ALL THINGS Gloves and sleeves

daisylover

I got my sleeve from physical therapist - you would need to get in right away, though... BCBS covered mine even though I do not have lymphedema in my arm, just possibly truncal. Maybe if PT codes it or orders it, your insurance might cover the sleeve then? They should know which sleeve would fit you well. My PT also recommended Lymphedivas to me - for cuteness factor, I believe.

lago

I didn't have LE when I got mine and BCBS of MA covered it. My BS wrote the prescription.

Meadow

Iago thanks for the link to the LympheDiva seconds

tangandchris

Newbie here too...just picked up my sleeve and glove Saturday. I have to say that I hate wearing the glove, does this get any easier? It feels so constricting when I type or even try to use the mouse. The sleeve feels good mostly, but I just can't quite get it up high enough. I did have these custom sized.

Are there garments for truncal swelling? I'm really thinking I have this issues, but my PT didn't even check for that.

crystalphm

You asked a lot of very good questions Tang, it does all get easier. I used to think I would never adjust, but after wearing the wrappings and bandages for 8 weeks, the sleeves and gloves are easier for me to take. My thumb goes numb, which I think is a problem, and the fitter told me to dry it with a highlight marker in the thumb to stretch it. Not exactly medical or scientific if you ask me.

PT did not check for truncal for me either. I just don't understand, there was manual drainage done for this area, but no compression or at home manual drainage was ever taught. I do wear a genie cami shaper when I feel it is all getting a bit bigger, and that helps.

Oh, I have to pull pretty hard on my custom sleeve to get it up high enough. I get it up to my elbow, mine has a marking for the crook of my arm, and when I get that right, the rest pulls up. I just pull it until it is high enough.

I did get a big pull in the palm, the sleeve is not even a month old, insurance will not pay and I see $ signs...very frustrating. I am still wearing it even with the pull.

MinusTwo

Tang: I have truncal LE and the Genie Cami Shaper doesn't give me enough compression. I've been using a compression bra from Wear Ease most of the time & I've heard their compression T's are good. Also I have a Bellisse bra from Jovi-Pak. Lots of good LE information at the Grrrr thread.

floaton

tangandchris, I use one of the grippy green gloves (you can see them at brightlifedirect.com under sigvaris donning gloves or google lymphedema donning gloves for other brands). It makes a big difference in how well I'm able to position my sleeve. Keep in mind occasionally customs have to be remade so have your lymphedema pt also check the fit and go back to your fitter for a fix if necessary.

tangandchris

Okay...thanks for the tips, good to know that the sleeve needs to be checked by PT.

So, another question while I'm here if you don't mind

Can LE cause shoulder pain? I have pain in my should blade area on the same side as LE and it is really bothering me.

Thanks ya'll!

bc101

tangandchris,

I had shoulder problems right out of the gate after my BMX. Just like with LE, docs tend to downplay shoulder issues due to surgery. Seems like no surgeon or doc wants to deal with the after effects of surgery. Turned out I had rotator cuff issues along with a bone spur. I went to a physical medicine doc and 3 different PTs before I finally found someone who could help me - almost a year after my surgery. Make sure your therapist is a certified lymphedema specialist. If you find the right person, they'll be a HUGE help with all your LE and shoulder issues. If you have rotator cuff issues like I did, it can cause the fluid to build up and then swell. The irritated and swollen shoulder muscles doesn't allow lymph fluid in your arm to drain.

I also have LE in the truncal area. I complained to all my docs, but no one measured me or attributed the painful swelling under my arm to LE until this one therapist finally did. Even though it was "only a little bit" of swelling, she worked with me for months until it went down. I had to wrap my hand and arm in bandages for several weeks to get it to go down - though it was only a slight difference. Then it flared up again <sigh>. LE is forever! You learn what is good and what is bad for your arm. But the good thing is I regained full range of motion in my arm. Bottom line - don't wait. The longer it goes, the harder it is to treat.

I agree - the wear ease camisoles are the best, but genis work good, too. I just finished up my end-of-the-year treatment with core strengthening and Pilates exercises from my LE therapist. Pilates is awesome! I'm toning my stomach muscles along with everything else. My therapist said that swimming is really good for LE - the water acts like an all over body bandage and gets the fluid moving.

Happy New Year!

lago

tangandchris I don't wear a glove anymore except when I fly. I hated the glove a first…I use the computer a lot for what I do. But over time I got used to it. I actually preferred it over the gauntlet because I felt the gauntlet squished my fingers together making it even harder to type. I hated the sleeve at the beginning to but again I'm so used to it. It actually feels better when Ie wear it.

I use my playtex gloves to help done my sleeve. They won't work right out of the package though. Use an older glove, maybe one that leaks and you can no longer use for washing dishes.

Chloesmom

if you turn the Playtex gloves inside out the matte texture of the inside can grip better than the rubber part. I also go some at ultility gloves at the Dollar store. They they are cloth gloves with rubbery dark blue fingers that grip better..

jarris77

I have found that regular latex gloves work pretty well for putting on my sleeves. They actually last longer than you think (and they are very inexpensive). 

mary625

Talking about fitting of sleeves....two out of three sleeves my PT ordered in December came in wrong. The off-the-shelf and custom sleeves were completely the wrong size. The only one that was correct in size was my Tribute night garment. So, yes, please go to your PT to check the fit.

crystalphm

I am now wearing a custom sleeve and gauntlet and I now find the over the counter ones are not working at all for me. They make deep ridges and the wrist is way too loose (I had a lot of LE in mt wrist which the therapist got moving.

