lymphedema in one finger!

littletower

Can they do pt for that?  And what about compression garments?

kira66715

Littletower, although I've always had some swelling in the web space between my index and middle finger, for a while it moved up and I had a swollen index finger. (Later other fingers got involved.) We treated it with massage, compression gloves and finger wraps.

MOTC had a swollen "sausage" finger for a while, but it's much better now that she uses gloves and a sleeve when exercising. 

Lymphedema is "patchy" and can move around.

This article by Andrea Cheville talks about the use of hand protection with sleeves, but mentions hand swelling:

http://lymphedivas.com/lymphedema/gauntletandsleeve/ 

Kira

Binney4

Littletower, maybe it would help to visualize what's going on if you remember that the damage to the lymph system was not in your finger, but in your axilla and breast. So lymphedema therapy that treats the entire quadrant of your body will clear a way to move the lymph fluid out of your finger. Manual Lymph Drainage massage, compression on the hand and arm, directed exercises, and great skin care will all help with reducing the swelling and controlling it.

Do keep us posted!

Gentle hugs,
Binney

SpunkyGirl

Little Tower,

I have had some swelling in my index finger, and months before that, in my little pinkie.  When I start to see it getting a little puffy or feeling off, I will put my sleeve and glove on all day for a few days.  That helps a lot.  I can usually go for several weeks at a time without having to use the sleeve and glove, except for exercising, which I do every day anyway.  I used to exercise with a sleeve/gauntlet combo sleeve, but since I started seeing swelling with the index finger, I don't use those  anymore.  The trick is to do a lot of MLD and wear a sleeve and glove for a while when you get it.  DON'T ingnore it.  Also, raising your arm and pumping your fist several times throughout the day really helps, along with drinking lots of water.

Keep us posted!

Bobbie

Sido

My hand started swelling and after a few weeks of treatment my hand really improved, but my index and middle fingers swell up every day if I use my hand at all.  I do LDM and wear a sleeve every day.  I hate my glove with the fire of a thousand suns, so I tried getting away with a gauntlet, but if I used my hand I swelled (but less).  I relented and wore the *&@#ing glove and my fingers STILL swelled.  They go down when I wrap at night (considering a Tribute glove) but puff up to some extent every day (and my middle finger is kind of heavy and less pliable than my other one all the time).  It's my dominant hand, so I'm learning to be a lefty.

BTW, swimming is amazing for getting the swelling down!  My hand looks almost normal after only a half hour. 

Be well, Sido

littletower

Wow, you guys are amazing for information. This soooo sucks!!! Who in heavens name has time or money for PT? Feel like I'm still catching up at work from treatment. But, on the advice of all of you, I will get the necessary referral and do what I have to do. I refuse to stop exercising everyday, but have cooled it with the push ups and one armed yoga poses. I guess I'll have to learn what a gauntlet is - aside from what it's like dealing with this #@%ing disease, in one form or another, all the time:) I'll let you know how things go! Thanks again.

Binney4

Sido, I have to agree gloves are no treat (when I was a little kid I'd always ditch my new Easter gloves before we even made it to church, so no love lost there!) But I wonder if the fit is right for you, since it can really make the insult 1000 times worse when they just don't feel good. For instance, it took me a long time to figure out mine were way too tight across my palm and tugged my thumb into my palm, so my hand tired after an hour just trying to use my thumb. Also, the fabric matters to me, and I tried a whole bunch of brands before I found one I liked. We get railroaded into one type of glove because that's the brand our therapist or fitter uses, but there are many out there, and "comparative shopping" can help. Here's a page with a number of brands to glance over:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Lymphedema_garments.htm

Hope you can find something with a whole lot less fire!
Binney

Sido

Thanks Binney!

I'm hoping to try a different brand soon, but my insurance won't cover it and our Komen grant is pretty limited.  Also the one fitter in town refuses to order anything else for me because she doesn't like any of the other ones.  My other hurdle is that I want a black one.  I refuse to buy yet another hideous, beige glove.  Why does everything we deal with during cancer have to be ugly?  Luckily I found Lymphedivas for sleeves.

Sido

KS1

Does Solaris make a tribute garment that has individual fingers instead of just spacers?  My pinky finger doesn't seem to get any compression from my tribute (the hand part of my tribute looks like an open tip mitten with finger spacers and a separate thumb). 

4rose

I am new on here. I joined to see if you could have lymphedema in just one finger.  I guess i got my answer.  My cat bit me and I did not treat it with great care even though I have heard many talks on lymphedema.  It got infected and swollen.  Then it went down, but then it got swollen again so that I can barely bend it and it hurts.  My doctor thought nothing of it.  So I asked a friend who lectures on lymphedema and she said to get help right away.  All your comments help.

Binney4

4rose, welcome!

I'm really sorry about this new issue you're facing. If you need help finding a well-trained lymphedema therapist near you, here's information:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

Keep us posted, and let us know how we can help,
Binney