Medical elastic socks, that is, medical sequential decompression elastic socks, are products that promote the venous blood of lower limbs to return to the heart function through different pressure gradients from ankles to thighs, and are used for the prevention of varicose veins, the relief of symptoms and postoperative recovery, and also for the prevention and treatment of deep venous thrombosis of lower limbs. Not all elastic socks can be used as medical elastic socks. Medical elastic socks belong to medical devices, and the batch number can be found on the website of China Food and Drug Administration. Those who can't find the batch number on the website of China Food and Drug Administration are not medical elastic socks, and the product quality can't be guaranteed. You can't listen to the so-called stovepipe socks advertised on the Internet or TV.
What kind of people need to wear elastic socks?
Not everyone needs to wear elastic socks. Elastic socks can promote venous return, but wearing them without indication can not only get good benefits, but may even bring harm. Applicable people: (1) doctors, nurses, teachers, traffic policemen, salespeople and other professional people who need to stand for a long time; (2) Office clerks, professional drivers, white-collar workers, people who often need to fly on business trips and other professionals who need to sit for a long time; (3) The increase of abdominal pressure in pregnant women and obese patients leads to the increase of venous pressure in lower limbs; (4) High-risk groups of deep vein thrombosis, such as major surgical patients, patients with malignant tumors, hemiplegic patients who have been bedridden for a long time, etc.
What is the principle of elastic socks?
(1) inhibits pathological venous hypertension, reduces the increase of venous pressure with external pressure, and reduces the diameter of over-expanded lower extremity veins. With the pressure support of elastic socks, it can improve the function of venous valve, reduce congestion of lower limbs and reduce the risk of thrombosis or embolism.
(2) Reducing the degree of pathological blood stasis is helpful to prevent and treat eczema and ulcer caused by venous reflux stasis of lower limbs.
(3) Promote the reabsorption of water by edema tissue and reduce the pressure of lymphatic reflux.
(4) The arterial blood supply is not blocked. Therefore, unqualified elastic socks may not provide suitable pressure gradient to promote venous return, but may reduce or block the arterial blood supply of lower limbs, which will bring serious consequences.
What is the pressure classification of elastic socks, and what are the corresponding indications?
According to the different pressures produced by elastic socks, it is divided into 1-4 pressure grades, and 1 (18-21mmhg) and 2 (22-32mmHg) are usually selected, among which1can be used for the prevention of high-risk groups. Pressure level 2 is used to treat simple varicose veins, including varicose veins complicated with edema during pregnancy. Pressure level 3 is used for post-thrombotic syndrome, leg ulcer, severe deep venous valve insufficiency, lymphatic reflux disorder, etc.
Who can't wear elastic socks?
Like any treatment, elastic socks have their indications and contraindications:
(1) The use of elastic socks in patients with atherosclerosis obliterans of lower limbs may aggravate the ischemic symptoms of lower limbs, and even lead to ischemic necrosis of limbs in severe cases.
(2) Acute skin inflammation or active ulcer.
(3) Doctors diagnose other diseases that are not suitable for using elastic socks.
How to choose elastic socks?
Unlike buying clothes, buying suitable elastic socks needs to be done under the guidance of a doctor. Before buying, you need to measure the ankle diameter, the maximum diameter of the calf and other physiological indicators, and you need the guidance of a doctor to choose the pressure level. You can't buy it at will, otherwise it will easily lead to unexpected complications. Before buying, you need to know whether there is SFDA batch number on the elastic socks package, and check it on the website of China Food and Drug Administration.
How to wear elastic socks?
Many patients complain that it is very difficult to wear elastic socks and even give up wearing them. In fact, wearing elastic socks also has its skills. Try to wear it in the morning, because the limbs will be swollen in the afternoon than in the morning; If you have to wear it in the afternoon, raise your limbs for 20 minutes before wearing it; Sit on a chair with a strong backrest when wearing it, not on the bed; If you are allergic to rubber, don't wear elastic socks with rubber bands. It is also skillful to wear. First fold the socks back to the ankle, then put them on, and then stretch the folded parts of the socks to the calf. Some elastic socks have matching foot covers. You can put on your feet first, and then put on your socks, which will be much smoother.
Do elastic socks need to be worn all day?
The answer is no, in principle, elastic socks only need to be worn when standing during the day, that is, they need to be taken off when sleeping and lying flat at night. Wearing elastic socks for 24 hours is not good for the skin. The simple memory is that elastic socks are socks. Like ordinary socks, they are worn in the morning and taken off at night.