vessels, usually in the legs.

Phlebitis may be identified by swelling of the extremities, a slight fever, hard veins that are sensitive to pressure, and nearby areas of redness and sensitivity to touch. Typically, the concern with phlebitis is that it may cause a blood clot to form. Blood clots may then travel to the lungs, heart or brain, where they may become caught and cause strokes or heart attacks. Wearing compression stockings helps improve circulation and thereby lessens the chance that clots will become deadly.

Phlebitis symptoms are often worse when the leg is lowered, such as when first getting out of bed in the morning. Healthy people may experience phlebitis after being trapped in a certain position for a long period of time. (This explains one of the disease’s nicknames, “economy-class syndrome.”) Long flights and car rides restrict movement and blood circulation in the legs. Varicose veins are a common form of phlebitis.

Compression stockings help offset phlebitis by squeezing the veins and thereby reducing the amount of excessive liquid that builds up in the legs.

Thrombosis happens when a blood clot completely or partially blocks a blood vessel. Blood clots are not uncommon following surgery, injury, pregnancy or extended bed rest. Irritation, swelling, redness and warmth may accompany thrombosis. However, thrombosis does not always present symptoms, making it more challenging to treat.

Compression support stockings are useful for both reducing the symptoms of thrombosis and preventing deep-vein thrombosis from occurring. Again, compression socks help by forcing blood to flow through different vessels. If you are experiencing the symptoms of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) for the first time, you should immediately consult with your doctor. DVT is considered a medical emergency because it could quickly transition into a moving blood clot that could become lodged in the heart, lungs or brain. If swelling limbs are new to you, you should contact your doctor just to be safe.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema occurs when the body’s lymph system is compromised. It appears as fluid retention and tissue swelling, often in the legs. Extreme fatigue, heavy swollen limbs, skin discoloration and even deformation can accompany lymphedema. Poorly developed lymph nodes, parasitic infections and the aftereffects of cancer surgery are known to be causes of this disease.

The first stage of treatment for lymphedema involves manually draining the body of excessive liquid, followed by skin care, compressive bandaging and physical therapy. After this stage, the patient should be fitted with compression stockings, which will help maintain the effects of the first stage of treatment.

Edema, phlebitis, thrombosis and lymphedema are only a few of the conditions that compression support stockings can treat.

If you experience any of the conditions described here, please talk to your doctor about whether or not compression stockings are right for you. Always talk to a medical professional about your health.

Compression stockings, socks, or pantyhose – what’s the difference?

There are many different types of compression garments. While they all serve essentially the same function, the difference is in the style and how much of the body they cover.

Compression stockings are usually knee high or thigh high stockings, while compression pantyhose typically cover the whole leg and go up your waist, just like everyday pantyhose. Compression socks are often crafted to look like everyday socks while still providing the necessary compression levels. For example, Medi compression socks come in a few varieties that look just like everyday dress socks.

Other important terms to know related to compression socks include:

Donning gloves: These are specially designed gloves to help you put on your compression stockings. They help you grip and pull on your compression stockings without damaging them. To “don” means to put on. So Donning gloves, are gloves that help you put on your compression stockings.

Edema: Edema is an abnormal accumulation of bodily fluid beneath the skin that produces swelling. Medi compression garments can be used to help treat edema, as they discourage the accumulation of fluid.

Graduated pressure: Also referred to as gradient compression, this term describes the changing level of compression provided to the leg by one set of compression socks or stockings. By design, compression garments provide higher levels of compression at the ankle of the garment and less compression as you move up the leg to encourage blood flow from the bottom of the body back up toward the heart.

mmHg: This stands for millimeters of mercury (Hg) and designates the amount of pressure exerted on the body by a pair of compression stockings.

Thrombosis: Thrombosis is a medical condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein, adheres to the vein walls and blocks the flow of blood. The term thrombus is synonymous with blood clot. Thrombosis can be especially dangerous because the clot can dislodge and cause serious problems in the heart or lungs.

Varicose veins: This term refers to distended, swollen and/or inflamed veins caused by venous weakness, disorders or even disease. Compression socks can help prevent and minimize varicose veins in the legs.

Here’s a look at some of the reasons why a good fit is important when buying compression stockings:

Proper compression levels. Compression pantyhose must fit properly in order to provide the right level of compression. If they’re too small, they may provide more compression than you need. Conversely, if your Mediven compression stockings are too large, they will provide less compression than what is indicated.

