Answered: Wearing Compression Stockings To Bed – Good or Bad?

Can I Wear Compression Socks to Bed?

No. (Usually)

Unless your doctor specifically says otherwise, you should not sleep in compression socks.

In the vast majority of cases, you cannot sleep with the compression socks. When you are lying down, the compression of the sock can cause the opposite effect and disrupt blood flow.

However, there are some specific cases where experts will allow (and even recommend) you to bed with soft compression socks.

Usually, the cases where you can sleep with the compression stockings are those of thrombosis and after some surgical procedures. Still, you should only wear medical-oriented compression socks that are lighter compression (like 10-20 mmHg).

In fact, it is worth remembering that sometimes doctors recommend you wear compression all day long, except at bedtime. So be very careful and always follow your doctor’s recommendation.

How Do Compression Socks Work?

First of all, let’s understand how the circulatory system works: your heart pumps blood through the arteries to the limbs.

This means that oxygenated blood reaches the legs (lower limbs) with the force exerted by the heart.

Now imagine that the blood has reached your leg and needs to return – up.

To assist in this return, there are one-way valves in the leg veins. However, if there is a problem with these valves or obstruction in the veins, the blood cannot return to the heart and complete the circuit.

Therefore, you will suffer from the congestion of the veins. Such a situation can cause swelling, varicose veins and chronic venous disease.

Understanding this, we can say that the sock acts by evenly pressing the legs, helping the blood to circulate faster and back to the heart.

Now that we understand a little about the circulatory system let’s return to the question.

Can You Sleep Wearing Compression Socks?

In general, when you are lying down, there is no need to wear compression socks because its function is not that necessary.

Because at that time the blood return is easier since you do not have gravity as a force that prevents the return or pressure exerted by the weight of your body.

So the answer is to wear compression socks in the mornings and remove them at night before you go to bed.

Why wear compression stockings at night?

The prevention and treatment of venous insufficiency in case of heavy legs, varicose veins, varicosities by compression socks. These are mainly useful during the day when you are most active.

Sometimes, it is still useful to wear compression stockings at night. It is rare, but not very rare.

Indeed, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary for you to wear compression stockings at night. 

You can not avoid this reference treatment against known disorders of the blood circulation. In addition, the wearing of venous compression stockings at night is not very comfortable at all.

When it is essential to sleep with compression stockings?

The wearing of compression socks at night is usually unnecessary or even inadvisable. There is no venous stasis lying down. The blood is just circulating normally in your body.

Without special indication from a doctor it’s unnecessary to wear compression stockings at night.

Wear compression stockings at night after surgery

Thus, after an operation or in the case of immobilization, wearing compression stockings may be essential.

If this is your case, consider having enough compression stockings to be able to properly maintain your stockings, wash them and dry properly.

Wearing clean compression stockings is not only more hygienic but also much more comfortable to wear.

As soon as your physical condition allows you to do this, try to have a little physical activity. Such as walking at your own pace to boost your blood circulation by chasing venous stasis.

Gradually, resume a very moderate physical activity which will be beneficial.

According to “your condition” the wearing of compression stockings at night will not be the same model as regular use. There are specially designed models for “postoperative” or prolonged bed rest. when you know the date of your operation you should buy the bedtime compression stockings.

Pregnancy: Sleeping with compression stockings at night

When a woman is pregnant, her blood circulation will sometimes be strongly impacted. Wearing compression stockings can be essential even at night.

Here too, care must be taken to have several compression stockings or compression tights for pregnant women.

In our opinion, it is more convenient to have compression stockings when you’re pregnant, rather than pantyhose. Choose what suits you best and alternate if you wish.

In addition, after a cesarean, it is sometimes necessary to wear compression stockings day and night for a month.

If the compression stockings are too hard to put on, think about trying a slip-on. You will inevitably find a model that fits your needs. The low-slips are accessories that help to put difficult to wear stockings on yourself.

Venous circulation: monitoring at night

The monitoring of venous insufficiency should be carried out very carefully in some cases.

Indeed, if you feel tight or your legs are heavy even at night without having been operated on or bedridden, consider seeking advice from your doctor.

Additional investigations may be needed to clarify the source of these inconveniences. Venous insufficiency evolves over the course of life and regular medical monitoring is essential.

Do not sleep wearing compression socks without recommendation

Although you now know that in some cases sleeping with compression socks is recommended, do so only on medical advice. Compression socks are very important to treat and prevent circulation problems. But if they are used the wrong way, they can damage the health of your legs.

Related Compression Sock Articles

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Best Compression Socks for Elderly https://comprogear.com/best-compression-socks-for-elderly/

Compression Socks for Gout https://comprogear.com/compression-socks-for-gout/

Exceptions where socks are recommended for sleeping

Although the general recommendation is not to wear compression socks at bedtime, some doctors may eventually recommend this treatment.

There are exceptions where you have to wear compression stockings at night. In some cases, it may be necessary for you to wear to sleep. These exceptions are:

• After a surgical operation: Your medical specialist will determine the duration of wearing compression stockings after this type of intervention. A week is enough for young people with no noticeable circulation problem.
• In case of prolonged immobilization: You may know that the compression stockings are specifically made for prolonged bed rest. In this type of case, it is necessary to try to gradually resume physical activity. As soon as the situation allows try to walk to a steady rhythm.
• In this way, the blood circulation will be restored. The resumption of physical activity is beneficial for the patient, not only to avoid any problem of circulation but also to decrease the blood clots.

How long will you wear compression stockings after surgery?

The duration of wearing hospital stockings depends on the type of surgery and the speed of recovery of the patient.

If the patient feels well, compression stockings are worn for 7 days. If you feel discomfort in the legs, the doctor can extend the period of wearing stockings 2 to 3 weeks (up to 1 month).

After varicose veins, hospital stockings are worn for 2-3 weeks, then transferred to casual knitwear.

An important thing to do if bedtime wearing is needed

For hygiene, when you are obliged to sleep with compression stockings, you must carry clean stockings. So you should have more than one. For your comfort, it is necessary to regularly wash your stockings. The washed stockings must be properly dried. Then they will be more pleasant to wear.

When You Should not Use Compression Stockings

Despite all their benefits, you should wear compression socks at night after medical advice and are suggested in the following situations:

• Ischemia ; 
• Uncontrolled heart failure; 
• Infections or sores on the legs or regions covered with the socks; 
• Skin infections; 
• Allergic to sock materials. 

Also, while these socks are suitable for situations where you need to spend most of your day sitting or lying down, they are not suitable for bedridden people who are unable to get out of bed, as they may increase the risk of clots.

We are curious to know your experience of wearing compression stockings at night.

This page last updated November 5, 2022