Solaris tribute fit questions/troubleshooting?

MiniMacsMom

So my solaris tribute finally came in YAY!  I got it from the only insurance accepted dealer in the region.  The fitter however specializes more in prothesis (leg/arm).  Based on others' experience he did a really comprehensive job of measuring, however I am having trouble with my hand.  I have worn it for two nights now and every night/morning I feel like I have super super bad arthritis.  Lots of trouble moving my fingers, but I don't have any real visible swelling.  Normally my LE feels achy but not like this.  This is advil popping kind of pain.  So last night I wrapped my hand and the pain wasn't there this morning. 

Do you think the hand is too tight/too loose? Do Maybe I have arthritis and keeping my hand straight all night aggrivates it?  The rest of my arm doesn't hurt during the day/morning.   I will call the fitter on Monday but as he doesn't do much of this I am not sure how much he can help trouble shoot. 

Thanks for any insight!

kira66715

Solaris is a great company, but they really don't do hands well, in their one piece garments. This has come up again and again, and we've emailed them, and people have sent back their garments.

I bumped a thread about "cupping" of Solaris garments for you.

As someone whose main issue is my hand, what I do is to 1) slip a palmar swell spot into the palm to snug up the hand, and 2) wrap over the hand and forearm with a short stretch bandage.

Please let Solaris customer service know. They do and will respond. Someday, maybe, they will come up with a more global solution.

Kira

Kicks

For me, I use an Isotoner glove under my Tribute.

My Tribute has a gauntlet type hand on it and I normall wear a glove that goes to first knuckle so it just doesn't seem to give the support that I need in hand.  Hand is not my biggest issue but it still needs a bit of help.  Not just the Isotoner gloves you buy in the regular store but ones I get from my LE guy that are actually made inside out so seams are to the outside for very mild compression.   I have ones that are 'opera length' but they have full fingers in then (til I cut them off to 1/2 finger length) and wrist length they come 1/2 fingers.  I like the opera length as it gives more continuity to above elbow (my 'biggest' problem area).  Too much compression in the hand especially causses much more LE problems for me than too little.  I also have 2 oversleeves to use with my Tribute when needed.  They give a bit more compression to the sleeve when needed and the also 'tighten up' the hand a bit as they go slightly over the end of the gauntlet part so it's not quite so loose.

Talk to your CLT about the problem.  I am measured by LE Guy for all my garments and he orders them so I deal with someone who is actually experienced with them and me.  It alway surprises me when people say I went in some store and somebody measured me and I don't thinnk it's right. To me it only makes sense to see someone who is knowledgeable to deal with, not some sales clerk.

Anonymous

I know the hand part has been a trouble for some, but it feels great on mine and reduces swelling in my fingers and palm. I don't know if I was lucky and got a perfect fit (and next time will be a nightmare) or if that particular design just works well with the swelling in my hand. 

MiniMacsMom

So I go back in tomorrow to get re-measured.  We broke out our scale yesterday and I have lost 20lb since finishing rads in July and prolly 15 lbs since getting measured initially (long story).  I tried to get the insurance to pay for someone experienced but everyone seemed to be out of network.  The fitter I used is very nice and was pretty relaxed about having to send it back.  Hopefully it works better with the next go around. 

I get my day sleeves from MDAnderson, but they don't do custom stuff like this   So I guess I have to give it a shot. 

Kicks

SO you are seeing a CLT at a big name facility but you can't get custom garments there?  WOW!  

kira66715

Kicks, I am a CLT, and we were given a single half day class on fitting--and it was just one of the garment manufacturers who does compression garments, not night time garments. And we all got certificates that we're official fitters... Of the CLT's I know nearby, none fit. There is a dirth of fitters in our area, and we have found one to use. Very few CLT's do fitting, for many reasons--not enough training, and the hassle of billing and returns.

We were given information about night time garments, but no instructions on how to fit them. I've personally worked to fit a garment for myself and watched all the videos and asked my CLT to help, and it was very difficult.

A good fitter can do the measurements in minutes and knows how to make the adjustments that are needed for each manufacturer.

Experienced fitters know all the tricks, like to to make a small wrist 1/2 cm bigger and the ins and outs of the various garment companies.

I had an experienced fitter who moved out of state, and she preferred Solaris over jovipak as Solaris will work you/them to make it right, while jovi charged 60$/hour for alterations. Jovi has since said you get one free alteration, but Solaris is known to work on a garment again and again until it works for the patient.

I think I know all the CLT's in my area, and as we've been working with an inexperienced fitter, I do know some will check her measurments, but none order or bill.

Kira

MiniMacsMom

I hate being a guinea pig, but people have to learn on someone, at least with solaris  they fix it for free. 

So my arm was reameasured at a half CM smaller From shoulder to hand.  And he is going to have the thumb made 2cm longer.  I have long fingers, and the thumb part was way below my knuckle.  We shall see how all this works.  I did order the Palmar Swell Spot along with some new wrap stuff, and a EZ Roller.  I have to say I am most excited about the bandage roller

Kicks

Kira

Live and learn!

I find it incredible that some CLT's just pass off their 'people' to some saleman for them to try to get proper garment fit/compression for them.  I continually am so suprised at the better level of care I get through VA than most non-VA are forced to deal with.

Don't know what companies are charging for bandage rollers but they can be bought at any decent tack store (horse store) for $5.00 - $7.00.   (Leg warps are used all the time on competition horses so lots of bandages to roll.)