ted socks

[blitz373]

how long do you have to wear TED socks after surgery ??

[stevel]

I stopped using TEDS, 12 days after surgery.  I had no swelling in my left calf or foot and decided to stop using the TEDS.

[Mudpro]

4 weeks, took them off and stopped the blood thinner at the same time.

[wayne-0]

2 weeks for me

Wayne

[Tekka]

2.1/2 weeks in....1.1/2 weeks to go..

Terry

[Todd]

The form they sent home from the hospital said wear them for 30 days (during the day only).  Nurses said a couple of weeks.  I found them very helpful for the first 2 weeks to keep any swelling from settling down my thigh, and I was able to secure ice packs in them to keep the ice in place while I was up and moving around.  They're not too bad to wear.

[Mudpro]

I only had the calf high socks, how many of you had the thigh high ones?

[stevel]

I had the knee high TEDS which extend over the knee up towards the thigh.  The hospital gave me a pair and I bought a spare pair to wear when the other pair was in the laundry.  I got the tip about an extra pair from reading "What items will I need at home after surgery?" on Pat's corner of this website.  The handouts I got from the doctor said "TEDS stockings can be very helpful if you experience swelling, and would be used while a patient is up and around during the day (since fluid levels tends to accumulate by gravity)," and "Fluid can accumulate in the legs due to the effet of gravity.  It is not unusual that you didn't have it in the hospital, but it got worse when you went home (because you are doing more!)  To combat this, you should elevate your legs at night by lying on your back and placing pillows under the legs so that they are above your heart.  There are also TEDS stockings (the white stockings from the hospital) that you can put on during the day - have someone help you on with theim in the morning, use them during the day, and then take them off at night.  If you did not get TEDS from the hospital, you can purchase knee high, medium (15 - 20 mm Hg) compression surgical stockings at most drug stores."

[dvander]

4 weeks, but wished I could wear them longer.  They wore out and my wife's patience of putting them on wore thin.  I loved them!!!!

[Barbara]

3 weeks and I was sooooooo happy to be rid of them. I found them uncomfortable and they itched my skin.

Barbara

[Todd]

dvander-  I concur!  I would call my wife in a sweet voice to help with my TEDS  She did it, but was glad to see them go!  My kids were really great with that kind of stuff.  They were always helping poor dad with the little things.  I didn't mind the TEDS at all as my swelling was pretty wild.  As I mentioned, they make great Ice holders too.

[shelley]

6 weeks, day and night. Knee length on un-operated leg, full length with outer side extension to the waist, on operated leg. It fitted like a vice!

[tedroberts]

I had bilateral hip resurfacing 1-7-09.  My surgeon said the Ted socks don't do anything so I never wore them (I was never given them).  I was on blood thinners for 4 weeks post surgery.  I had a lot of swelling in both legs that went away after about two weeks. 

[uberalan]

No TEDS at all.  Dr. Gross doesn't recommend TED's.  He has recently changed protocols to eliminate the 10 day post surgery anticoagulant injects replaced with a daily aspirin.  I had swelling the day I traveled home (nearly 9hrs in transit) three days after the last surgery.   I have had a couple of bouts of swelling following days that I have over done the PT.

[jimq]

I had mine on for 1 month with the cumadin.

[dw]

hated the ted socks. my wife got really good putting them on - 4 week time frame, although they wore out before that (kept falling down - even had a spare pair).  was on a daily aspirin as well - but that's it.  I still have a mark where the socks were pintching my skin the day of surgery (6 months ago)  -- that was painful.

[CeeJay15]

Hate the Teds! Dr. Rector says 1 week for non-operated leg and 2 weeks for operated leg. I can get them on myself with a dressing stick (has a hook on the end) but they are not the most comfortable things to wear!