If I start wearing compression stockings, and then stop, will my varicose veins get worse than if I had not started? What about if I wear them on some days and not others?
Your varicose veins should not get worse than you started. Compression stockings will help bring your leaky valves together and enhance the normal direction of blood flow, thus decreasing venous pressure. It helps with symptoms of venous insufficiency if you have them. Best to wear daily while on your feet.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Intermittent use of compression hose will not make the venous insufficiency worse, but daily use is better for you.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Wearing compression stockings will not make your varicose veins worse. They
may make your legs feel better. If you wear the stockings at intervals, it
will not make the varicose veins worse or better.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Any use is better than none, intermittent use will not make you worse.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
They should be OK to wear as needed.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
We recommend wearing compression to alleviate symptoms of varicose veins and to slow the progress of venous insufficiency.
If you have been evaluated and are waiting for a treatment, we usually recommend wearing them on the days that you will be standing/sitting/travelling the most. If you have a "down" day where you can exercise, hydrate, elevate your legs and take a break from the hose it is ok. If you have severe varicose veins, a history of deep or superficial blood clots and swelling, we recommend wearing them daily, starting as early in the morning as possible.
It you take a day off here and there, it will not impact your varicose veins. Remember, it took quite some time to develop varicose veins. I highly recommend a full evaluation including a comprehensive ultrasound examination by a surgeon who specializes in vein treatment.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Compression stockings can give symptomatic relief to varicose veins by reducing the venous pressure in the legs and improving the venous return. Unfortunately, compression stockings do not treat the underlying problem which is usually incompetent valves in the saphenous veins. If you don't wear the stockings then your veins will worsen over time. Intermittently wearing the stockings will intermittently help you! To solve your problem, you should consider having your veins evaluated with a venous ultrasound and treatment dependent on those results.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Compression stockings will not change the natural course of your vein disease too much. They will help to reduce some of the symptoms due to venous insufficiency. So the days that you use them you will feel better, your veins might be less prominent and you might have less swelling. The oposite will happen the days that you do not wear them, but your veins will not just become much worse than if you would not use them at all.
Ideally you should have a Vein Specialist to treat and eliminate your varicose veins for good.
Published on Jul 11, 2012