Have you experienced pain, irritation, or swelling due to spider veins and varicose veins? Then you might have considered or undergone vein treatment. Although safe and minimally invasive, these treatments require proper aftercare to ensure a safe recovery and improve final results. Our friendly staff at VENUS Vein Clinic in Omaha, NE recommends the use of compression stockings after vein treatment.
How long you will need to wear compression stockings depends on your health condition, treatment, and needs.
The Use of Compression Stockings After Vein Treatment
If you can walk comfortably and move your legs with ease after your vein treatment, that’s great! Physical activity can help a lot when it comes to preventing blood clots from forming in your treated area. However, for some surgical treatments, staying off of your feet for the first few days is a much better option.
Your health practitioner will ask you to wear stockings for a certain amount of time. Maintaining compression on your lower area helps achieve the following:
- Relief from post-treatment discomfort
- Prevent bruising and clots
- Better blood flow and circulation
- Minimize pain and swelling
How Compression Stockings Help You Recover
Compression therapy is often recommended following vein treatment. During the treatment of your varicose veins, thrombotic and inflammatory pathways are activated to achieve the desired results. They can have unwanted effects on your body, which can be minimized with the use of compression therapy. This is where the importance of your stockings come in.
When you wear Compression stockings it helps improve your blood circulation. This prevents you from experiencing pain in the legs or swelling in the ankles. They also reduce bruising and clotting.
Wear Compression Stockings Based on Your Treatment
The nature of the treatment itself and your healthcare provider’s assessment will determine how long you’ll need to wear stockings.
Endovenous Varicose Vein Surgery: 4 Weeks
This treatment makes use of energy to burn and close varicose veins. Limiting physical activity is required for about two to three weeks. Your healthcare provider might ask you to wear stockings for about a month, or four weeks, after this type of treatment.
Sclerotherapy: 2 Weeks
A popular treatment for varicose veins and spider veins, sclerotherapy involves injecting a salt solution to the malformed veins. This injection will cause the vein to collapse and eventually disappear. Overexertion and heavy physical activities are best avoided for a few days up to a week following the treatment.
Swelling and bruising due to sclerotherapy can be minimized through the use of stockings. On average, it’s best to maintain compression for about two weeks.
Vein Ligation and Stripping: 2-6 Weeks
As a minor surgery, ligation and stripping involve using general or spinal anesthesia. During the procedure, cuts and incisions are made so that unwanted veins can be pulled out by a surgeon.
After stitching the cuts, your surgeon will place compression stockings in your legs together with bandages. Healing can take anywhere from two weeks up to a month. You’ll be advised to wear your stockings for about two to six weeks.
Wearing Compression Stockings the Right Way
It’s important to make sure that you’re wearing the correct pressure, weight, and length of compression stockings. Failure to do so may not give you the best results or health benefits. After the treatment, your healthcare provider will give you advice when it comes to the proper wearing and fitting of your stockings.
Choosing the Right Stockings
Did you know that there are stockings especially manufactured for medical purposes? They come from a Certified Fitter and are sometimes called graduated compression hosiery. Medically necessary socks come with a pressure rating, which will be determined by your healthcare provider.
Some folks buy commercial stockings online or at the mall and do not realize that they are not necessarily compression socks. In fact, they lack the quality and correct fitting that will help speed up your recovery.
How Often to Wear Your Stockings
Healthcare providers often recommend that you constantly wear your stockings. You should even wear them to bed sleeping, and only remove them during your shower or bath time.
If you feel that they’re too tight to wear, don’t worry because they will adjust to fit you better in time. These stockings are designed to stretch to fit your legs and provide better comfort. On the other hand, forgetting to wear for one day or more might make it more difficult to wear and put them on the next day.
Dealing With Skin Irritation
We recommend that you change to a fresh pair of stockings every morning. If you prefer to use a moisturizer underneath for extra comfort, it’s perfectly alright. However, keep in mind that they should not be painful to wear. This could mean that you’re wearing the wrong fit or size. If this happens, it’s best to consult with your healthcare provider.
Some folks with sensitive skin find that they need to take a break from wearing stockings for about a couple of hours every day. It’s completely okay, as long as you have approval from your healthcare provider.
Get Much-Needed Relief and Comfort
The proper use of compression stockings helps a lot when it comes to the treatment of veins. Are you seeking relief from venous disease or need better help in managing your symptoms? We’re here to provide professional advice so you can get much-needed relief. Contact our friendly staff at VENUS Vein Clinic in Omaha, NE to schedule a consultation. We look forward to making you feel comfortable and safe before, during, and after your treatment.