Problem with compression hose cutting off circulation in ankles

[GermanGypsy]

I have been wearing compression hose on both legs for 1 1/2 years. My right leg is fine but on the bad leg (the one that they took the vein out for my heart bypass), the hose continually crawls down into my ankle and acts like a rubber band around a sausage. IT IS SO PAINFUL. And it doesn't help to pull it out, it just goes back.

I've tried the "It Stay" glue. Nothing works. I just know there must be a solution. And I feel sure I'm not the only one with the problem. Can someone please, please help me.

[Roger]

Since both of your legs are involved, had you considered trying the "Panty hose" type of compression hose. This might hold up the stockings on both legs.

Good luck in finding a solution.

Roger

[delidiva]

Hi ggypsy are you sure you have proper fitting hose? i know I had to have my legs remeasured because of the same thing and I needed a different size we have to be measured every 6 months or so because our legs do change frequently. Good luck to you and hope you get a good fit soon happyday to u:)

[GermanGypsy]

Hi, back to ya,
Thanks for the suggestion. I do get remeasured every 6 mos. and they use the measurements for the left leg for both legs (even though the right leg does not swell.) I am due another fittling soon, so I will ask them about this.

Thanks again for your reply
German Gypsy ;)

[delidiva]

hi again i was thinking on the way home from work do you have the hose with the silicone on top? if not you should try them i have no problem with mine falling and believe me every problem one may encounter i've been there :) done that and more!!:) good luck

[GermanGypsy]

Hi again, Delidiva,

I really appreciate your remarks, but unfortunately I DO have the silicone tops in my hose. I have tried the "It Stays" adhesive also. I think maybe my leg has gone down (which is good) and that has made the hose longer??? (It doesn't have as much "girth" so the "length" is more???) The right leg hardly swells at all, and that is why it stays up so well.

Ann suggested some items for me to try, Coban and Spandage, but someone else (I can't find the response so don't remember who suggested it!) suggested the Farrow Wrap. I went online to find out about it and it sounds exciting. Each strip is wrapped individually up the leg and attached with velcro. I think that it might work, because the upper rows are not being pulled down by the more compressed rows. But when I contacted them by phone, they said they only sell to doctors and therapists so I have a call into my therapist to check on it.

So hopefully this will help.

Thanks again for taking the time to write.
GermanGypsy

[Maggie03]

I have lymphedema in my left leg only due to a hysterectomy and lymph node removal and I have the same "rubber band around a sausage" problem as D. Smith. In addition to that, the hose cut into the back of my knee leaving itchy marks and cutting off the circulation. I've tried numerous types of compression stockings and they all seem to be too long.

What is the "It Stays" adhesive?

Thanks for the many suggestions in this thread.
Has anyone found something that really works?


:D

[GermanGypsy]

Hi Maggie,
Thanks for your reply. I wish I could say it helps to know someone else has the problem, too. But I don't wish this problem on anyone. I only had a couple of replies and I had already tried everything they had suggested.

I still have not found a solution. The only thing that helps is about every 2-3 hours to try to pull the hose out of the crease in the ankle. I've found that after pulling the hose up, if I pull from the foot towards the toes, that helps a little.

It stays! is a liquid glue that you roll on. Dancers, actresses, etc. use it to keep the revealing dresses and costumes from "revealing" too much, if you know what I mean. I tried it but no matter where I applied it, the hose just sunk in above that area.

So I'll keep looking. Maybe one day some one will come up with a solution.

German Gypsy

[Maggie03]

Thank you so much for your immediate response.

So do you think the "rubber band around a sausage" effect is due to the hose not staying in place? Is it due to uneven compression? And is it cutting off circulation? Is it harmful?

I'm flying to Florida from Chicago on Wednesday and my PT suggested to wear double hose on the bad leg. When I originally asked her about the problem she just kind of shrugged her shoulders.

[delidiva]

hi i am flying next week to fla also my therapist suggested i wear my hose and wrap 1 layer of bandageswhile in the air and not take them off right away i will do this i tried doing tjhis while i'm at home its ok the banadges slid down but i think they stayed upl ong enough to help me its so confusing most days i just trial and error and pray alot good luck to you someone has to have an answer for us sooner or later isymphatize with you remember u r not alone good luck and god bless let me know how u make out

[Maggie03]

I was never shown how to wrap my legs with bandages and didn't even know there was such a thing until I started reading about Lymphedema. My PT just started in with deep breathing, self-massage and exercises so I wouldn't even know how to wrap my leg with bandages.

I bought a new pair of 20/30 support hose with the toes in and have been trying to stretch the top because they will cut into the fold of my knee.

I'm getting obsessed about my legs. It's the first thing I look at every morning. For the amount of time I spend on them, they should look Marilyn Monroe's legs. (ha ha).

I'm going to Port Charlotte on Wednesday to visit my sister for a week. I'm a little nervous about the legs, though. Hope your trip to Florida goes well for you.

