Every Have a Love/Hate Relationship? Preparing for Knee Surgery 2
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
Midland, Michigan
March 28, 2017 11:40am CST
Before coming home from the hospital after having knee replacement or even hip replacement surgery you will be given a pair of T.E.D stockings. These are to be worn every day for about a month. They are worn to help eliminate the possibility of getting blood clots in the legs. They can be removed at night and for showers.
The ones given out to us have a hole in the bottom near the toes. I've worn toe and heal-less support hose before and the holes in the toes a larger so that the actual sock doesn't start until the bone that your toes are attached to, therefore, the whole of the toes area front and back is free of restriction.
Depending on how you put them on determines where the hole at the toes end up. Sometimes they've been on top, but I figured out recently that if I can turn them in a certain direction that the hole is on the bottom of my toes. What I especially hate is when during the night my toes will sneak out of the hole. Very annoying, and that's where the hate of these socks comes in.
In the beginning, right after surgery I used a small stool to help me grab the socks better to don them. Once I got a bit more limber I didn't need that stool any longer. The thing I had the most difficulty with was lifting my heal while sliding the socks over the heal. I just couldn't do that, so the stool helped.
The love part of these socks is mainly that they do help prevent blood clots and for that reason we all should wear them. I was given clearance by my surgeon that I wouldn't have to wear them any longer just shy of a month after surgery, but after wearing other support hosier I own, I decided to continue wearing these for a while yet.
The reason I'm continuing is because I have issues with varicose veins and the valves in the leg veins need all the help they can get to work properly. Once my knee is healed even more I'm hoping to be able to go back to wearing some knee highs that I have.
I'm hoping to do several posts about my knee surgery. When I do, I'll make sure to tag them all with my first tag here, so that if any would like to read them all they can easily find them.
See you soon!
14 people like this
15 responses
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
28 Mar 17
When I had my hip replaced 2 years ago I was fully expecting that I would have to wear those stockings. However, I was told that they aren't necessary now. I was really pleased about that as they are a real hassle to get on and off. My friend who'd had her hip replaced 2 years before me had to wear them, and she was amazed that I didn't. So I'm sorry that you have to wear them.
3 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
28 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman We still have another week in Spain - the time is going so quickly.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Mar 17
With the mess my lower legs are in I really should have begun to wear some type of support hose years ago. If I had maybe they wouldn't look so awful now.
In my joint camp class was a gal that graduated from the same High School as me and she had her hip done. She had to wear them too. Different hospitals or doctors over here may treat each surgery differently too, I don't know.
Are you back home from your holiday in Spain or do you still have some time left there?
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Mar 17
@jaboUK It always does when you're having fun in the sun with friends away from the grind and colder weather of home. At least you're able to go more than once during the winter months.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
28 Mar 17
Yep those can get irritating, but they are for the good.
3 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Mar 17
Have you had to wear them too? I guess they make them with an enclosed toe area, I don't know the reasoning for the hospital giving out the opened toes ones since they're not meant for the whole toe to be outside of the sock, or at least it doesn't seem to be that way to me.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
28 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman Yes after each surgery, I had three, I think, maybe four when I was younger.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
28 Mar 17
hope the surgery works out ok - such a saga with the socks
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
1 Apr 17
@MarshaMusselman sorry, with talking with so many and a few discussing ailments it is hard to recall exactly who has what conditions and what stages everyone has reached in treatments etc - glad you are ok
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
1 Apr 17
@arthurchappell Sorry, didn't think about that part myself. Plus we have enough to do around here. I know that I don't go back and hunt for older posts read to make sure I have my info correct. I will try to remember to give you and others some slack.
Mainly though, I talked about things I did after surgery in this post and that's why I expected you and others to remember, but when I talk about many things that's a lot to keep track of too. 
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Mar 17
You do remember I already had the surgery last month, exactly one month and three days ago. You probably just forgot. I'm doing much better these past two weeks with walking with just a cane. My feet no longer swell like they did and my knee is becoming more flexible too.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
29 Mar 17
Since this is my first time and my mom had hers done ten to fifteen years ago, I think I'm healing pretty well. I gained extension almost right away once the majority of the swelling went down. Extension is being able to put your leg flat on a surface and push your knee downward. Prior to surgery my knee was pretty swollen or inflamed all the time and I wasn't able to have any extension at all for several years.
On the other hand I was able to sit with my leg under the chairs like a folding chair or kitchen chair quite easily before surgery, but that's the part that's slow going right now. They have a ruler type measuring unit that has a round area that goes outside the knee and two arms one goes in the angle of the thigh and the other angles with the lower part of the leg. From that they can measure how flexible your knee is.
When I returned from the hospital I was at 85, I think. The goal before leaving was to get to 90 degrees, but I found out quite quickly that the ultimate goal is 120 degrees. That allows you to maneuver in and out of cars and other things more easily. Today I measured higher than I have thus far. I'm now up to 105 degrees, but with my pt person pulling my lower leg and foot back as far as I can manage.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
2 Apr 17
I didn't have to wear the stockings. I don't know if that is a Canadian thing or if i just didn't need them for some reason. I remember when my mom had her knee replaced she wore them - her surgery was in NY. I had forgotten about her wearing them until i read this..
