Chronic pain is no laughing matter, it can be debilitating, and reduce the quality of life a person can enjoy. Fortunately, developments in the medical community are evolving to reduce the problems a person can face through the use of compression wear.

When compression wear was first developed, it was designed to alleviate chronic illnesses that caused pain. Your friends at Care-Med stand at the ready to help with your selection for compression clothing that will relieve the chronic pain you are suffering from, and improve the quality of your life.

Chronic Illness

To understand what chronic illness is, we need to define it. In the medical community, chronic illness or disease is a condition that persists over at least three months. The problems aren’t cured by a vaccine or medication. Chronic conditions don’t heal themselves, nor will they disappear on their own.

Most, if not all chronic conditions, suffered by the aged, come after many years of repetitive tasks or a breakdown of bodily functions. This is the genesis of compression wear, developed to reduce pain and inflammation for the human condition.

Common chronic illnesses that compression garments will forestall

  • Arthritis
  • Vein disease
  • Chronic pain
  • Raynaud’s

Compression wear reduces the symptoms felt by people who experience these chronic conditions.

How compression garments help

Compression wear will reduce pain and help with mobility for the afflicted Increasing blood flow is important if you are suffering from Raynaud’s or any other condition that causes poor circulation.

  • Swelling reduced, edema relieved
  • Blood will pool if you suffer from varicose veins or one of the many types of vein diseases.
  • Chronic pain will decrease through the increase of oxygenation and improved blood circulation
  • Cancer

Work and compression clothing

In a work environment, repetitive tasks can cause a breakdown of physiology, and cause chronic conditions to develop. For those who work on their feet, like nurses, delivery people or factory workers, repetitive body movements will create pain. The pain will cause permanent disability if not treated, and there are many options for those who are engaged in some type of physical activity to perform their employment functions.

Compression socks and stockingsCompression garments for Health

  • Made from a specialized weave, the strong elastic sock, or stocking applies pressure to the muscles in the legs feet or ankles. The pressure forces circulation from the affected areas and sends blood back to the heart to stimulate the circulation process. Results of the ‘graduated pressure’ more pressure on the affected areas, and reduced pressure as the sleeve rises on the leg create ‘fresh legs’.
  • Pain reduction and discomfort reduction are the end game here, through natural circulation.
  • The socks and stockings treat disorders like chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, lymphedema, and post-thrombotic syndrome. Blood clotting problems stops when blood circulation flows unimpeded, and that benefits the wearer. When you are on your feet for a prolonged period, swelling is inevitable.
  • The pain comes from your body telling you that you are overworking your feet. Properly fitted socks or stocking can be a Godsend to the afflicted. Increased circulation relieves the swelling in the feet, and pain reduction results exponentially.

Compression shorts

Walking or standing all day can be a difficult chore for anyone who makes a living on his or her feet. Compression shorts will help reduce injuries to the groin/pelvis/hip/thigh areas.

A hernia injury can come from many causes, and it is a chronic problem that doesn’t correct itself. Hernias can be sports-related or can come from the tasks that stress certain areas of the body that compression shorts can help deal with. Supporting the weak or overused areas is what compression shorts do when repetitive tasks are part of an individual’s workday.

Compression vests

Chronic back pain can leave you flat on your back. A lack of posture support or poor alignment is where the pain starts. After years of use and abuse, our backs will suffer, and chronic pain will follow. Body alignment, is why it matters.

A healthy back supports your torso, and you can move comfortably. Shifting vertebrae, for extended periods, causes other parts of the back to take up the slack for support of the torso.

Overworked muscles, and other vertebrae will experience stress when they take up the workload that a misaligned back causes. Pinched nerves and physical deformities are common injuries when the condition goes untreated.

Your spine must remain centered between the right and left sides of your back. You want to see a curve from your shoulders to the small of your back. The curve is what absorbs shock, and helps support your torso. To assist with back support, you need your shoulders back.

This will force your chest out, and help with balance through weight distribution, reducing pressure felt by the diaphragm. In the area your hip area, they need to be in a bilateral position. This position creates a lower back curve that supports the lumbar region.

Support for the lumbar area stops the pain, eliminates misalignment of the spine, and nerve problems. When we are on sitting or standing all day, it takes a toll on our knees. Sitting for an extended period, keep your knees at a 90-degree angle to the floor. When standing, keep your knees slightly bent to increase blood flow and help your hips with weight distribution.

