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Man Fights Leg Fatigue with Pantyhose

Support pantyhose can help men as much as women.

Q. I’ve been wearing pantyhose every day for a while now to eliminate leg fatigue and help with varicose veins. I stand all day at work in a restaurant and find this tactic works great.

I wear L’eggs Sheer Energy Active Support Leg Nude Queen size; I am 5′ 10″ and 200 pounds and they fit me perfectly. I get several weeks’ wear out of each.

I wear them under my uniform pants during the day and under shorts at other times. No one seems to notice, or if they do they don’t mention it. The nude color just looks like I have tanned legs. Other colors are a little too false looking.

My wife, my family and my doctor all approve. Other guys may want to try this.

A. You are not the first man to tell us that support pantyhose help keep their legs from getting tired. Years ago we heard from a reader:

“I suffer from chronic leg pain. My doctors have tested me and all they can say is that it might be due to nerve damage. They suggest support hose.

“I bought some medical support hose but they are very expensive. I thought I could save money with regular support pantyhose.

“It feels strange to wear them but they really help my legs feel much better. Is it a problem to wear women’s pantyhose?”

We assured him the only problem would be if he and his wife were trying to conceive. Pantyhose might raise the temperature of the testicles and reduce sperm count. This is not terribly likely, however.

Pantyhose for Flying

MSR chimed in:

“I have worn compression pantyhose on long distance flights to Australia many times and they are very effective.  They are difficult to put on, especially getting them over the foot area. As a male I am not used to putting on full length hosiery although it is second nature to most women – but – like anything else that is worth doing – there is a price to pay.

“Long flights used to be difficult ,as I get very fidgety legs to the point where it would drive me nuts sitting in one place even for a short period of time. On a 15 hour flight from LA to Sydney it is purgatory. My wife had never had this problem so (at her suggestion) I ordered a pair of full length hosiery.

“I did feel a bit self-conscious wearing a garment designed for a woman, but what a difference!  I had tried support socks before but the full length garment (pantyhose) are much much more effective. So much more support over the entire leg.

“I never ever go on any flight without my support pantyhose and I wear them just about every day. They are invigorating and the best thing for both male and female legs. I simply do not understand why these are marketed only to women.

“They fit me perfectly well and are very comfortable although I was careful to ensure that I got the right size. At the end of a long day or a long flight I really thank the guy or gal that invented them. The support is well worth the effort in getting them on whether you are a man or a woman.”

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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