Arm Kit recommendations?

mellee

My PT wants me to buy one. She recommended the one from Academy Bandages (http://www.lymphedemastore.com/arm-kits-single/) but I've found cheaper ones elsewhere, such as Bandages Plus (https://www.bandagesplus.com/bandaging-supplies/re...). $45 vs $75 and the only difference I see is that her recommendation includes an instruction guide plus Silkafix tape and a little bit more gauze.

Anyone ordered arm kits and have any advice? I have very early-stage LE in my upper arm (right at 2 cm difference from unaffected arm).

Thanks in advance for any help!

MinusTwo

mellee - Sorry, I don't have an answer. I'm curious why she wants you to buy bandaging if you are very early stage. My LE PT just measured me for a sleeve & gauntlet as she taught me to to MLD. But they I'm not sure what the 2 cm signifies.

mellee

By the 2 cm, I meant that when she did the arm measurements, I was 2 cm bigger in the affected side (only in the upper arm) when compared to the other side). She said at 2 cm, that qualifies as LE.

So with that said, does it seem weird that she wants me to do bandaging?

She hasn't measured me for a sleeve. All she's done so far is MLD.

MinusTwo

Mellee - below is the link for a great site that some of our BCO women were involved in writing. Maybe it will give you some help. I'm not qualified to answer your question but I'm sure one of them will be along soon.

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

mellee

I'll check it out. Thanks!

SpecialK

mellee - in my experience bandaging is for a more advanced situation that a regular sleeve with hand protection is not handling. Is the thought that your therapist wants to reduce the circumfrance with bandaging and then fit you with a sleeve/hand protection to maintain? Also, those I have known who bandaged were wrapped by their therapist - at least initially, for a few weeks, before being able to wrap themselves. Has this been discussed? It is definitely harder to wrap yourself correctly if you are inexperienced.

Binney4

mellee, it sounds like you have a thorough and engaged LE therapist who wants to reduce the swelling first before ordering a sleeve. The reasoning behind that is sound; it's because the sleeve will only contain, not reduce, the swelling, but the bandaging does the reduction. Once it's reduced she can measure you for a sleeve that will help keep it that way. What's even better is that you will learn to do the bandaging yourself, which is a fantastic skill to have on-going--it allows you to self-manage flares and the risk of flares with confidence and efficiency. That way whether you're at home dealing with overwork or traveling on some out-of-the-way adventure, you'll have the skills you need to manage anything the LE throws at you.

In other words, what's not to like?!! (Well, that's an easy one--NOBODY likes being bandaged, and doing it yourself is a steep learning curve. But still, oh, so useful and important!)

As for which one to order, you might ask your therapist about the cheaper option--there may be a reason she prefers one brand over another. If not, I'd sure go with that. Please let us know what you discover!

Gentle hugs,
Binney

mellee

Thanks for the input, SpecialK and Binney. The therapist will be teaching me how to wrap, but I am nervous about the learning curve. It sounds complicated!

SpecialK

melee - it is not that difficult conceptually, but depending on which arm you are trying to wrap and which is your dominant side, it can be a little physically awkward and you may feel uncoordinated. It gets easier with practice. Good luck!

Binney4

mellee, you can do this!!!

Hugs,
Binney

mellee

Thanks for the encouragement!