Best thigh supports according to redditors

You should get knee-high/thigh-high compressions! I wear shorts with mine at home. I prefer the ones that stop at my ankles ("footless") because my house has slippery floors. I highly recommend the thigh highs, but they can bunch up under the knees and become uncomfortable (I sit on my legs or squeeze myself into my chair tho). They also have silicon circles at the top to hold onto your legs better, but I fold them outwards because they leave dents in me and make me itch, they also aren't really needed since they hold on pretty good anyway, otherwise I love them.

thigh-high w/o foot = https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L8XTN7L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

thigh-high w foot = https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072TLJ9TP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Hello, RN and gamer here. RN's do assessment as a priority job description. So, if you are concerned about SVT (superficial vein thrombosis) and DVT (Deep vein thrombosis) I can be of a little assistance.

First off, DVT is rare in healthy young individuals who have normal levels of activity. However, as gamers, we like to sit for extended periods of time, which is really not that great for you especially when it comes to DVT. Now as I understand it, Geoff had two risk factors which greatly increase the incidence of DVT. Those two factors are having had a previous DVT (which is a huge predictor) an an infection (which is also a common cause of thrombosis).

So, the actual 'recommendation' is to get up and walk for 5-10 minutes every hour to help prevent DVT. That's hard to manage sometimes during gaming sessions, so I could say that any opportunity you get to get up and walk around a bit, you should take that.

Another thing I do (because I have a history of SVT which also raises your chance for DVT), is wear compression stockings. These are a primary preventative measure for not only thrombosis in the legs, but also vericose veins. It's not exactly fun to wear 'stockings' as a dude, let me tell you, but you get used to it. I have some nice black ones, and they do the trick pretty well, even if they are a pain in the ass to put on at first.

Also, if you are concerned about SVT DVT and you don't have stomach ulcers or similar conditions, and aren't taking any other medications which would prevent this, you could take 80mg of aspirin a day to thin your blood out a little bit, especially if you are on the far side of 30 or 40 years old. This one you want to talk to your doctor about, however, starting a daily aspirin regimen can come with it's own issues, depending on any health conditions you have or other medications you routinely take. If you can do it however, it can decrease your chances of SVT / DVT and studies suggest this sort of thing for cardiac health later in life, so you might want to see (especially if you are an older gamer) if this sort of light preventative treatment is right for you.

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So, back to your original question:

>Is there any way to distinguish if it could be a blood clot and you should be looked at immediately?

In many cases, yes. For SVT if the clot is close to the skin, like mine was, you will see discoloration and/or swelling in the general area. So look for spider veins or what looks like darker than normal veins which seem to 'pop' a bit more than normal for SVT. My wife commenting on my leg, thinking it was injured, was how mine was detected - I got a venogram afterwards and it was confirmed.

For DVT, you watch for pain/soreness, but this is often accompanied by swelling of a single leg at and below the point of the clot which is often noticeably different than your other, 'normal', leg. (Very rarely, both legs). This sort of swelling is called edema, and is the primary thing to watch out for. The leg might look very puffy, and you might be able to leave finger indentations in the skin, like a soft fruit. The pain in the leg might get worse when you walk. The skin might be warm, and perhaps red or mottled (but not always) and veins near and below the clot might feel very 'full' and hard, and appear darker than normal

I want to stress something: A DVT is a significant medical emergency, for which you should seek immediate medical attention.
As in, call an ambulance or have someone immediately take that person to the hospital. If you suspect a DVT , NEVER MASSAGE the affected area. Leave it alone, and don't be active. This is because activity and rubbing the area may cause the clot to dislodge, where it travels up to the heart, then into the lungs, where it can become a pulmonary embolism, which is very sadly what killed Geoff. The large clot ending up in the lungs causes what is essentially a 'lung stroke', where it blocks off blood flow to a large area of the lung where it lodges, preventing the gas exchange which occurs when you breathe. This of course is in many many cases, very immediately fatal, and extremely hard if not impossible to treat with any success depending on the size of the PE (clot).

Signs of this are things like a rapid heartbeat when resting, coughing excessively (which may be blood tinged), severe and sudden shortness of breath, pain in the chest, arm, or jaw (like a heart attack) and pain when you breathe. In a pulmonary embolism, these symptoms usually come on very very fast, so again, seek immediate medical attention.

