hand swollen

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mittmott
mittmott Member Posts: 409
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I have always had a very slight case of lymphedema... Upper arm to elbow..  for past 3 weeks a lot of pain in arm (I have nerve damage in arm from axillary node dissection). I've been wearing my sleeve a lot, it helps the pain... I don't wear the glove usually, and I can't find it this morning... I woke up with a swollen hand, and the top of the hand hurts when touched...Can the wearing of the sleeve without the glove make it worse?

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  • catbill
    catbill Member Posts: 326
    edited January 2012

    I think it could.  It might trap fluid below the sleeve and make your hand more swollen.

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  • mittmott
    mittmott Member Posts: 409
    edited January 2012

    That's what I was thinking also.... 

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited January 2012

    Mittmott: just be alert to any signs that this new swelling is NOT cellulitis--a skin infection--any warmth, fever, flu symptoms, you should be seen ASAP

    Here's an Andrea Cheville article on the use of hand protection with sleeve: Binney wrote earlier that therapists divide the arm and try and cover at least two portions down with compression--I'll try and find that quote.

    Here's the Andrea Chevile article:

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

    A sleeve without a glove could definitely trap fluid in the hand.

    For now, you should elevate the arm, hydrate, do deep breathing and watch closely for infection and consider learning how to wrap if you tend to swell at night.

    Please let us know how you're doing.

    Kira 

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  • anonymice
    anonymice Member Posts: 532
    edited January 2012

    Everyone is right, it has happened to me a few times.  I actually think that if you don't have a glove or gauntlet, you're worse off wearing the sleeve...

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  • mittmott
    mittmott Member Posts: 409
    edited January 2012

    +Thanks to everyone who answered.... I was in touch with the LE therapist I went to a few years ago, and who fit me with the sleeve and glove.  She told me what probably happened is that since I had been having trouble with the arm again, and I went ahead and used a new sleeve (tighter then my used ones), and I made the mistake of sleeping with it, and no glove,,,voila... the swollen hand.  I went went for an immediate fitting for a new sleeve and glove (the fingered one ugh)... I have an appointment next week with the therapist for a new evaluation.  swelling went down in hand during day, but it's still swollen... I was also told to watch for any cellulitus and to go to the er immediately if needed... so far so good.  I know the rules now... I couldn't believe what I was seeing this morning... Thanks again for the answers to my question.  Feel good everyone. 

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  • vettegal
    vettegal Member Posts: 287
    edited February 2012
    i  just spent the night in the hospital with my hand and wrist swelling out of nowhere! was worried about cellulitus and called dr and they put me in for obsveration and the swelling went down no cellulitus now. I keep checking though! I had a bad cellulitus attack last may and i was concerned it was starting again i spent 5 days on vincamyiacin (sp) it was bad.Cry
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