support hose

[Amma]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

🙂 Hi, I am a 4th year and I have noticed my legs can really start to ache after a long day...and someone had mentioned wearing support hose to help.
Does anyone do this? What brand are good to buy? Do they make your legs really hot in the OR??
thanks - because i really dont want varicose veins later on....
A

 

[Smurfette]

Compression stockings are a great idea for days on call and so forth. Many, many surgery residents I know wear them (and some people wear them all the time). I myself wear them on my call days, and sometimes on other days as well (if I get home and see I have pretty swollen legs/edema, the next day I try to wear them). They really do help tremendously for your legs, feet and knees. Do they make me hot in the OR? Not knee-highs. I generally forget I'm wearing them except for the occasional itchy cuff edge. 🙂

I bought mine from Walgreens for under $10...I bought the mild to moderate compression knee highs. They made a huge difference for me on call as far as my physical tiredness in my legs being almost non-existent now in comparison. Thigh highs seem a little painful to me (esp if they start to roll down) but a few people I know do wear the thigh highs...most just wear the knee highs though. If you have access to a pair of closed-toed TEDs from your hospital, you could grab a pair to try. Brand name shouldn't matter too much, but definitely get ones with a closed toe unless you like the feeling of having a hole in your toe for 30 hours straight!

 

[Blade28]

I need to find a pair of these.

 

[Ergo]

The thing about brand name compression hose is that the compression is graduated, so they press the most at the feet then gradually ease off as it gets close to the knee. That way you dont get that "bottleneck" of tightness at the knee. Plus, the graduated hose dont slip or roll down easily like knee high pantyhose. TED hose with closed toes are sold at WalMart and Walgreens, theyre more than $10, but they last. I found some other graduated compression hose at Nordstroms that were $10 and come in colors. I wear them every day, even with dress shoes (Im a female.) Im not too warm in them, they keep me from being too tired at the end of the day.

 

[Capt_Mac]

Go to your vascular clinic and get a pair of the Jobst Stockings, great stuff. Or find out from the vascular clinic when the Jobst rep will be there and ask him for a trial pair. Keep your legs feeling minty fresh for the entire call day.

 

[Amma]

thanks guys, i will go find some this weekend!
😛

 

[njbmd]

Hey Folks,
Just remember to take them off and put them back on a couple of times during the day. You will find that your legs will feel even better. I usually peel off my knee hi T.E.Ds while I am dictating the case and reapply them just before I go back for the next one.

njbmd 🙂

 

[Vincristine]

My favorites are the Jobst Relief style. These have a reasonable amount of cotton in them and seem cooler than the ones with more nylon. I like the open toe variety; they end just over the ball of your foot. Coupled with my favorite cotton socks I'm pretty happy.

Strangely enough I've had the worst time with LE edema during my OB rotation in med school though I've certainly stood longer on other roations -- maybe it was sympathy edema.

 

[Blade28]

Am trying the TED knee-highs now since I'm pulling 10-12 hour shifts in the ER (all standing/walking/running, no sitting). Seems to work pretty well - and I haven't even tried taking them off in the middle of the shift yet!

 

[GenSurg]

Definitely talk to the vasc surgery folks. They'll have the best info and be able to write you a presciption for support stockings so your insurance may cover it.

http://www.freeiPods.com/?r=20049323