needing answers

[happy123]

Just recently my sis had therapy to reduce the swelling
in her arm from lymphedema..
she had very good success and is now wearing a "sleeve"

So now her hand is swelling and she is using a partial glove that is not working out for her..

so has ordered a fuller glove down below the knuckles..

is there anyone out there that has input on this subject.
we are in need of answers...
we would so appreciate any help we could get concerning
this...thank you so much , happy123

[cpthomas]

Dear Happy123,

I am a lymphedema therapist and wanted to share my experience with hand swelling, in particular with gauntlets, or gloves that do not cover the fingers.

Most patients with arm edema will also have some hand edema (NOT everyone, but most). The reason for this is that gravity is constantly acting on the swelling, pulling it to the lowest possible point. The basic principle of bandaging or wearing a compression sleeve is that it must provide more compression at the bottom than it does at the top (to help counteract gravity, and boost the fluid up and out).

When you wear just a compression sleeve, the hand is left with no compression. Any fluid that is in the hand will not be able to move up and out because it will be blocked by the compression that the sleeve provides at the wrist. Wearing just a sleeve without a glove will often make any hand swelling worse.

The natural solution to this hand swelling is to add compression to the hand. The problem with adding just a guantlet versus a glove with finger compression is similar to what we get with just the sleeve...namely, that the fingers are left without compression, and any fluid that is in the fingers will stay trapped there. I have not had much success in controlling hand edema with the use of just a gauntlet.

I have found that the best solution to hand edema is to wear a compression glove that has the fingertips opened (this is also sometimes called a guantlet with finger and thumb stubs). This set up will typically provide enough compression to control the fingers and hand, while at the same time allowing for greater use of the hand because the fingertips are exposed. There are companies that do carry ready-made or standard size gloves with finger stubs, but typically the best fit and compression is gained with a glove that is custom made to the patient (of course this is more expensive than a standard size would be).

Phew, that was long! Please feel free to e-mail me if you have more specific questions or want further clarification. Controlling hand edema early on in the process is critical, as it will only worsen if left to its own device.

Thank you,
Christine

[ramarch16]

I wear a sleeve and a gaulet every day....it has helped with hand and arm swelling...........my finger tips are cut out so I continue to get my nails done which makes me feel better about myself1

[Grains2]

Hi,
I have just been diagnosed with lymphedema in my right arm and hand. I have been fitted with a sleeve and glove. The therapist said to wear the sleeve and glove all day and rest it at night. I have the very beginning stages, I think. My hand is a little swollen and my upper arm aches and has a small amount of swelling in it. My question is this---my cancer doctor said I might be able to get by with wearing the sleeve at night alone, and my regular physician said I don't have lymphedema, it is probably arthritis--my husband thinks I should listen to them and just wear my sleeve at night and take it off during the day. I don't know what to do. Like I said, the swelling is very small in my arm and my hand just looks puffy and my wrist looks puffy too. I don't know much about this but I am trying to learn, can anyone help me. Thank you. Grains2

[ramarch16]

sorry I didnt reply quickly ,was on vacation in Jamaica......make a chart, and measure your hand, knuckles, wrist, forearm, elbow, and largest part of upper arm.....i did this daily for months.....when it finally stayed same, I posted on my bedroom wall, and checked weekly.....then you know when to wrap and not....i wrap only when there is increased swelling...i wear my sleeve and gualet daily, unless i am going some where special....I wear my nitetime sleeve ALWAYS.....listen to yourself...ONLY you know best....some Drs refuse to say you have lymphedema...dont understand why......keep in touch with others who have same and a local therapist.....good luck!!!!!!!! Ruthanne

[Grains2]

