There are many causes of leg pain and discomfort, from jobs that require long periods of standing, to pregnancy and disease. Those suffering the pain and discomfort of any of these conditions need to find relief, to sleep at night and go about daily lives in more comfort. Support hose are one solution to leg pain and discomfort that is non invasive. Trying a non invasive form of pain relief, before resorting to medications or operations, can be a good solution. Compression stockings are readily available, and inexpensive when compared to many medications and operations.

There are many conditions that can cause discomfort and pain in the legs. Long periods of time standing on hard surface floors can contribute to the development of spider or varicose veins, phlebitis, swelling and fallen arches. Other medical conditions like diabetes, circulatory problems, deep vein thrombosis, venous insufficiency, post-surgical edema and pregnancy can cause pain. Many of these conditions will respond well to the use of support hose, graduated compression socks or pantyhose for men and women. The use of supportive hose can be combined with medications and other treatments if needed.

Some of the symptoms of problems are swelling around the ankles and lower legs, web-like veins visible behind the knees and ankles, fatigue and aching feet and legs. In some cases the feet, ankles and legs can feel hot or even cramp painfully. These symptoms can be helped by warm baths and elevating the feet, along with support hose and medical treatments.

The various types of support and graduated compression hose come in many different forms, sizes and support levels. The conditions causing discomfort in the leg can be mild to very serious, with different compression options needed depending on the condition. It is best to work with a physician to find the best solution, or combination of treatments, to relieve the leg pain and its underlying causes. Graduated compression stocking, also called support hose, are medically accepted ways to relieve leg pain and swelling.

The different kinds of compression stockings work in similar ways. They compress the problem surface veins, keeping the diameter small and forcing blood into the deep vein system. Controlled and graduated compression at the ankle accelerates the speed of blood flow through deep veins, helping to relieve the symptoms of varicose veins, venous insufficiency and other conditions. This ankle compression reduces pressure further up the leg to help improve circulation and reduce swelling and discomfort.

A person suffering from the discomfort of leg problems should visit their physician to get a treatment plan that works for them. A good start would be wearing compression hose. A physician can discover and treat the underlying causes of the pain, and design a full treatment plan.