Compression sleeve advice

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ChrisNM
ChrisNM Member Posts: 47
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Well, friends, I am getting ready to "graduate" to a compression sleeve and gauntlet from compression bandages, and have to make some decisions before I get measured on Thursday.  My PT normally get the Juzo Dynamics sleeve.  But she is willing for me to "look around" for something else.  Has anyone used this? Opinions?  Also, anyone used the juzo dreamsleeve?  What do you think?

 We thought abut getting a sleeve with a cap over my shoulder, but that kind has a strap that is supposed to wrap under your opposite breast, and since I don't have one, the strap would ride into my armpit  No thank you! Anyone have success with something other than a sleeve with silicone edging at arm-pit height?

Any other prodiucts you guys have liked?

I am trying t0o work to get insurance coverage.  We'll see how I do.

And once I'm oin a compression sleeve on the left, i start compression abndages on the right.  *Sigh*  But i guess this is progress!

Thanks for your thoughts!

Chris in NM

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  • allisontom911
    allisontom911 Member Posts: 425
    edited May 2012

    I love the Juzo fabric. I am going to get a couple of the new dreamsleeve colors to work out in! Just something fun

    Good Luck

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

    Chris, I have the Juzo helastic for a glove and really like it. I hear the dream sleeves are relatively light compression in comparison.

    It's a trial and error process, but a good fitter is essential.

    It is progress! But they are the garments we never wanted to own/wear.

    Kira

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  • ChrisNM
    ChrisNM Member Posts: 47
    edited May 2012

    Thanks for the inpur Kira and Aliisontom9.  It looks like I am facing some challenges.  My insurance *should* cover 90% of the cost, but the PT office I'm working with has finctioned outside those parameters for years because of the hassles, and would rather just charge me up front, and then let me deal with the insurance, and it looks like I can't possibly do that and succeed.  So now I'm trying to figure out if i need to find someone else who can measure and provide the garments with the blessing of insurance, or what.  Meanwhile, I keep wrapping and hating it. *sigh*

    Chris in NM

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

    Chris, I have custom gloves, so I need a good fitter--I pay 20% for DME, and typically they submit for around $400 for a glove, the insurance knocks it down to around $200 or so and I pay 20%.

    I once got hold of a manufacturer's wholesale pricing, and they told retailers to mark up the garments by 100%.

    So, your insurance likely has a contracted rate with in network providers--and I've heard again and again that DME suppliers don't make money on LE garments, they frequently lose it, so I understand why the therapists don't take insurance, but you'll likely pay a lot more.

    Sigh. And you'll pay up front and have to get what insurance allows as "usual and customary" charges back.

    Kira

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  • ChrisNM
    ChrisNM Member Posts: 47
    edited May 2012

    This whole business is a scam in some way, kira.  But here's my latest find.  I might be able to go through a prosthetic/orthotics place (assuming my PT or doc will give me a prescription) and I *believe* my insurance will pay 90% (since I've reached my out-of-pocket deductible.) If i can work all that out, that will be MUCH better than paying for it all! This is all so confusing, and so stressful.  And talk about time-consuming!!

    Any other tidbits, suggestions, or warnings would be gratefully appreciated! (like should I order one, make sure it fits, then order the second? Or what kind of gauntlets do people prefer- with or without fingers? I don't think I have to have fingers in it, but don't know what I'm doing here)

    Thanks-

    Chris in NM

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited May 2012

    My sleeves and gloves are custom Juzo as nothing 'stock' fits me. My LE guy orders them through VA and they come in for me so I have no idea the price. I need light compression as heavier makes LE much worse for me. My gloves have been the hardest to get 'right' - still working on them. (My hands are 'weird' as they are partial webbed.) I got 2 new ones in a week ago made from modified measurement but somehow they used wrong measurements from a long time ago on the finger length so they're back for corrections. For me, fingers have to stop just before the joint - if they go past the joint, fingers puff up and turn blue. Gauntlets do not give me what I need due to the webbing. I also prefer the feel of a 'pocket' on the hand, but don't use it for a pad as that makes too much compression. At least that's me - not anyone else.