Thank you for your help. I have other questions. I expect my hand to feel different with the glove on. However, My thumb feels like it is in a 1/2 asleep state, tingly and half numb all the time now, even when the glove is off at night. Also, my hand starts to ache around the thumb area and the area behind the knuckles--of course this is the area that is puffy and swollen. Sometimes it hurts so much that I take the glove off for 5 or 10 minutes for relief and then put it back on. Also, my hand starts to hurt when I do things like type or write with it-even after just a few minutes. Is this normal and I just have to get used to it? I just don't know what to expect. I can live with it. Also, if I keep wearing my sleeve and glove like I am supposed to, will my swelling be kept at a minimum since it was detected so soon. I think it started last year after I flew in an airplane without a sleeve on. I noticed after that my hand started to get a little puffy. Then I got really sick with a bacterial infection and it seemed to get a little bit worse. Will it get worse again if I get really sick again. Sorry I am so ignorant, I just would like to know. I am thankful that it isn't worse now. I really appreciate and knowledge anyone could pass along. Thanks Grains2

[ramarch16]

I also found my lymphedema after an airpalane flight...shame they dont warn us sooner.....might have been prevented.....tingling and numbness is not normal and needs checking on.....usually to me its tells me that lymph fluid is lying on a nerve and i need to do my MLM manual lymph massage as taught to me by therapist.....if you dont have a therapist...by all means get one......also means sleeve or gaulet is too tight....take off, elevate for a while...massage and put back on.....it becomes a way of life....not a great one, but its beats not being here.....sometimes I cry and feel sorry for myself, but usually get right over it and back to things.....always ask questions...NEVER take NO for an answer and above all....LISTEN to your body....it talks..............good luck....I am always around...Ruthanne

[Emily P. Bees]

Yes, lymphedema can put pressure on nerves and cause tingling and numbness. My lymphedema is not even in my arm – but starts in the axillary area. Still it made my arm partially numb, and at times my pinky finger & part of my ring finger would go numb. I got sent to a neurologist who diagnosed this (after over an hour in MRI, and doing EMG on the arm) as “mild brachial plexopathy - ulnar.” The neurologist said that the neurological problem did not cause the swelling, but that the swelling might be the cause of the neurological problem. Eventually when the lymphedema was diagnosed & treated the swelling decreased and that caused the numbness to go away. I haven’t been numb in months now.

However, if you think the compression garment is causing the tingling & numbness, I’d get in touch with your therapist and perhaps the fitter and check that out. I don’t think the garment should make things worse.

[Grains2]

Thank you Ruthanne and Em,
I've just decided to live with this day by day. We are going on a trip in two days. We will be flying. I plan to wear my sleeve and glove as usual. Do you think I am in any danger because my thumb is numb? I worry about circulation, I guess. Also, I have the LE in my right arm and hand. I work on the computer all day at my job. Will this make my LE worse? It is very hard because my hand gets stiff and sore and aches. When I can't take it any longer, I take my glove off and rest it for awhile. Is this ok? Also, I noticed my arm under my sleeve gets to itching as the day goes by. Is it ok to put lotion on my hand and arm. They look really dry. I sound like I am complaining way too much. Also, now it looks like my hand and arm have gone down to almost normal. Do I still need to wear my sleeve and glove every day or just when I notice it is getting bigger again. Thanks for your answers to my questions. I don't know where else to turn. My therapist is 100 miles away. She is real nice, but I think of these questions late at night and can't call her. Thanks again. Grains2

[ramarch16]

Relax......go....have a nice time...........use Eucerin on hands, arms body......its a good lotion recommended by therapists.....I use ALOT of it and it takes care of dry skin...also doesnt hurt the sleeve and gaulet.......try elevating your arm whenever possible....I find this helps alot........keep in touch...we are all here!

[Grains2]

Thanks, Ruthanne, I will--relax that is. Thanks for all the good advice. I plan on having a good time. I get to see my first grandbaby for the first time!! She is 2 months old, has long black hair and big blue eyes. I am so excited. I have two daughters who live in the Seattle area and one just had her baby in December. I'll tell you how wonderful it was when I get back!!

Grains2

[RaftingRita]

Jobst is now marketing seamless knit gloves. They call them Elvarex Soft Gloves. For those of you who have had trouble with seams in gloves, this should be a big improvement.

You can find more information about these gloves by searching the Internet on Jobst gloves.

I hope you all are having a good summer!

Rita