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I know all this sounds really scary, but please understand that PE and DVT usually don't just 'happen'. There is almost always identifiable underlying disease process which influences their formation. For instance, late stage heart failure, being quite old, vascular disease, extreme sedentary periods, infection, cancer, and other issues. It's usually not just a thing that suddenly pops out of nowhere. It's good to know the signs, keep an eye on your legs when you get out of the shower in the morning. And if you are like me (and many in the healthcare industry) you just resign yourself to wearing those peter pan compression stockings every day for the rest of your life. Especially for those who sit or stand still for long periods due to work or play.

Cheers, and godspeed Geoff.

Do you sit all day? Maybe changing that arrangement could help. Sitting at a desk all day caused me issues.

This will get downvoted because I have suggested in the past and it’s been downvoted to oblivion. But I started using this IT band strap and it’s been like a miracle worker for me!

IT Band strap

On my phone, sorry for the spelling and grammar errors...
I've been dealing with the same pain down my right leg and I had an MRI and tried PT after being practically bedridden for 3 months but I just really didn't want to take the medications or try the procedures my doctor was recommending due to cost and side effects of meds, so I have found a few small things that allowed me to atleast get back to work and move around without feeling horrible.
This is just what worked for me and I'm obviously not a doctor, but this compression wrap https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CZ82MXZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_idd3Db9FGT24Q has been amazing, Salonpas menthol patches give alot of relief but are not super long lasting, full spectrum CBD oil taken daily and staying hydrated has reduced inflammation which in my case I felt helped tremendously more than my prescriptions (this was not doctor recommended so please do your own research and do what you think is best), massage therapy monthly and light exercise daily helped with the tightness of my muscles. Altogether the combination has given me atleast 85% relief which was enough for me to not feel completely debilitated. I still have flare ups, but it's been much better in general. Best of luck to you, hope this helps.

If you're willing to invest in some back products.Here's a current list of what I have ordered and so far things are working for me.

Here's the list

This one is a miracle. Works wonders for me. I highly suggest this one.

SOLIDBACK | Lower Back Pain Relief Treatment Stretcher | Chronic Lumbar Support | Herniated Disc | Sciatica Nerve | Spinal Stenosis | Posture Corrector | Pillow Cushion And Brace Products Alternative https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A4WL5B6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Q54Vzb4W7DS4P

This one definitely helps as well

Lo-Bak TRAX Portable, Spinal Traction Easy, Comfortable & FDA Registered 510K Device https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009FEQACY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Fj5VzbTC69YW9

I just ordered these two should have them Tuesday. Can't wait for that back brace. Giving that leg one a try as well, why not at this point.

BraceUP® Stabilizing Lumbar Lower Back Brace and Support Belt with Dual Adjustable Straps and Breathable Mesh Panels (S/M) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZN0HZ5U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wn5Vzb1Y2GRSX

Bodymate Compression Wrap for Groin Hip Thigh Quad Hamstring Joints Sciatica Nerve Pain Relief Strap, Adjustable Support Brace for men/women providing recovery from leg muscle injury pull Belt/Sleeve https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M5FVD4U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ap5VzbHKC4M64

I'm also going to pick up yoga as well. I believe these are great alternatives for avoiding surgery and medicine. I'm trying to stay away from the drugs as well.

Edit. Received the two last orders. The back brace also does wonders. Correcting your posture is definitely key to recovery. Not to sure about the compression wrap but going to give that a few more days before making a judgement.

I don't know if this will help you, but whenever my knees start to flair up, this thing really helps me!

Vive IT Band Strap

I wear a leg compression sleeve a lot. I bought it to wear under my brace so I could wear shorts without the gross foam ever touching my skin. Now that I am out of the brace I tend to wear it when I’m on my feet a lot or need the feeling of support.

I’m not sure it’s quite the support level you’re looking for but it’s been one of my favorite purchases.