So my only problem is the glove is disgusting after a month, and I am self conscious about it. And health care won't pay for it, anyone else have this problem?

runnergirl26

The medivan harmony did not fit me well. It was loose in the wrist area and made my hand swell up more. I have tried so many different sleeves and gloves and nothing seems to work. I am getting very frustrated as I am an active person and this seems to be slowing me down. I just received my night time custom jovipak with individual fingers and I still wake up with a swollen hand. I can't stand this and I think my family is sick of my obsessing over it but it is painful and very limiting.

runnergirl26

The medivan harmony did not fit me well. It was loose in the wrist area and made my hand swell up more. I have tried so many different sleeves and gloves and nothing seems to work. I am getting very frustrated as I am an active person and this seems to be slowing me down. I just received my night time custom jovipak with individual fingers and I still wake up with a swollen hand. I can't stand this and I think my family is sick of my obsessing over it but it is painful and very limiting.

kareenie

Runnergirl did you get extra padding in the dorsum and palm of your jovipak? I did and it seemed to help.

lago

runningirl it seems so many of us did well with the old medi 95 but the new harmony is too big in the wrist. My next sleeves will be a Jobst. I went to a fitter and we felt this worked well. I bought the last pair of medi 95 she had so I'm good till June.

MinusTwo

I just got off the shelf Jobst longs and the wrists are definitely smaller than my old pair. I got my custom sleeves just before the NY but I think the wrists on those are too tight. I'll see the PT Wednesday.

runnergirl26

NO BUT I AM GOING TO CALL THEM TOMORROW TO SEE IF I CAN. HOW DOES THAT WORK DO THEY JUST ADD TO IT OR IS IT SOMETHING I HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH TO GET IT INSIDE?

runnergirl26

what type of custom sleeve and glove?

MinusTwo

Ready made was Jobst Bella Lite 20-30 mmHg. Cat # 101334 - size Small Long W/Band. The new custom sleeve is Juzo Silver "made to measure". Flat knit I think, but I still have some questions. PT thought a stock gauntlet would work, but not so. Now those are on order. I'll report when they come in.

kareenie

Runnergirl my jovipak was ordered with extra padding on dorsum and palm of hand. It is part of the quilting pattern of the sleeve. It is an oval or round shape stitched around extra padding of the same type of padding the sleeve is made of. I have the stitched fingers too. I don't think they can add it later but would have to remake it. Another thing that helps my hand a lot is kinesio tape. Can you get your LE PT to try it and teach you how?

kareenie

if you just got the jovipak you still might be able to get it remade. Keep in mind it takes wearing it a while to see improvement. Hands are stubborn things.

floaton

runner girl, I just (a few weeks ago) got a custom seamed one piece shoulder cap to gauntlet from jobst. I looove it (as much as you can love a sleeve, ha!), and it actually gives me hope I may be able to get back to some of my activites. It's the only thing I've tried (in a year of trying different things) that hasn't made things worse instead of better. Hang in there, I know what you mean about your family, I feel like this takes ridiculous amounts of time to sort out (even w all the help on here.

lazylizzie

Hi all! Hope everyone's doing good...thought that I should drop by to update my progress. I just completed my radiotherapy treatments, and my lymphedema did worsen a little further (again) in my hand. It swells a little at the back of my palm and hurts a little when i stretch the skin there...

That aside...I have tried finding medi95 (both sleeve and glove) online but apparently the glove is out of stock everywhere. Also, I had very bad experience with the company Biohorizonmedical. They took a month to process my order and finally realized that my medi95 glove was discontinued. They then took almost another month to process my refund. I do have the medi95 sleeve with me that fitted pretty well but no glove to match with...

After lots of disappointments with purchasing garments online, I decided to go with the only brand available in my country that makes custom compression garments - Bauerfeind. I thought I should give a short review since the brand is likely unheard of here. They do not have any readymade garments, only custom made ones that come in flat knit. I got my set of glove and arm sleeve for SGD596 (~USD 476.80) - not too sure is that expensive? It's made in Germany and took only two weeks to be ready for collection. Comfort wise for armsleeve - its rather thick, but quite comfortable to wear, elbow area is angled, not restrictive when you bend your elbow. However, i chose without silicone band and have problem trying to keep the sleeve up! For the glove, I'm not sure whether it's too tight, but it felt like my ring finger and little finger are bursting. Thinking to get the glove changed..

May I ask will having a lymphpad at the back of my palm be helpful? My fitter and LE therapist didn't suggest that to me when i custom made the glove.....

Chloesmom

Went to lymphedema therapist at Hopkins Found her on APTA website under "find a therapist" link and then link for specialty "cancer" she is awesome and showed me how to self treat the axillary swelling. Went on an airplane and worked my arm in flight as instructed . No problem! So grateful!

lago

l_{azylizze according to my LE MD he says very few people can wear an off the shelf glove. The medi 95 glove fit me really well but the fingers weren't long enough. Granted I didn't swell in my hand or fingers so I didn't have an issue. I don't wear a glove or a gauntlet now except when I fly. I also don't think there is a problem with mixing a custom glove with your Medi95 sleeve.}

goldie4040

Cholesmom, that's great.  What were her suggestions?

SusanSnowFlake

I got my custom Juzo sleeve today wore it for 2 hours. I have truncal LE that has started to show on one finger. Wow, wore it for 2 hours and I'm almost crying, I had to take it off it was extremely uncomfortable, it has the silicon but slid down my arm anyway. My arm is aching so bad I may take a pain med, and I don't take pain meds very often. Is this normal?