Zipped support

[georgemichael-]

I was fitted with knee length zipped support. I find them very comfortable. Has anyone been able to put them on by themselves. I have to wait for my daughter t come and she lives a distance . Thankyou

[Lynora]

Can you enlist the help of a carer to call in each morning to help you don them?

I have an elderly client who found she could get her foot in to the garment, but then couldn't grip the zipper firmly enough to pull it up. Her son made a hook device from a cork screw! He put slip rings into the zipper, then she could hook the cork screw into the slip ring, and use her whole hand to pull the zip upwards. She had to be careful - it was a bit trial and error for a few months! She now has a carer who visits twice a day, who helps her into and out of the garments.

[georgemichael- in reply to Lynora]

Thank you

[Chocolate-e-clare]

Hi "georgemichael" - as a therapist, I was taught that these types of garments are often more trouble to get on because it can still be tricky to get them onto the foot, and then, as Lynora says, getting the zip up can be awkward. I can see their value if your skin is really thin and fragile and you don't want the shearing of pulling fabric over your skin. If the skin condition is good, most people seem to be able to get the standard no-zip style of garments on with the aid of a donning frame/device. So, to answer your question, yes, some people can get these types of garments on but they can have their disadvantages/difficulties. An occupational therapist who knows a lot about lymphoedema care could probably advise on devices to help you, similar to the ideas that Lynora mentioned (eg ring on zipper, and something to hook into the ring).

[georgemichael- in reply to Chocolate-e-clare]

Thanks you very much

[JenH1942]

Hello, I too find the zipped knee high stockings very comfortable and make a tremendous difference to my walking. The person who measured and ordered them for me did them so that the zip is on the inside so that, being on my own they would be easier to put on. I find that if I open them out as fully as possible and then slide my foot in as far as possible , making sure that the stocking is resting on a carpet ( or bath mat) so that they grip, then I can slide my foot right in, lean over just enough to grip the material together to start off the zip, and from then on its easier. It takes me about five minutes to put both on . Make sure you are sitting low enough to reach. I find that the toilet is the best height, hence the bath mat used to grip the foot of the stocking. You definitely need the mat otherwise the sock just slides away.

Hope this helps , Good luck. 😉

Note - you can't just swap over the stockings to get the zip on the inside as the measurements are different.