They’re not right/left, they’re typically simple tube socks with the grips on the top and bottom so you can just slap them bitches on the patient any which way and have em work (edit to add: the “L” is for “Large” as in S M L XL XXL. I can also tell you this person was likely deemed low risk for slipping and falling or the socks would be bright yellow, otherwise the color is usually also an at-a-glance a size indicator).
This is more important in the regular hospital when it’s a grown man twice your size but half your strength d/t heart failure. Heart failure also means the legs themselves are inflated with so much fluid that your fingers leave prints like one of those stress balls full of clay (it’s called pitting edema!). We won’t discuss here what that much edema looks like when it makes its way up to the penis but you can put “scrotal / penile edema” into Google images if you really need a reason to watch your sodium intake.
Since your patient can’t adequately hold up his somehow simultaneously stiff AND flaccid log-legs (including feet with 6-month long talons covered in skin flakes that blow around like snow) long enough for you to get the socks on (and hasn’t been able to reach them in over a decade), you’re going to have to haul them up onto your knee to be able to slide the sock on. It’s at this point you realize that you’ve gotten the wrong angle and his leg is sitting across your thigh such that his foot is poking out behind you but you’re not sure you have the strength to do it again and still be able to get the other one so you’re just gonna have to do some gymnastics twists to get both hands back there to git er done.
Anyway that’s why the grips are on both sides, at least from someone whose job it is to apply them occasionally (less than at the tech job I had through school). Mostly though I do actually work psych where I can just hand them to people in exchange for their shoes that have laces. Lots of people say psych is easier but these are the same people who also look utterly flabbergasted when people respond to them shouting “CALM. DOWN.” by throwing hands.
Oh and these are my fancy grippy socks that I have like 20 pairs of to wear at home because it turns out these specific ones are the exact right sock for my (probable) autism:
Now for work I actually wear toe socks because I have long skinny toes and if I don’t keep them separated they over and underlap every few steps and if I do 10k+ steps a night they’re often actually bruised by the end. I tried silicone gel separators but they just gave me pressure sores.
You can actually get them on temu / aliexpress / other cheap sites. Usually they’re called some variation of “Ballet / yoga slipper socks.” I did order some special variety that fits my 10-11 feet (I’m quite tall for AFAB) but that listing goes in and out of existence on Amazon and I haven’t seen them anywhere else.
They’re also hard to get into shoes, I don’t so much mind the bumps (weirdly enough with all my sensory issues) but I have to flip them inside out to get them into my shoes.
Have you tried Correct Toes? They are expensive but they have been a blessing for my foot afflicted by Morton’s neuroma, and have been very durable. You’ll need to get shoes that are extra wide over the toes however if you plan to use them in shoes. For example Altra, Topo, Joe Nimble and Lems are good brands for that.
Oh yeah those are exactly like the kind that gave me pressure / friction sores. The toe socks provide exactly the right amount of separation to prevent over / underlapping without causing sores.
They’re not right/left, they’re typically simple tube socks with the grips on the top and bottom so you can just slap them bitches on the patient any which way and have em work (edit to add: the “L” is for “Large” as in S M L XL XXL. I can also tell you this person was likely deemed low risk for slipping and falling or the socks would be bright yellow, otherwise the color is usually also an at-a-glance a size indicator).
This is more important in the regular hospital when it’s a grown man twice your size but half your strength d/t heart failure. Heart failure also means the legs themselves are inflated with so much fluid that your fingers leave prints like one of those stress balls full of clay (it’s called pitting edema!). We won’t discuss here what that much edema looks like when it makes its way up to the penis but you can put “scrotal / penile edema” into Google images if you really need a reason to watch your sodium intake.
Since your patient can’t adequately hold up his somehow simultaneously stiff AND flaccid log-legs (including feet with 6-month long talons covered in skin flakes that blow around like snow) long enough for you to get the socks on (and hasn’t been able to reach them in over a decade), you’re going to have to haul them up onto your knee to be able to slide the sock on. It’s at this point you realize that you’ve gotten the wrong angle and his leg is sitting across your thigh such that his foot is poking out behind you but you’re not sure you have the strength to do it again and still be able to get the other one so you’re just gonna have to do some gymnastics twists to get both hands back there to git er done.
Anyway that’s why the grips are on both sides, at least from someone whose job it is to apply them occasionally (less than at the tech job I had through school). Mostly though I do actually work psych where I can just hand them to people in exchange for their shoes that have laces. Lots of people say psych is easier but these are the same people who also look utterly flabbergasted when people respond to them shouting “CALM. DOWN.” by throwing hands.
Oh and these are my fancy grippy socks that I have like 20 pairs of to wear at home because it turns out these specific ones are the exact right sock for my (probable) autism:
Now for work I actually wear toe socks because I have long skinny toes and if I don’t keep them separated they over and underlap every few steps and if I do 10k+ steps a night they’re often actually bruised by the end. I tried silicone gel separators but they just gave me pressure sores.
Those are fancy stylish socks!
Especially if I get sent back to the psych ward (jk the straps are too long I would NOT let me keep them if I was my nurse)
What’s the giant L mean on the right foot?
Ligma
Large.
Yes we know it’s big but what does it mean?
Large as in S M L XL XXL etc
Where do I get some of those at home grippy socks those look like they could be right for my autism too…
You can actually get them on temu / aliexpress / other cheap sites. Usually they’re called some variation of “Ballet / yoga slipper socks.” I did order some special variety that fits my 10-11 feet (I’m quite tall for AFAB) but that listing goes in and out of existence on Amazon and I haven’t seen them anywhere else.
Thank you for your service
I thought the “L” there indicated left.
Large as in S M L XL XXL etc
Dumb question why dont normal socks have gripys! Those a sick!!
Thanks for sharing your insite was very interesting.
Grippys are great for when you’re walking shoeless on slippery floors, but the bumps can be uncomfortable, so I’m glad they’re not on all sox
They’re also hard to get into shoes, I don’t so much mind the bumps (weirdly enough with all my sensory issues) but I have to flip them inside out to get them into my shoes.
Have you tried Correct Toes? They are expensive but they have been a blessing for my foot afflicted by Morton’s neuroma, and have been very durable. You’ll need to get shoes that are extra wide over the toes however if you plan to use them in shoes. For example Altra, Topo, Joe Nimble and Lems are good brands for that.
Oh yeah those are exactly like the kind that gave me pressure / friction sores. The toe socks provide exactly the right amount of separation to prevent over / underlapping without causing sores.