Reducing back pain 

Even and consistent pressure on your muscles and spine help reduce back pain, and that is why compression garment for your back is so important. Structural support helps reduce the risk of injury due to poor posture.

Wearing a compression top will limit any injuries or posture problems as it will keep your shoulders back, and maintain spine curvature. The reduction of muscle fatigue is integral, and a compression garment assists in this area. Support for weak areas reduces the risk of muscle strains and nerve damage.

Surgery can be a problem for your back. The weakened area doesn’t just ache from pain; it is significantly weakened from the procedure. Support for the weak area while it heals, reduces the risk of permanent injury, and speeds up the recovery process.

Arm sleeves and knee sleeves

Often, small areas of our bodies create large amounts of pain. When you have a chronic knee or elbow pain from injury or overuse, a knee sleeve or arm sleeve will help reduce the inflammation through additional muscle support and increased circulation.

Sports and compression wear

Sports and compression garmentsFor professional athletes, and people who want to stay in shape, compression will help with recovery and support for extended periods of exercise. In the arena, many professional athletes are using compression clothing to help extend their ability to perform at the highest level.

Increasing oxygenation and blood flow will help an athlete compete longer, at a higher level than without compression garment. After years of performing the same activities, a professional athlete’s body can betray them, and start to break down.

Compression garments for knees, arms, shoulders, torsos, ankles, and feet reduce the risk of injury, and chronic conditions experienced later in life. If you are a weekend warrior, who cycles, runs or trains at the gym, compression garments will help with recovery, and help increase your ability to train through support, and blood flow.

Before you run to a medical supply store to buy the latest in compression garments to help with the problems your body is facing, consult your physician. Your body is a finely tuned machine that demands protection.

Compression and Lymphedema

Lymphedema Compression WearChronic lymphatic disease, also known as lymphedema, will result in swelling and permanent disfigurement in the affected areas. Lymphedema can be hereditary or the come as the result of surgery, an infection, radiation, or trauma of a physical nature.

For women who have breast cancer, the swelling appears on the same side as the cancer. This is after removing the lymph nodes from the armpit area before cancer treatments begin.

A damaged lymphatic system causes the swelling because the impaired fluid transport system can’t move the protein-rich liquid from the affected areas. The lymphatic system is part of the immune system that fights infections. With a damaged system, the ‘immune trafficking’ can’t be sent to areas that are in need of help. This makes problems like infections plague the patient.

Lymphedema Garments

Lymphedema garments can help reduce swelling caused by lymphedema when worn, and can fit for different parts of the body. The swelling comes from a build up of lymph fluid, and the compression wear helps push the fluid out of the affected areas.

If your condition is acute, your specialist might recommend applying multi-layered compression bandages first before you put on compression wear. Depending on where the problem is, there is compression wear to assist with swelling and pain relief.

Arm, leg, and hand sleeves can fit for your comfort and convenience. Another solution to the lymphedema problems you are experiencing is a garment wrap. The wrap consists of single layers of overlapping fabric bands. Body-wraps work on the same principle as compression wear, and it might be easier to wear than bandages or a sleeve.

If the affliction is in the chest or breast area, the solution might be as simple as wearing a sports bra to combat swelling. With a more severe case, a fitted vest might be the order of the day to combat the swelling.

If you have an affected genital region, you can wear a pair of cycling shorts made of lycra that work just as well as compression garments. For men who are suffering from lymphedema in the groin area, you may need scrotal support. With pelvic swelling, we recommend compression shorts. However, speak to your therapist before you spend any money.

Upper Compression Wear

If your needs for compression wear revolve around the neck or head area, there are products that help. For the head, you wear a band under the chin and over the skull in affected area to reduce swelling. A neck sleeve (a Hereford collar) like an old neck brace you use to remove liquid from the neck area.

We mentioned bandaging briefly, now we will go into more detail. Your therapist applies the bandages; and determining the types by condition. You can use A tubular bandage with a soft layer of synthetic wool or foam. Then a denser layer of foam is added, then a bandage layer (low stretch), and then a layer of tap to hold everything in place is what the process entails.

To get maximum value, your doctor can direct you to the best course of action. As we mentioned earlier, back pain can come from your feet, and if you don’t know what ails your feet, your back pain continues.

Compression garments improve the quality of life you experience through pain reduction and treatment for chronic conditions that have developed over time. Once you have consulted your doctor for help to determine what type of compression gear you need, see a professional for help, to fit your compression wear to live your best life!

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