Treatment is usually prescribed by a physician to relieve all manifestations of chronic venous disease and prevent venous troubles. Compression stockings are recommended under the following conditions:

Tired, aching legs
Occurs when the blood flow slows down in the legs (can be an indicator of deep vein thrombosis).
Edema (Mild ankle/foot swelling)
When blood and/or tissue fluid pool in the legs and feet due to poor circulation.
Chronic peripheral venous insufficiency
Veins cannot pump deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Varicose veins
Saccular and distended veins which can expand considerably and may cause painful venous inflammation. Once developed, will not disappear on its own. The formation of varicose veins is an externally visible sign of venous weakness.

Varicose Veins
Spider Veins (mild varicosities)
The smallest cutaneous blood vessels which shimmer bluish/reddish through the skin.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Occurs when blood flow decreases (especially in the lower extremities), causing blood to pool in the legs and leading to blood clot (thrombus) formation.
Lymphedema
When a body part swells due to an abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid, occurring when there is interference with the normal drainage of lymph fluid back into the blood, commonly swelling the arm, leg, neck or abdomen.
Phlebitis
Inflammation and clotting in a vein, most often a leg vein, due to infection, inflammation, or trauma. People with varicose veins are more often affected. Inflammation occurs suddenly, causing the thrombus to adhere firmly to the vein wall, which can clog a superficial vein.
Economy Class Syndrome (ECS)
Occurs on long flight, due to traveler’s inactivity, gravity, and cramped seating, which slows down the blood flow through veins
Lipodermatosclerosis
Inflammation of subcutaneous fat, form of panniculitis.
Pregnancy
Hormones released during pregnancy and the expanding child-bearing uterus can affect leg veins.

The use of elastic compression stockings can reduce volumetric variations during standing hours. The use of stockings for the entire day is more effective than just half the day or not using compression stockings at all. Many physicians and vein specialists recommend wearing compression stockings after varicose vein stripping, but studies show that wearing an elastic compression has no additional benefit following elastic bandaging for 3 days in post-operative care after stripping of the great saphenous vein as assessed by control of limb, oedema, pain, complications and return to work.