Medical Grade Compression Therapy
All patients with vein disease need to use medical-grade graduated compression hose to help increase circulation. The hose are used before treatment as a means of conservative treatment of superficial venous disease. Individuals that have deep venous disease will need to wear medical-grade compression hose continuously, lifelong, to help prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Our diagnostic ultrasound helps us to know if a patient has deep, superficial or a combination of deep and superficial venous disease.
Compression hose may also be used to prevent the development of new varicose veins in the future. Continuous wear of medical grade compression hose is also highly recommended.
Graduated compression is tightest at the ankle and gradually decresases as you go up the leg. Compression is believed to increase the pressure in the tissues beneath the skin thus reducing excess leakage of fluid from the capillaries and increasing absorption of tissue fluid by the capillaries and lymphatic vessels. Compression therefore reduces and helps prevent swelling in the legs.
The physical presence of the stocking also helps control the size or diameter of the superficial veins beneath the stocking. The stockings do not let the superficial veins "over expand" with blood. This action helps prevent "pooling" of blood into these superficial veins and allows for the blood to flow more quickly up the leg to the heart.