Compression in the right areas. Compression stockings provide graduated compression levels, which means compression is greatest at the ankles and reduces as you move up the leg. An accurate fit will help ensure that the compression is properly graduated, which is vital to the effective performance of your stockings.

Comfort. Compression pantyhose that are too tight will be difficult to put on and may squeeze your legs in the wrong places, which causes banding and discomfort. On the other hand, stockings that are too large will sag and fall, causing binding behind the knee and near the top of the thigh.

Measuring Tips for Compression Pantyhose

Sizing for compression stockings is a bit more complicated than for other hosiery. For best results, you should have your legs measured by a nurse or certified compression fitter, who can then help you choose the correct size. When measuring for compression stockings, keep the following tips in mind:

• Measure each of your legs separately, as they are not always the same size.
• Take your measurements in the morning, as your legs tend to swell throughout the day.
• Measure only your bare legs, without any pants, leggings, socks or other compression stockings on.
• Use a flexible tailor’s measuring tape to measure the circumference of your ankle, calf and thigh, as well as the length of your leg.

If your doctor has recommended that you begin wearing compression socks, it’s important that you understand how to put them on and care for them properly. Here are some important Dos and Don’ts to remember when wearing compression stockings:

Compression Stocking Dos

DO carefully measure your legs before you buy compression stockings. Like most brands, Medi compression products are carefully sized. If you buy the wrong size, you will not get the medical benefits of wearing compression socks and they won’t be as comfortable on your legs.

DO wash compression stockings daily. As most doctors recommend wearing compression socks every day for maximum benefit, you will need to wash them every day, as well. This is important not only for your own hygiene, but also for the life of your stockings. As you wear your stockings throughout the day, they stretch to fit your legs. Washing helps return them to their original shape, extending their usability over time.

DO launder your stockings carefully. Check the care instructions for each pair of compression socks you own; some are washable in your machine’s gentle setting. If so, place your stockings in a mesh laundry bag to help protect them. To wash compression stockings use cold water and a bit of gentle soap. If you can, use a specially formulated washing solution for your compression socks – this will clean the elastic without causing damage. To dry, roll up your socks in a towel and pat out all the excess water, then hang them up.

DO use donning gloves to put on your compression stockings. Donning gloves dramatically reduce the chance that you will snag your stockings on a fingernail. In addition to offering protection, donning gloves provide grip and make it much easier to put on your compression hosiery.

DO put compression stockings on first thing in the morning. The conditions that compression stockings help to alleviate are generally related to one’s everyday activities, so it makes sense to wear them all day if you want to see the most medical benefits. Also, your legs and feet are general y less swollen in the morning. So putting on your compression stockings in the morning are a bit easier than if you did it later in the day.

DO replace every 3-6 months. Eventually, the elastic fibers will break down. This is normal, especially with daily use. You will probably need to replace your compression stockings every three to six months. How can you tell when it’s time for a new pair? One indication is that your Medi compression stockings start to sag, or they are becoming really easy to put on.

Compression Stocking Don’ts

DON’T roll up your compression stockings to put them on or take them off. Rolling creates a tight band, which cuts off circulation and can cause sores. While donning or removing your compression socks try not to roll or scrunch them up.

DON’T wear them at night. Unless your doctor specifically prescribes it, it’s best to avoid wearing compression stockings at night.

DON’T use chlorine bleach to clean your stockings. Avoid using any substance that could damage your compression socks. Harsh chemicals like chlorine bleach should be avoided.

DON’T wring out compression socks to dry them. Any intense movements, such as wringing or scrubbing, can damage your stockings. Treat them gently to get the most out of them.

DON’T cut them off at the foot. The foot of compression hosiery acts as an anchor; it provides a solid hold, making it easier to put on the stockings. Furthermore, compression stockings have graduated compression, meaning the compression is strongest at the ankle and gets lighter as it goes up the calf. Cutting off the foot could cause them to roll up and become uncomfortable to wear. If your stockings seem too tight around the toes, you may want to consider a product such as Medi compression open-toe stockings.

DON’T wear lotions or oils. Oily substances can break down the elastic fibers. Try moisturizing your legs in the evening, after you’ve removed your compression stockings for the day.

Moreover, compression pantyhose undergo rigorous quality control measures and testing to make sure they provide wearers with the right amount of compression where it matters most. To keep your compression stockings functioning at max capacity, consumers should take the following measures to prevent snags from forming or getting worse:

Use donning gloves. Resembling dishwashing gloves, donning gloves have textured palms and fingertips that allow you to grip your compression stockings as you dress. The gloves help prevent you from over-extending the elastic properties of the stocking, and they keep your fingernails from accidentally snagging or poking a hole in your compression support stockings.

