Webbing between fiingers

[Califgirl2008]

I have recently been wrapping my hand because of lymphedema. I habe a sleeve, but so far am not having any luck with my compression gauntlet, because it makes my hand and fingers swell. therefore I am wrapping with short stretch bandages. The unfortunate side effect is I have very red angry skin in the webbing between my fingers. My night garment also chafes it. I’ve tried putting soft cotton in between but it slips out.. I am fearful what the webbing will look like when I get a full glove..I have had lymphedema since 2009 on my right arm, but my hand was always ok. I really never wore my compression sleeve much because I couldn’t get a glove that didn’t mess up my hand. So I just stopped wearing the hand garment and would wrap it instead. Now I’ve had a flair up and gone thru the whole arm wrapping etc.. and am again that stage trying to get my hand to work with something. My therapist says I should wear the gauntlet 3 - 5 days even though it makes May hand swell and my fingers get fat, tingling and numb. Sorry I just started rambling. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Lynora]

Are you using cotton short stretch or cohesive short stretch?

You could try a pair of cotton gloves under the bandaging, or reduce the ‘pull’ on the finger bandage.

Can you leave your hand open to the air overnight, to help the chafed skin recover - and apply a good quality cream?

[Califgirl2008]

Cotton short stretch. As far as the cotton glove, I’m not sure. I am supposed to wear my night sleeve every night. So no reprieve there. My therapist said to put something large in the finger hole to stretch it, but so far that’s not working . I’m using Eucerin cream per therapist. Not really the best because it’s kind of tacky even after a half hour. Of course it’s difficult to put my sleeves on as well, so then I use corn starch to kind of dry the skin. It’s all very frustrating and all consuming at this time. Hopefully it all comes together. Thank you for listening and your ideas!

[Julie2233]

Have you tried kinesiology tape? it’s used by athletes. I cut a piece around 12” long then 1/3 of the way up I cut 2 evenly spaced diamonds for your fingers to go through. I apply the long piece of tape along the top of my arm and han and the short piece down my palm to my wrist. I them cut 2 shorter pieces to go across the back of my hand and I wrap my fingers with tape, but only one layer. I found this helped enormously with my swollen hand and fingers. If between your fingers is too sore just stop the first tape at your knuckles and don’t have anything between your fingers. The tape is widely available but check for allergies before using it by pitting a piece on your non inflamed arm. Hope this helps.

[Califgirl2008 in reply to Julie2233]

Thanks so much, I will give it a try!

[Carolpa]

My specialist told me that it is much better to have oedema in the arm than the hand- or is not oedema but swelling from constriction of the arm?

[lovesradio]

I am surprised you are being told to wear a compression garment at night as the lymph fluid rebalances overnight (I think). Here in UK we are told to leave it off, but to wear daily. I wear a Mediven Harmony gauntlet which covers most of the back of my hand and the same of my palm, but not the fingers. The harmony range are much better than the original Mediven sleeve I wore which gave me terrible thumb web problems. For a while I had a Sigvaris sleeve and Jobst glove

[Califgirl2008 in reply to lovesradio]

My day sleeve is Class 2 compression and my night sleeve is Class 1. The night sleeve is specifically made for nighttime wear and is slightly padded on the outside. It’s really not that uncomfortable except for the mitt part which makes my hand and fingers swell. I will look into the Mediven Harmony gauntlet. Thanks for your input!! Much appreciated!

[lovesradio]

Good luck with finding a good sleeve!!