Flight Socks??

Mad_Mare

Hi
Can anyone tell me where's the best place to buy flight socks?
Also are they worth all the hype??

Many thanks

WiseInvestor_2

Flight Socks restrict the blood flow in your legs to reduce the risk of clotted blood getting stuck in your veins (usually behind the knees) thereby causing a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). The risks of clotting are ALWAYS present but are enhanced by long periods of non-movement, which is why DVT has been dubbed Economy Class Syndrome because most people only ever sit still in 'cramped' conditions for up to 12 hours when they're on a plane. In reality, office workers sat behind a desk all day risk the same fate - only the Daily Mail can't risk mass-hysteria by millions of office workers across the country!

Since this site is all about saving money, personally I just discipline myself to make regular trips to the toilet to get a bit of exercise. Also, rather than press the call bell for a drink, walk to the galley and get it yourself. I've tried the socks and find them uncomfortably tight (which is how they work!).

mirrorimage0

not sure if they are worth all the hype as im not a medical person but tesco etc will do them and our local chemist does them too

mcfisco

I guess its impossible to say whether on not they are worth it [I don't even know what they cost] as it really depends on your own perception of the risks involved.
I wouldn't bother - but that's just me.

on the other side of the coin ......... my mother in law suffered a double pulmonary embolism last year after failure [by her GP] to reognise the earlier symptoms of a DVT following a flight to & from Turkey
She was very ill for a good few days & has been on Warfarin since & been advised not to fly again.
I'd also point out that for a few years she had suffered from leg ulcers untill she had some operations to sort them out but I'm not sure what bearing that would have on the situation.

pompeii

I have used flight socks and do think they make a difference. My feet and ankles used to be very swolen after a 6-7 hour flight and i do all the exercises they recommend walk about and drink extra water. I saw some flight socks today in Superdrug and i know they were on offer £12.99 for a two pair pack Scholl i think, I am not sure if the offer was buy one pack get another half price.

Janeyjaz

I get swollen ankles just from a short flight and started using them a couple of years ago and they make a huge difference to me, my ankles don't swell up on the plane, so I won't gop anywhere without them now.

scottishfreebiehunter

I have just recieved mediven flight socks and thought this may be usefull to other with big calve muscles like myself:o:rotfl:they seem to fit good not tight at top like the scholl ones they were horrific for odd shaped people like myself:rotfl:(to much sport when younger and let oneself go lol)
They were 19.95 to be delivered though had them on for past hour and seem to fit good.

Please be careful guys when getting them that you do not pick them up willy nilly calf muscle needs to be measured for some though the ankle for the medi ones as cannot be to tight that they leave a mark
HTH

boombap

Aren't they the same thing as support stockings that the Dr gives out?

scottishfreebiehunter

squee wrote: »

Aren't they the same thing as support stockings that the Dr gives out?

something like that says on box mediven travel stocking,similiar to ones in pharmacy also,they are like opaque tights knee length ,bit of a begger to get on though seem fine,had ordered a pair of socks from elsewhere also but they do not seem as good as these and says less compression as I believe you need to have a certain level
Thing is though walking about plane will probably do same job,but I am paronoid:rotfl:
It is something to do with compression about ankle area then graduates way up

Etherelda

I think they are worth the hype/recommendations. My dad has just got out of hospital, he had septicemia in his leg, nearly lost it, and had DVT clots up to his groin.

Up until he was admitted into hosp, feeling poorly, he was flying to China twice a month, and flying within Europe once a week.

cardiffforthefacup

Have a look in Boots they are having a clearout of holiday stuff