Sprinkle some talcum or baby powder. When your skin is humid on a hot day, you may find it difficult to slide on your compression pantyhose – especially after a shower or after using lotion on your legs. Dust your feet and legs lightly with talcum or baby powder to help your compression stockings slide into place.

Take proper care. Not caring for your compression support stockings properly can reduce their life, effectiveness, elasticity and material strength. Use detergent specifically made for compression stockings, and hand-wash the socks in warm water the same night you wear them. After rinsing the compression stockings, pat them dry between two towels and place them on a clothesline to dry.

If you do accidentally snag your compression pantyhose, it’s not the end of the world. Brush clear nail polish onto a snag to prevent it from becoming worse.

If you experience a lot of achiness or fatigue in your legs, or if you simply want to be proactive, here are some easy ways to improve the health of your feet and legs:

1. Wear compression socks.

You may have heard of using compression socks for varicose veins or poor circulation, but you don’t need to have a medical condition to benefit from compression socks. Wearing compression socks daily can help promote the circulation in your legs, keeping the blood in your lower limbs healthy and oxygenated.

Additionally, compression stockings can help reduce the fatigue you feel from standing for long periods of time. It can also help prevent the formation of varicose veins. Likewise, compression stockings can prevent or reduce fluid retention and reduce the stress in your legs while traveling.

2. Exercise.

Getting your heart pumping and your blood flowing is an excellent way to improve the health of your legs. Exercise tones your muscles, increases the flow of blood and oxygen to your limbs, and helps you gain more endurance and stamina for other daily activities.

Athlete or not, when you use performance compression socks specifically for exercising, you will experience less muscle fatigue, a reduced buildup of lactic acid and less post-workout soreness. If you prefer not to wear compression socks while working out, you can use them afterward to help your legs recover.

3. Elevate your feet.

Sit back and put your feet up whenever you can. When you sit or recline for long periods, gravity can prevent the blood in your legs from circulating back up to your heart. Elevating your feet is not just a matter of comfort; it’s a way of using gravity in your favor. For those times when you cannot prop up your feet on an ottoman or stool – such as in an airplane or during a long car ride – you can wear compression stockings or socks to obtain similar benefits.

4. Get a massage.

Not only do foot and leg massages feel good, they also help keep your legs in shape. The pressure from a massage stimulates your nerves and helps get the blood in your legs and feet flowing. After a massage, wear compression socks to help reduce lactic acid buildup.

In addition to massages, it’s helpful to treat your feet to a warm soak. Add Epsom salt to a footbath to help reduce muscle swelling, prevent fluid buildup and alleviate swollen ankles.

5. Develop healthier habits.

Bodies are like machines; what you do to one part of your body will affect the rest. The better your overall fitness level, the healthier your legs will be. Things like quitting smoking, lowering your blood pressure, practicing proper nutrition and reducing stress can all have a positive long-term impact on your legs.

Developing strong, healthy legs doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, care and persistence. By adopting the practices outlined above, however, you can take charge of your leg health and begin feeling better immediately. Talk to your physician about changes you can make to your diet and activity level, and get fitted for a pair of compression socks.

Detergent for delicate clothing. Sometimes regular clothing detergent and the gentlest cycle on your washing machine can weaken or ruin the elastic fibers in compression socks. Using a gentle detergent made specifically for compression socks can help maintain the elasticity of your support garments so they properly conform to the size and shape of your legs. When washing your compression socks, avoid using fabric softeners, hot water and the dryer. Instead, pat your washed socks dry between two towels and line dry them.

Donning gloves. Donning gloves are super grippy rubber gloves that help you put your Mediven stockings on with greater ease. The fingertips and palms of the gloves are covered in little bumps, whose texture helps you grip while putting on your compression socks so you do not accidentally tear a hole in them with your fingernails or over-extend the elastic. Donning gloves may look funny, but they are a tremendously helpful tool for getting your compression stockings on with ease and making sure they wear comfortably on the leg.

Clear nail polish. An old housewife’s trick that still works today, clear nail polish can help prevent a small run or snag in your compression stockings from getting worse.

Skin adhesive. Just as celebrities use skin adhesives to prevent “wardrobe malfunctions,” you can use It Stays skin adhesive to help keep your compression socks in place. When the elastic at the tops of your socks does not work as well as it used to, use a roll-on skin adhesive to prevent your Mediven stockings from rolling down to your ankles.