Anyone use a reduction kit?

vshowe

I'm in the wrapping phase of treatment and I'm pretty much frustrated. So far, there hasn't been much improvement and my hand/fingers are worse. My PT told me that we may not have much success with my hand/fingers. Is that true? She tested my other arm with kinesio tape to see if I'd have an allergic reaction. I think tomorrow she is trying the tape.

Has anyone used a reduction kit instead of wrapping every day? I have 2 young children and am getting increasingly frustrated with how little I can do while I'm wrapped. Right now I'm wrapped 24/7 and will eventually do it nightly after I get a sleeve. I'm having a hard time picturing myself doingthis nightly for the rest of my life. I know I'm whining and usually I'm very optimistic. I had TNBC 4.5 years ago. Im grateful for life.

If you had swelling in the hands/fingers, I'd love to hear your success stories.

Kicks

Is your PT also one who also has credentials as a LymphEdema Therapist? Not all do. My LET guy is an OT and he is great.

I do not have problems with my fingers or hand when I have the right compression glove. It is not just as simple (for some of us) to "just get a sleeve and glove". They come in different compression levels (and fit) and not all levels work the same for all of us. I have to have low level compression for my hand especially or it blows up HUGE within an hour. They also only come in certain measurement sizes and not all of us fit into those sizes or that go with different compression levels. If you are having hand AND finger isssues, a gauntlet will probably not help you as there is no finger support.

For some of us, we HAVE TO HAVE custom garments to even be able to wear them. I have issues with fingers being somewhat webbed and OTS (Off The Shelf) gloves literally cut into the webbing making very painful open sores. I also can not get OTS sleeves that fit me either so my sleeves also have to be custom.

There are night sleeves that are 'pull on' for night wear so you don't have to wrap every night (some do choose to wrap anyway but I don't). Day garments work as 'active' meaning that you need to be 'active' (durning the day/moving around); night garments work as 'passive' meaning they work while you are not being active (sleeping).

I'm not familiar with the term "reduction kit". I am a very active 'outdoor woman' and what works for me (for 6 yrs) is wearing my day garments daily, my night garments nightly and running my FlexiTouch (MLD machine) for a cycle daily which keeps my LE under control and has for 6 yrs.

Are you doing MLD? Or your PT?

Binney4

vshowe, does your PT have training in fitting a Circaid Reduction Kit? If so, you sound like the perfect candidate for one. It does make the daily wrapping much quicker, and the therapists I've talked to about it say it works about the same. I don't think it will deal with fingers, though, so those may need to wrapped separately.

Once reduction has been stabilized (by whatever means), a night garment like Kicks described is a life-saver for ease of night use. Doesn't work as well as wrapping for everyone, but it sure does work for me. And I, like Kicks, have to be very careful not to wrap too tightly or get garments with too high a compression factor, or I swell. That said, it's still important to learn to wrap yourself, and to continue to practice that skill monthly, because it's a great DIY tool to have in case of a flare.

If your therapist isn't good at dealing with hand/finger LE, for goodness sake get a "second opinion" from one who has some experience. Fingers can be harder to manage than an arm, but there are so many options for getting it under control and maintaining it that you don't need to be discouraged about that. Kinesio tape is definitely worth a try. Do let us know how it works for you.

Kicks, here's information about the Circaid Reduction Kit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T85hsb07OA

Hugs,

Binney

rainnyc

Vshowe, I also got very frustrated with wrapping, especially on my hand and fingers. The tape turned into strings and cut off the circulation of my fingers. And, like you, I found that it actually made my hand and fingers worse. It worked much better after my LE therapist ordered me a custom glove that I could wear with the wrapping on my arm. I can pull the glove on and off as needed (like when I'm cooking). It was expensive (about $100) and not covered by insurance, but it made a huge difference.

vshowe

Thanks for your replies! My PT is a lymphedema therapist and she is doing the massages. I meet with her twice a week. She mentioned the reduction kit but said she doesn't have experience with it. She told me where I could buy one and that a rep would have to meet with both of us so that we both could learn how to use it. But she strongly urges me to learn how to wrap and I do understand the importance of it. She has not mentioned a pump but I'm very curious about it!

I did look up the info about the reduction kit, and was wondering about the hand as well. I will talk to my PT about it again tomorrow.

My forearm has improved, really needing some relief in my hand.

Again thanks so much ft your replies.

Kicks

When I say I have 'webbing', I am NOT talking about the normal very small 'webbing' that all have to a minor degree but to a condition called syndactyl where there is webbing much further out the fingers/toes. (Think of a duck or frog webbing.) In my case, my toes are much worse than fingers - some toes are webbed almost to last joint - fingers only about 1/2 way to first joint. So I always knew toes were 'nutsy' but never realized that fingers were also webbed til LE. (Always had had problems finding winter gloves that were 'comfortable' to wear though but never realized why.)

My Solaris Tribute night sleeve has a gauntlet hand - with my 'wacadoodle' hands, it would be almost impossible to get a gloved hand I could tolerate so mine is a gauntlet hand and to give my fingers the light support they need, I use a medical opera length Isotoner glove under it (my LET guy's idea) which works great for me. I also have 2 Solaris over sleeves I can use IF needed.

Kinesio tape does work great for some - it didn't for for me at all.

We are so unique - what 'works' for o e does not for all so have to get as much information as possible and figure out what works for us individually. That does take finding an LET with knowledge/education who is working with YOU. No 2 of us are the same and it is a learning time to find out what works (individually) for each of us which can be very different.

(Definitely - should know how to wrap (if needed) and have supplies on hand. It is also important to know how to do MLD massage - even if you have FlexiTouch.)

Lissee

hi, I never wrapped and only used a reduction kit. My work (in healthcare) is too demanding and this made the best sense for me. It's a bit tricky too get right, but once you do, you definitely see results. I

Also, I used it approx 6-8 hours a day and then put on a compression garment. I also use cold compression for my hand/wrist, which swelled the most.

Good luck👍