Leg sleeve

I recently purchased a compression belt that wraps around my waist/hips and thigh on the side of my sciatica. My pain as of late had only been decreased with pain medication or muscle relaxer. I cannot believe how much this belt has helped. I have literally been able to move around so much more with it on, and even put it on when the pain wakes me up at night and it helps so much I can go back to sleep. Like I said, I would need my pain killer before for that. Here is a link to the style of belt-not the same one I bought but I highly suggest anyone with sciatica check out these braces. Different brands come in different sizes, but most seems to fit either leg.

https://www.amazon.com/Bodymate-Compression-Hamstring-Joints-Sciatica/dp/B01N6DX569

I don't have any actual advice on the tear, but I'm wondering if some compression contraption such as this would help ya with recovery and pain? I've used something like this for my right inner adductor when it acts up from a tear

I’ve had three FAI surgeries, the first two by doctors who didn’t do a great job. So one of my hips is still impinged but hasn’t torn yet so we’re holding off and seeing if we can avoid a surgery. I’ll be 36 weeks tomorrow and it’s held up so far but my biggest concern is tearing it during labor.

You could try getting a small thin brace to put under your clothes. This helped me last awhile before my last surgery since it just gives light support. Keep doing your stretches, even at work just to keep it strong and not too tight. Ice and heat are also great, my boss let me take small breaks to help keep pain levels down.

Oh! Also look at what shoes you’re wearing! If they don’t have the right support it can really throw your hips off. I’d highly recommend the vionic brand, they’ve saved my life! Compression socks may also help. And of course watch your posture while sitting and standing.

You can also see if your dr can give you a script for some physical therapy visits, but be sure the therapist has experience working with torn labrums. Massaging out your IT bands and hip flexors can also help relieve some of the tension.

Brace:

Vive Groin and Hip Brace - Sciatica Wrap for Men and Women - Compression Support for Nerve Pain Relief - Thigh, Hamstring Recovery for Joints, Flexor Strains, Pulled Muscles, Quadricep PT https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WTIIV6G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_2DrRDbR52NA8C

UGH I feel you so hard. I’ve had sciatica since week 8. (17 weeks today)

A couple of things have helped me manage it.

I’ve done this video weekly https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G5h0jkoBFbI and do a short version of the stretches each morning for 5-10 mins. I saw you said you’re doing stretches several times a day and IANAD but think that might be overdoing it? The times I’ve done that (out of desperation! It hurts!) I’ve almost always ended up feeling worse by the end of the day. I’ve started incorporating tennis ball rolls into the stretches too and that seems to be helping as well.

I got this compression thing off Amazon and it’s actually been REALLY helpful on the worst days. I hate it on my bare skin so usually wear it over leggings or yoga pants. For me it provided almost instant relief—the pain didn’t go away totally but it made going about my day much more manageable.

It sucks at first but actually I found the more active I am in a given day, the less pain I’m in. My sedentary day job sucks for this so every weekend for the past four weeks I’ve been doing physical labor, painting, hanging shelves, and deep cleaning the house like a madwoman. Without fail my pain almost entirely goes away by 3pm.

Every body is different so good luck and I hope you find something that works for you!

I bought one of these and it works well:

Vital Salveo - Germanium Recovery Sleeve
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XDMPX42?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Happy for you on your way to healing. This brace also helped me a lot

BODYMATE Compression Brace for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M5FVD4U?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Hi, my name is Adrian, i am 33 and have been experiencing severe sciatica nerve pain on my left upper leg for more than 6 months, especially when sitting for long periods or walking more than a mile or two.

Three weeks ago, a friend of mine who is a kineto therapist showed me this link and recommended the hip brace in the link below for only 14,99$ on Amazon. I also got a free back pain relief exercises ebook in this price.

I started wearing it everyday under my pants for the past two and a half weeks at work (i am an engineer and i work on a construction site) and also at home when working around the house.

After 3 days of wearing it my pain was considerably reduced and now, after more than 2 weeks of wearing it, i don’t feel the pain anymore when sitting at the desk or walking. So i strongly reccomend this hip brace for anyone suffering from sciatica pain. I have read that it is also good for hamstring strains, groin pulls and other hip problems.

I hope you will find this post helpful. Here is the Amazon link:

Amazon.com: Hip Brace-Thigh Compression Sleeve for Men /Women, Provides Pain Relief from Groin Pulls and Strains, Hip Arthritis, Hip Flexor Injury, Sciatic Nerve, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Stabilizer for Hip and Back: Sports & Outdoors