[GermanGypsy]

Hi Maggie (I had a huge reply typed and hit the wrong key and its out there in cyberspace somewhere!!!),

By support hose, are you talking about the over-the-counter type support hose. My doctor referred me to a lymphedema clinic for 4 months for training in bandage wrapping, massage and compression hose. My therapist told me we should never wear support hose because they have the same amount of tension all the way up the hose. Compression hose on the other hand, as varying amounts of compression. The ankle is the tightest and the compression lessens as it goes up the leg. That is why the hose are cutting into the back of your knee. I urge you to find someone who can fit you properly in compression hose.

The bandages consist of a long, loosefitting cotton hose. a long strip of foam rubber and 2-3 sizes of ace bandages. My husband can now wrap my leg is 5-10 min. It used to take him 30-40 min. You're supposed to wrap the toes with a long strip of gauze but the toe wraps were always painful. So we quit wrapping the toes and it does much better.

My insurance covered 90% of my lymphedema clinic costs. But it would have been worth it to me if I would have had to pay the whole thing myself. Before the training my leg looked like a tree stump! Now I actually have an ankle again!

And, yes, that rubberband around the ankle definitely cuts off your circulation. I know it is not only painful but dangerous as well. That is why I am surprised no one has come up with anything to prevent it. During the day, my calves swell and the difference in size of the calf and the ankle, the tighter compression from the knee to the ankle and gravity all contribute in pulling the hose down into a crease in the ankle.

Someone sent me info about Farrow Wrap (www.farrowwrap.com) which looks very interesting but when I asked my therapist about it, she said they did not deal with that company. And the company said they do not sell to individuals. So I am back to square one.

Good luck. I hope you can find a therapist to help you with the bandaging.
God bless you,
German Gypsy

[delidiva]

hi r u going to a pt trained in lymphatic massage? its very important to be measured for the right fit for your ccompression hose and self massage helps its a very time consuming disease we all have and you should follow as close as possible to all the instructions given the bandaging really does help when done every day over a 4-6 week period good luck let me know how u make out and keep your chin up:)

[GermanGypsy]

Hi delidiva,
I think you wrote me a while back. But I appreciate your suggestions. I went for 2 mos. to the Lymphedema Clinic in Shreveport, LA. My pt there, Leslie, is a doll. She trained me well and we do try to wrap 1-2x/week (or anytime the leg swells badly.) I can't praise the pt's at the clinic enough. I never thought my leg would look this good again. And I can live with this condition, if I could just get these d_ _ n hose to quit sliding down into my ankle. I have surgical gloves at work and once or twice a day, I pull them up and massage the leg. It's painful, but bearable. I am trying desperately to lose some weight, because I know that would help tremendously. So right now all I can do is try and PRAY!
Thanks for the encouragement!
GermanGypsy:D

[delidiva]

your welcome i have been trying to loose weight and nothing and i mean nothing is helping i am so disgusted i always had great legs if i don't mind bragging about now 4get it they r all bumps and ridges and disgusting i can never wear my jeans again my dr said not to worry about the weight because alot of it is from the lymphadema sounds good but i don't really believe him my hose sometimes get tight in the back of my knee and it itches and hurts at the same time i guess i'm lucky mine stay up all day now my abdomen and genital area is being affected jeez louise what next !!!! but i'm cancer free so i'm thankful for that and thank God every day we'll see whats next i am going to look into the flextouch for my next pt session my therapist said its very good for the abdomen and genital area so as soon as my insurance will cover again thats my next adventure:) i have to wait for every 6 months so next month is it!! and like you my therapists r soooo great and wonderful i can't say enough good things about them well good luck to you and blessings always delidiva:)

[guit30]

The rubber band effect, I call the tournequet effect, I do not neccessarily think it is from slippage of comp hose, but maybe they are compressed too tight, or do not fit right
Jim

[renita]

Mine do the same thing. As you wear them they work their way down. What I have found to work for me is I put a piece of kerlix at my knee because my knee is smaller at the top, than right below it, but I think the same thing would work for around your ankles. Just before you get your stockings above your heel, place a piece of kerlix or foam, something that will cause it not to dig in and give some cushion at the ankle. This is what works for me.
For my knee, I cut a 28-30" piece of kerlix and fold it into thirds and then fold in half. I place it on the front half of my leg, right at my knee, under the stockings. I'm in the habit of rolling my stockings up at night with that piece of kerlix inside. I use it over and over again. It works like a cushion and I never have trouble with it cutting in to my knee. I know this would work for your ankles too. I'm going to give it a try. I don't know why I haven't thought of it before.

[guit30]

don't quite understand???
Jim

[renita]

Sorry, it's kind of hard to explain without showing. My Therapist showed me how to do this.

[bayoulady]

but what is kerlix?

[Maggie03]

KERLIX™ Rolls are made of prewashed, fluff dried 100% woven gauze with unique crinkle-weave pattern for loft and bulk. KERLIX™ Rolls provide fast-wicking action, superior aeration, and excellent absorbency. Finished edges on the product reduce loose ends and lint. This product is available in 6 and 8 ply. You could probably get it at a medical supply store, or perhaps a drug store.