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
6 Apr 17
Was it your knee or hip that had surgery? Janet said she didn't have to wear them either, so maybe it's mostly done here in the states, I don't know.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
8 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate I may wait until closer to when I retire before I have the other one done. I'm hoping that as I continue to exercise both legs that the right one will last another five years at least. What I really need to do is get some adjustments from our chiropractor but it's not an easy thing any more. First, I need a referral from my doctor and I'm not sure that he'll give one as he does adjustments himself. I just don't like his type of adjustments.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
8 Apr 17
@MarshaMusselman I t was my knee, a replacement and I'll have the other done done this fall.
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@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Apr 17
I think it's mostly a precaution. I'm wearing them longer than I needed to because I need to be better at wearing some type of compression hose to make sure I don't get any more skin ulcers or that the varicose veins I have don't get a lot worse. '
'
I have knee highs that look like normal socks that worked fine before surgery but for some reason it's compressing in more than it should now and I shouldn't wear those much as it leaves a line around both knees. I also have some thigh-high compression hose but I tried those too and it seemed a bit tight on my surgical knee. I'm sure eventually I'll be able to wear them again.
So now it's pretty much the ted hose which is getting runs in them as I've been wearing them so often.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Apr 17
@just4him Were the ones you had over your knees or below the knees? That's the problem I've noticed since surgery that it was cutting too deeply below the knees leaving marks. I also have a larger vein that runs up the inside of each leg by the knee and I think it was cutting that off a bit too. The ped socks aren't comfortable and they tend to roll down as they're probably one size fits all, but at least they don't cut in like the knee highs do.
I was told I could get moderate strength when I had the leg ulcers, but I might try mild and see if they do enough good without cutting into my leg overmuch. I might also go to a medical supply store to talk with them about what kind to get, but they may be cheaper to purchase where I work than there, so we'll see.
I found some online by a company where I may have bought the ones I have, but I've not decided yet whether to order them or not.
@just4him (307540)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Apr 17
@MarshaMusselman I had some hose like that for my swollen legs, but the doctor soon realized it wasn't working for me because it bit into my legs so much and left deep lines in but didn't do any good. I'm glad yours are doing good for you.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71671)
• United States
29 Mar 17
As long as they cannot hinder you then you may as we'll keep wearing them for the vericose veins like you said. I would have to buy more then the one pair I was given as I know I am a freak about washing my socks every day so that would drive me insane if I had to put the sock back on the next day without washing it.
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
29 Mar 17
Check your title.
Sorry you have to have more surgery! Hope things go well for you @MarshaMusselman
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
29 Mar 17
At least my knee has no more pain any more. THe surgery was one month and three days ago, Marie. There are several others here that are expecting to need the surgery too, and so I told them I'd write about my experiences with it.
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
28 Mar 17
I never had any surgery that required wearing those stockings but my mom had to wear them when she was in the hospital. I'm glad that you've gotten clearance from your doctor about not having to wear them but I think you're smart to continue for awhile longer.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Mar 17
I know my mom had to wear them for both her hips and knees that were replaced, but she probably had to wear them when she had surgery on her heart too; I just don't remember. I was told this year after wearing an unna boot for two months that I could step down a notch and get the moderate strength rather than the stronger ones, but those still leave a mark below the knee. I'm hopeful I can wear them this summer but maybe I'll have to get something else.
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Mar 17
Just about anyone working any type of job should wear them at least while working. It's only jobs where you can vary between sitting, standing and walking that may not have problems in this area. Course some are predisposed relating to their genetic structure. But, my mom and aunts had no problems with varicose veins and my mom worked as a secretary for about forty years. But, if everyone waits until their parents or relatives get old enough to develop symptoms for varicose veins then it would almost be too late for their progeny as much of the damage has already been done.
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
29 Mar 17
When is your next surgery? After all the work you've done for yourself this time around, I'm sure the next surgery is going to make your life so much better!
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
31 Mar 17
The only really annoying part is the place where they put the whole at the toe area. If they're not adjusted very well your toes can keep creeping out and I doubt that anyone can ignore that for long.
They are lighter weight than normal support hose. In fact, I went ahead and put on one of the over the knee support stocking I bought years ago. One nice thing about those is that there is a wider band on top and I have glue made just for that purpose so they stay up where they belong. The ted socks have a smaller band which tends to roll down and I have to keep pulling them up.
I'm going to try wearing my Dr. Scholls knee highs that I bought years ago, but I have a large vein on the inside of both legs and some of the knee highs tend to cut into that vein a little too much. That's why I came back to the ted hose instead.
@paigea (35774)
• Canada
31 Mar 17
@MarshaMusselman Well, it is good they are helping you.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Mar 17
Thanks, it did go very well. The surgery was a month ago this past Monday. I could actually already quit wearing the ted socks, but I need to wear something because of the issued I have with my veins, so the ted socks seem to be less tight than the other ones I have to wear.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159606)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Mar 17
Hope all goes well with the surgery. These socks are great. I've heard that knee highs aren't good for us to wear. Cuts off the circulation.
