Difficulties With Compression Stockings

Compression stockings are useful for patients who suffer from tired legs or poor circulation, or are at risk of developing a blood clot. The medical stockings, also useful in controlling swelling and treating varicose veins, squeeze the legs to improve blood flow and push accumulated fluid from the limbs. Despite these advantages, many people encounter difficulties that discourage the use of compression stockings or reduce their effectiveness.

Discomfort

• Compression stockings will feel tight when people first wear them. This will depend on the level of pressure prescribed by your doctor. Stockings can range in pressure from 10 mm to more than 50 mm of mercury, and will feel tighter the greater the pressure is. The lack of comfort discourages many people from wearing the stockings on a regular basis, reducing compliance.

Donning

• Donning compression stockings are not easy and can be particularly difficult for some people, including those with arthritis. Many manufacturers sell donning aids, such as rubber gloves or devices, to help make this process easier. In "Living Well With Lymphedema," Ann Ehrlich and colleagues suggest putting on the garment early in the morning before swelling begins or using cornstarch or powder on your legs to help the garment slide on easier.

Sizing

• Improperly sized compression garments can reverse the effects of the garment and worsen some medical conditions. Garments should always be measured by a professional fitter to ensure you are provided with the right size based on the circumference of your leg. In a 2007 "Nursing Standard" article on compression stockings, Walker L. and Lamont S. found poorly fitted stockings were linked to heel ulcers and gangrene on the feet. Stockings folded down the leg will also exert greater pressure and can lead to skin damage, reports Belinda Bryne in a 2002 "Journal of Vascular Nursing" article on such stockings and deep-vein thrombosis.

Wear and Tear

• While effective, compression stockings require specific care instructions that, if not followed, can reduce the life span of the garment and its effectiveness. On average, compression garments will last from three to six months. During that time, the garments should be washed every two to three days, and air dried. Some detergents, especially those containing a fabric softener or bleach, can damage the stocking. Use of moisturizer on the legs can also cause the silicone band, used on some garments to hold up the stocking, to disintegrate.