Need advise...concerned

You mentioned wearing a sleeve but sis not say anything a glove. They work together. There are also issues for some,of,us with the level of compression. For me, high level compression causes problems so I need low level.

For longer hikes, a hiking stick helps as the arm is elevated. Also gives you a 'bonking stick' when nasty dogs run at you.

You said you are unfamiliar with LE so that sounds like you have not seen a LymphEdema Therapist. Please see on.

I was told to never wear my sleeve without my glove. As K (my LET guy) explained it to me (and makes sense to me), the sleeve compresses, it/fluid can either go up or down. Down is an easier flow so hand will fill up if it doesn't have support. My guy never wanted me to have a gauntlet as he felt,it would not work as good as a glove for me. He was right - I did insist on getting one and for one activity it does work better for a short time while actively doing it but not over all for all times.

Some say to be so careful about how much you do - for me it is the opposite. The more I do - the less LE I deal with. I do wear my garments all the time during the day (mine are custom as what I need is not available OTS), my night sleeve and use my FlexiTouch (MLD machine) daily. We are all very different and have to learn what works for us individually. If you do wind up dealing with LE (hopefully not), you will have to learn what works for you - not what someone else says is right for you.

denise620, welcome!

Unfortunately PTs--like all the rest of us!--don't get everything right, and they each have their preferences, based on their experience. But in this case she's right. If you already have swelling in your hand, then a gauntlet will push the swelling into your fingers and trap it there. Not at all what you want, since finger swelling is usually a bear to control.

Have you tried using a swell spot inside your glove? Solaris makes one called a Palmer Spot that really helps my hand swelling.

http://www.brightlifedirect.com/palmer-swell-spot-...

Some people wear it on the back of their hand, but even putting it in the palm tightens the fabric across the back and usually helps control hand swelling. Trying that might prove to be a whole lot cheaper than buying more garments!

Also, have your therapist or fitter check out the fit of the wrist on your glove, because when you're wearing a compression sleeve as well the wrist can cause double compression there that traps fluid in your hand. Your sleeve and glove together should fit so that the compression at the wrist is very slightly less than in the hand and very slightly more than in the lower arm (that' s what "gradient compression" means).

Please do keep us posted and let us know what you discover. Gentle hugs,
Binney

You may have the wrong compression level. High compression makes my LE a lot worse while low works great. The only time my hand and fingers turned into 'stufld sausages'' was with the first glove I had which was high compression which my OT LET guy had ordered.

For holding the 'spot' in place you can have a 'pocket' sewn into your glove to hold it. I do not use a spot but did try one a long time ago but it didn't help. However, all my gloves have the pocket because I like the feel of them better than the single material.

It is said to put your glove over the sleeve but I put my glove under my sleeve (with my LET guy"s approval) and it works better for me. It does take a few extra seconds to do but worth it to me. As I see it, if the glove is put over the sleeve, it presses down on the edge of the sleeve blocking flow. May not make sense to anyone else but it does to me and my LET guy.

We are all different and differf ' things' work for each of us.

Denise, I do have LE in both hands. Like Kicks I can't handle heavy compression. My custom garments are made by Gottfried Medical because their fabric is lighter but still firm enough to be effective (that's called the containment factor). They do design the glove and sleeve to work together, but I take the additional measure of having the sleeve made longer at the wrist so it just passes the wrist. That keeps it from constricting at the narrowest point, because it doesn't end there. My glove is also a bit longer than the usual, so it doesn't slip down into the narrowest part and add compression.

My favorite off-the-shelf glove is the microfiber ones by Farrow, here:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Farrow%20Medical.ht...

KT Medical makes an off-the-shelf glove with a pocket, which they use with buckwheat-hull inserts, but you can use your Palmer Spot instead:

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

Walking is hard on hands, so you can either periodically raise your arm above your head and pump your fist, or use walking poles if you're going some distance. Take breaks often when you're doing repetitive activities with your hand (cutting up veggies, using a scissors, weeding, shoveling, knitting, typing, and so on). That's just plain annoying, but it really does help, especially if you stop and raise your arm and exercise the fingers frequently. Stay really well hydrated, take a few deep abdominal breaths throughout the day, and keep your hands out of hot water (I use a long-handled brush when washing dishes, for instance). Wash any cuts, nicks, scrapes, hangnails quickly and apply topical antibiotic. Keep your hands really well moisturized to avoid tiny cracks that can invite infection. Make sure your therapist teaches you to wrap your fingers as well as your arm with gauze/short-stretch bandages so you can deal quickly and conveniently with any flares.

None of this is easy, but with time and practice it does become routine and much more easily managed--honest! Hopefully others will be along with hand-care suggestions.

Hugs,
Binney

I had never thought about the amount of overlap of sleeve/glove as 8 have a 2 1/2" overlap so never had a problem. In have only had custom garments as I'm a 'knuckle dragger' . Meaning that for my long arms and measurements, they do not make OTS that would fit. Also my hands are somewhat webbed so 'standard' gloves would cut in and it took us several times of tweaking measurements so that now no issues at all with cutting in between fingers. I had never realized it but it has always been very hard for me to find work gloves or winter gloves that fit good - now I know, I'm part frog .

On the hiking stick. I am not one who does long walks/hikes - long distances I either go on 2 wheels or 4 legs. I do the Crazy Horse Memorial Volksmarche yearly though (I think it's 7 k but not sure - you start in the parking lot, hike up to the arm and then back down to the parking lot). The first time I did it post LE did not have a hiking stick and did get some swelling. Did some reading and found that it was suggested to use a hiking stick. Hubby got me one and I used it the next time - it was so much better. So now, weather permitting,when I take Bugsy (my bunny) or my Corgi to the park 3/4 m away as protection from the dogs illegally running loose. For me, I adjust my stick a bit higher than is supposedly recommended but it's what works/feels best for me.

What I do with punctures/scrapes/scratches is different than most. It's worked -FOR ME. Hydrogen peroxide! I am not anti antibiotics when there are no other options to use/try first. I have had MANY skin breaks in less than 'ideal situtations'. H2O2 has easily handled them all.

Just because a 'custom' garment is sent does not mean that it is to the specs it is supposed to be -they can make mistakes. There can be mistakes in the factory - the last 2 sleeves were totally wrong and immediately returned and got the right away right ones sent back

We are each unigue - what 'works ' for one is not for all. What is 'right' for me is not what most would want.

(Several of my 'hobbies' are 'repetive'(fly tyng, rod building, tatting) are very repetitive. The more I do - the less issues. We each have to learn what 'works' for us individually- not someone else.

Kicks, My mom is 90 and lives on Hydrogen Peroxide. She even swishes her mouth with it. Those old gals are still chugging around using simple old H202 so I guess it must be great.