gauntlet too tight on thumb

Options
glennie19
glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
edited February 2015 in Lymphedema

Hi all,  I only wear the gauntlet for prevention when I fly as most of my LE is truncal and minimal in arm.  The last time I flew I noticed that the thumb seemed tight. So I mentioned it to my LE therapist today and she said I would need to use a glove in the future.   When I look at the Juzo gloves, ( Have Juzo gauntlet)  it looks like the thumb is the same length as the gauntlet's is..   Does anyone have any experience with a tight thumb  and what did you do for it?

Thanks!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited February 2015

    My PT told me to put a magic market in the thumb after washing it and then dry flat. Have not tried it yet. I would use a big magic marker.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Olivia82
    Olivia82 Member Posts: 29
    edited February 2015

    similar thing happened to me when flying with a brand new gauntlet and the tip of my thumb went numb and purple! I stretched out the thumb bit using the end of a small hair brush only needed a few minutes to make it more comfortable!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • amygil81
    amygil81 Member Posts: 165
    edited February 2015

    When I was first dx with LE, my PT started me with a gauntlet. But she moved me to a glove after a couple of months. My thumb seemed more comfortable when I had a glove on. Perhaps that's because pressure was spread out better over all my fingers. It's hard to know exactly. but I do wear my glove with my sleeve every day.HTH

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited February 2015

    Ok, I was actually going to start a thread on this thumb business. This is my 2nd custom glove and each one is incredibly tight at the thumb web. I told my fitter and so this 2nd one is better but sometimes my thumb will fall asleep still,.I am always having to pull up on the thumb stub to loosen off at the web. But it just tightens right back up.

    The fat markers idea is great and works great except it doesn't work on the thumb web. I believe around thumb web is the tightest part of the glove where the manufactures have a hard time to loosen that whole area and it extends right across the back of the hand about 1 inch below the pinky bottom knuckle.

    Any one have an idea how to loosen this up? I was just thinking yesterday that I would try to put an appropriate sized glass bottle in there to stretch it while it drys. So I may have to insert fat markers and a glass bottle. Here is a great question, Why are we having to FIX up a 350 dollar glove that is custom made? Aren't we suppose to paying for a good fit and why cant the manufactures loosen up this tightest part of the glove that I mentioned? I hear many find this area to be extra tight.

    What should I tell my fitter in order to loosen up the thumb web? How are you gals getting this part fitted. It doesn't have anything to do with the circumferance of the base of the thumb. that part is comfy. grrrrrrrr. Opps wrong thread.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited February 2015


    hugz, I agree,, if you are paying that much $$ for a custom glove, it should fit right.   I put in the fattest marker that I have,,, I might need a bigger one as this one doesn't seem much bigger than my thumb.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited February 2015

    Hugs4u, I think you should read your note to the fitter! I am angry about the same thing happening to me. To pay so much money for something custom and have my thumb swell and turn purple sounds like something is made very wrong. My thumb also falls to sleep.

    The thumb web is my worst place too, wow does that hurt after a few hours. One thing I do remember is my thumb was never measured so in spite of what I paid, it must be a one size for all sort of thing. (mine is a gauntlet). The fitter told me every single woman complains about the thumb and to dry it with something large shoved in there.

    it makes no sense.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited February 2015

    Crystal; If you have a glove or gauntlet custom. It would need to be measured either way. Your fitter is not doing what she should be doing. Actually on the other thread I suggested Bodyglide antifriction. You just gave me a brainwave. I am going to put some on right now and see if it helps the binding feeling in the web. At least the rubbing will stop but the tightness will still be there. Good idea maybe.

    My fitter is very new at this but very caring( even charges less for my le stuff, the dear) and is trying to solve my sore thumb web problem but just cant seem to. That is why I am asking around as I can't be the only person out there with this problem. Maddening for sure.

    I hope Binney weighs in. She will know about the reason why the manufactures end up making it so tight there. The tightest area is always by that thumb web going straight across the back of the hand to the outside of the hand. Its got the most squeeze there. There is a reason. I just cant' remember. BINNEY OH BINNEY, where are you! We need you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited February 2015

    OK made a new thread about bad garments. I would be interesting to see how we are coming along with fitting etc.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2015

    If your glove/gauntlet is custom and there are issues with it - send it back to be fixed.

    I have issues with my hand being somewhat webbed (fingers - never thumb issues) - it was hard to get a good fit I could wear for more than a few minutes. Finally did but the last ones I got were really bizarre so they were sent back and got ones that were 'right'.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lbrewer
    lbrewer Member Posts: 766
    edited February 2015

    I thought I just had fat thumbs! I gave up and cut little slits in the end of the thumb. It can't be good for us for our thumbs to turn purple!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories