Preventing Blood Clot - tight socks or not?

Read this on this site:

Avoid wearing tight socks for long periods of time.
Wear compression stockings if directed to by your doctor.

I thought compression socks were tight socks. Are these 2 suggestions contradictory?

I believe there is a difference. Compression stockings provide consistent pressure throughout the entire garment. Tight socks may just be in the toes or top of the sock. Most cotton socks have "give" so they wouldn't provide all over support. You want to provide gentle pressure all over, not cut off circulation. Ultimately your doctor should make the call on whether you need compression stockings or not. If you aren't at risk for a clot, you may not need them. I had them on just after surgery but they drove me crazy and the nurse removed them around midnight, 12 hours after my surgery, and I never needed them again.

To me, "socks" cover just the feet and maybe the ankles (unless they're specified as "knee socks"). The compression stockings that the hospital gave me went right up to mid thigh! They provided even compression over my *entire* leg.

Thanks, guys! Yes, I had them in the hospital too. My little tight socks at home were probably doing more harm than good.

Yeah the compression socks are a little special. The compression socks are graduated so that they have more pressure lower down and decrease going up to help the blood move up the leg.