Glove stubs always too short

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hugz4u
hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Why do they make the fingers so short in the readymade garments? It doesn't matter how careful I wash them according to the manufactures instructions, they still shrink.  Can't they start out longer, knowing that they will just shrink to about the right size? Mine shrink at least a half inch. I have short fingers and still this comes off as being too short.  Do you have this problem and what do you do? I wash in warm water as instructed. Will switching to cold wash ruin them?

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited May 2012

    I have mine custom made and they get made longer. 

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

    They are supposed to shrink when washed to regain original size and compression after being stretched out by wearing.



    Perhaps you need custom gloves? There is no way that I could wear 'off the shelf' gloves (sleeves eiither). Stock/off the shelf do not come close to fitting me right -especially the gloves as my fingers are slightly webbed and even with being custom we are still trying to get them really right.



    I wash mine in cold water with no problems.

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

    Yes, I had a  great custom glove but I have limited extended medical that pays a $150.00 total a year. I am into sleeves, gloves and shapers so it gets spendy. I am  purchasing the rest out of pocket and therefore I am buying off shelf which is not too bad of a fit. Just that dang shrinkage!Frown

    I wash nightly and they regain shapeSmile but not lenght. Yell My manufactures says to wash in warm but I think I will try cold with next new ones. I hope that is Ok, these garments are so fussy.

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  • kcshreve
    kcshreve Member Posts: 1,148
    edited May 2012

    Hugz - I have shrimpy fingers, too, and my gloves are short.  I've had a little bit of success by putting them in the drier, but taking them out just before fully dry and giving them a slight pull to lengthen.  It only helps a little.  I'm with you wondering why they make them so short

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  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 2,101
    edited May 2012

    Have you tried Farrow gloves?  They make full finger and 3/4 finger gloves.  I love mine and I have long fingers.  I also like that they are soft and my hand does not feel like it is in a straight jacket

    http://www.lymphedemaproducts.com/products/cg_hand_farrow.html

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

    KCS. I air dry them away from strong heat source. I do pull on them and it makes it better (not sure if this stretches out the compression), but why should we have adjust them that way? We bought a expensive product and look after them and yet they shrink. argggg! 

    O2B, I have farrow and the trimable finger is wonderful.  The compression is light and when I wear it I match it up with the LYMPHEDEMA SLEEVE CO sleeve as they are about the right compression together. My MLD girl advocates that both those mentioned garments are really not that compressive. Good though if you are compression sensitive. So the farrow is not something I wear everyday.  I wear medi 550 glove for a good compression

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  • o2bhealthy
    o2bhealthy Member Posts: 2,101
    edited May 2012

    Hugz - what a bummer!  It would be nice if Farrow would offer higher compression or medi would offer longer trimable fingers...oh well in a perfect world we wouldn't have to worry about any of this.  I hope you find a solution.

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  • KS1
    KS1 Member Posts: 632
    edited May 2012

    Huz4you, what brand glove had the disappearing fingers?  've noticed that the length of the fingers shrinks more in some gloves than others.  Never had problems with shrinkage in custom juzo, mediven or barton-cary gloves, but the elvarex classic (class 1) was ridiculous.  Fingers started out the right lenght, but after a month, they were a good 1/2 inch too short.  I only hand washed it, and it didn't shrink around - just finger length.

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

    KS1, Gloves are Medi 550. Custom is Medi I think. My fitter said "I am going to make your custom glove longer to allow for shrinkage". She made them just at the nail bed and they shrank 1/4 inch below with was Ok with me.  It's the off shelf ones that drive me crazy. And it is only the length that really stoaks me! The off shelf stuff is so much more affordable. I have a bad  extended insurance work plan.

    Good to know about the elvarex. I think the next ones I will wash in cold water even though they say to wash in warm. I hope that works. I was really hoping that I would not have to resort to handwashing instead of machine washer. 

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