#Medical compression stockings near me for free#
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#Medical compression stockings near me full#

One pair of waist-high stockings costs $159 off the shelf. A standard-fit arm sleeve costs $81, but a custom-made equivalent can run $202, according to the Lymphedema Advocacy Group, a patient volunteer organization seeking a federal mandate for insurance coverage.

Depending on the severity of the disease, some people also require them at night. Stanley Rockson, a professor of lymphatic research and medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. People generally wear the garments daily, said Dr. The majority develop the condition after undergoing cancer treatment, especially if they had surgery that required removing lymph nodes to stop the spread of disease. Breast cancer patients are particularly affected by the condition. Lymphedema affects as many as 5 million people in the United States.

#Medical compression stockings near me Patch#

“Right now there is a patch quilt across the country to navigate to get the care that you need,” said William Repicci, CEO of the Lymphatic Education & Research Network, a patient advocacy group. Although Medicaid programs cover some of these expenses, Medicare does not.Īdvocates have been pushing for legislation to change that. Coverage varies among private insurance plans, and for many patients it is limited. Many lymphedema patients struggle to get health insurers to pay for compression garments. That’s a condition that occurs when fluid builds up in the arms and legs. “I guess they’re thinking I don’t have to stand up” for half the year, she said.īritta Vander Linden uses compression stockings to help prevent complications from her lymphedema. For the rest of the year, she added, she pays out of pocket ― between $2,500 and $3,500 annually. Vander Linden’s insurance coverage, which she gets through her job as a senior director of communications at a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization, covers about half the annual cost of her stockings, she said. Lymphedema is incurable, but specialized compression stockings, sleeves and gloves help prevent complications such as tissue damage, more swelling and infection. When that network is damaged, fluid can build up and cause limbs to swell well beyond their normal size and make them susceptible to harmful infections.

The condition affects the lymphatic system, a network of lymph nodes and vessels that move infection-fighting liquid through the body. That’s because Vander Linden, 44, was born with lymphedema. She relies on the garments to stand and walk without intense leg pain and swelling.

#Medical compression stockings near me for free#

This story can be republished for free ( details).Įvery morning, Britta Vander Linden dons compression stockings, a cumbersome process she calls “putting on my legs.” Be sure to speak up and ask any questions you have about your stockings, including availability of styles and colours or any special ordering that might be necessary.This story also ran on The Washington Post.

#Medical compression stockings near me full#

If you are being fitted for a pair of full pantyhose-style compression stockings, wear a dress or skirt.Īsk questions. Your London Drugs pharmacy staff member will instruct you in the safe and proper use of your compression stockings. Prepare for your appointment. You will be fitted with stockings that may fit to the knee or thigh, so come dressed in clothing that allows for access to your leg. Set up an appointment. Since a compression stocking fitting requires a trained pharmacy staff member, it's best to call ahead to set up an appointment so you can plan ahead and make the most of your consultation time.

#Medical compression stockings near me how to#

How to use this serviceįind your location. Call your local London Drugs to ask if compression stocking fitting service is available near you. Our staff members can also answer questions about safe use of compression stockings and availability of particular colours, styles, and compression levels. Having a specially trained London Drugs pharmacy staff member do a fitting will assure maximum comfort and effectiveness. How you can benefit from a compression stocking fittingįit of compression stockings is very important. In a compression stocking fitting, the pharmacy staff member will show you how to wear your compression stockings for maximum comfort and effectiveness. Pharmacy staff members at select London Drugs locations are specially trained to help you find the right fit for prescription and non-prescription compression stockings. Your physician or physical therapist may have prescribed compression stockings for you, or you may be seeking to try out a pair of non-prescription stockings on your own. Compression stockings also provide relief from leg symptoms like aching, fatigue, and heaviness. Compression stockings are a type of hosiery that help to prevent and treat certain venous disorders (varicose and spider veins, blood clots, leg ulcers, swelling, phlebitis).