    I prefer the silicon 'bubble' top - it stays in place nice for me - ones without roll and slip. I prefer cotton as it's hot here in the summer and they'er warmer in our nasty winter. We're all different though.



    Sounds like you are not dealing with a Certified Lymphema Therapist - find one. They should be working more with you and giving answers.

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  • ChrisNM
    ChrisNM Member Posts: 47
    edited May 2012

    *Sigh*  She is a certified therapist, but I am in  a little town, and they are "wild west independent women" in that practice.  I think they just don't like dealing with the insurance, so they only deal with it in terms of their services, and they offer to order stuff from Juzo at cost for their patients. However, I think we have now figured out that IF I want stuff covered by my insurance, I need to go to an approved orthotics provider.  You'd think they would have known that.  But now they do :-)

     Chris in wild NM

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited May 2012

    Being a Physical Therapist does not mean someone is a Certified LE Therapist. My LE guy is not a PT but an OT (had his Masters before he got his LE certification.)



    You're no farther in the "Wild West" than I am in western So Dak. What does "wild west independant women" mean? They are supposed to be giving the best care they can for you (and others) no matter where they are! Guess using that theory - my LE guy shouldn't have done all he has for me because VA deals with more men than women here in the Wild West. I have been a bit of a challenge to him but he is there for me and has sought out others in the VA system for advise.

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

    Chris, Juzo at cost is reasonable--it's not the 100% mark up, so at least they're not losing money by dealing with insurance. Perhaps you should check with your insurance re: how they handle out of network DME claims.

    I hear from the DME people all the time that LE products don't make them any money. My LE therapist doesn't measure for garments, but she has a professional account at Juzo and would order me garments at cost if I wanted. Because I use custom, I go through the fitter who takes my insurance.

    Kira

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  • ChrisNM
    ChrisNM Member Posts: 47
    edited May 2012

    They have LE certifiation certificates in their office, and my breast surgeon sent me to them after checking them out. But this has been a bother.  I will look around and see who else I can find.

    It seems my insurance calls sleeves and gauntlets "orthotics" benefits, not DME, and that was part of the rub: my PT place is a recognized DME center, but since my insurance switched it to orthotics, they can't get reimbursed for it.  It just ssems a bit ridiculous that I had to figure that out for them. :-(

    Glad you all are getting great care. 

     Chris in NM

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  • KS1
    KS1 Member Posts: 632
    edited May 2012

    Hi Chris,  Congrats on the graduation to garments.

    I love my Juzo Soft 2001 custom sleeve with silicon beads on the top.  It is downright comfy to put on when my arm is sore.  I wear the class 1 (20-30 mm Hg).  It is a circular knit sleeve with no seams, and may not be adequate for people with more advanced swelling.  I believe they make a class 2 version, though I have never tried it..

    Two weeks ago, I got prices for the Juzo soft custom sleeve from 7 online stores.  The best price was from BrightLifedirect.com ($112.50, no shipping charge).  I had to talk to a person (Nancy) rather than just order online, because the garment was a custom.  It arrived yesterday, 9 days after I ordered it, and fits perfectly.  

    Would that I find a glove I like a tenth as much.  KS1

    PS I have also had a Juzo helastic glove/sleeve combo.  It's a flat knit with a seam.  Didn't like the sleeve portion at all.  

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  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited May 2012

    ks1, Do you measure yourself for the custom garment through Brightlife  (nancy) or does someone qualifed measure it for you? I want a flat garment and was thinking that Brightlife would be the cheapest. I see they have one flat ready made but I want a custom and was wondering if my friend measured me that it may be the cheaper way to go.  

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  • KS1
    KS1 Member Posts: 632
    edited May 2012

    Hi hugz4u, My LE therapist measured me and filled out the juzo form and I sent the form to BrightLifeDirect.  KS1

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