1. Do not measure late in the day
   Everyday our legs and feet swell. This is normal. For this reason, it is important to measure for compression stockings early in the morning to get the most accurate fit. If you measure later in the day or at night, you may purchase a size that is too big and will not get the maximum benefits of compression. The same applies for armsleeves as lymphedema swelling can increase during the day – measure in the morning!
   
   
2. Do not estimate – be precise!
   Compression socks and sleeves are not a one-size-fits-all product. In fact, a size medium in one brand could be a large in another. Sizes can even vary within brands as well. This is why it is important to check the measurements. You may think you need to “fit” into this sock, but in reality there’s another one that matches your measurements better. If you find yourself between sizes, try another brand or style. You can also try our Size Machine to determine the what size garment you need. If you have any questions about measuring or sizing, you can call our customer service team Monday through Friday from 9-6PM for help. Try to measure in centimeters as much as possible for more precise measurements. This may help you if you are struggling to see where your measurements fall on the size chart.
   
   
3. Do not try to take your measurements yourself
   Lets face it. We’ve all tried to carry in too many groceries at one time and ended up dropping everything. Sometimes, an extra set of hands makes all the difference. When measuring for compression socks or armsleeves, it’s important to have measurements that are as accurate as possible. This is extremely hard to do by yourself. Getting the placement right and bending at odd angles to try and measure your leg or arm doesn’t exactly scream “fun.” If you can, try and get someone to help take your measurements. That way you can be sure that you’re getting the right size without dealing with the hassle of returning socks that don’t fit. Our knowledgeable staff is available for fitting appointments if you would like help determining your size. All you have to do is ask!
   
   
4. Do not guess where the measurements should be taken
   Medical compression sock sizing is based on the leg circumference. Knee high socks require ankle and calf measurements. Always measure the smallest part of your ankle. You do not want to measure over your anklebone. You do want to measure around the largest part of your calf. It is also important to measure from the floor to the bend behind your knee. For thigh highs and pantyhose (waist high), you will also need to measure around your upper thigh, about 3” below the crease of the buttocks. Some pantyhose may also require the length, your height and weight, or hip measurements. If you are measuring for an armsleeve, you need to get three measurements: around your wrist, right below your elbow and around your upper arm (just below your arm pit). Some brands like Mediven or Juzo will have you measure the length of your arm as well. When you are measuring, make sure that your arm is bent slightly. You will want to measure the outside length from your wrist to the upper arm measurement. For gloves and gauntlets, simply measure around your wrist, avoiding the wrist bone, and the palm of your hand above your thumb.
   
   
5. Do Not Choose To Wear The Wrong Size
   Wearing the wrong size can result in more compression being applied than is desired. You shouldn’t wear something that you need to fold down at the top to fit your leg, or something that feels like it’s cutting off your circulation. This can be harmful and complicate existing conditions. Check for special sizing if you have a hard time finding something that’s comfortable. There are petite sizes, plus sizes, socks for wide calves and stockings made for longer legs. There are even compression stockings to wear during pregnancy, socks for diabetes and garments designed for men and women with sensitive skin. If you are really struggling to find a comfortable compression garment, don’t forget that customs are an option! Remember, sizing between brands is not universal. If you find that your measurements aren’t matching any of the size charts, try a different brand. Some collections run longer, some run shorter and others are smaller or larger. You can always give us a call at (+31)262843975 if you can’t find what you’re looking for or have sizing questions.

First things first, comfortable shoes are a must. Forget the cute flats with the pointy toes and ditch the heels for shoes with arch support. Invest in shoes that provide shock absorption and stability to keep your ankles from rolling. Shoes with an open toe box help to alleviate pressure. You can also use shoe inserts for comfort and protection. If you have arthritis in your ankles, start wearing shoes that protect your heel and prevent you from rolling your foot inward.

A lot of the time, injury can be a factor in developing arthritis. When you sprain your ankle, the ligaments are stretched. Depending on how bad the strain is, the ligament fibers can be damaged or even completely torn. Ankle fractures may also contribute to arthritis. To prevent ankle pain and injury, take it easy instead of pushing yourself. If you are injured, make sure to rest, apply ice, keep the limb elevated and wear compression socks to reduce swelling. If you do not experience swelling, apply heat to relieve soreness.

Wear ankle braces or compression socks to reduce ankle swelling, joint stiffness and pain. If you have swollen, weak or injured ankles, try wearing an ankle brace or wrap. Choose from top of the line ankle braces and wraps by manufacturers like Therafirm, Juzo, Mediven, Solidea and more to find the best product for your condition. If your arthritis makes it hard for you to get your compression stockings on, consider trying the Sigvaris Select Comfort line. These socks are designed for easy donning, which is ideal for those with arthritis or limited hand strength. Sigvaris Select Comfort includes knee highs, thigh highs and pantyhose for men and women in 20-30mmHg and 30-40mmHg compression levels. You can also use the Jobst Stocking Donner to get your socks on without the hassle. This is ideal for those who have a hard time bending at the waist or have a hard time getting the sock on their foot. If you have arthritis in other areas of the body, here are some other awesome products for all types of arthritis. The Therall products are very popular because they use heat to provide soothing relief to painful areas.

Try to walk on flat, even ground instead of gravel or sand to avoid ankle pain or injuries. When you are sitting down, keep your feet flat or use a foot rest. Sitting with your feet pointed behind you or crossing them is bad for your ankles because it puts pressure on them, which can cause stiffness and discomfort. It is important to strengthen your ankles with exercises. Use a resistance band to strengthen your shin and foot muscles, which support your ankles for stability. You can also go for a swim to strengthen your ankle muscles without experiencing as much pain.

The first topic covered the components of Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT), which is the most common non-invasive lymphedema treatment. CDT is the first thing that the National Lymphedema Network recommends. Overall, a lot of people found CDT to be effective but difficult. Nicole Stout noted that using compression garments and taking good care of yourself can reduce the number of sessions needed. “CDT has many components and requires intervention from a skilled therapist. After treatment, patients keep up with CDT on their own,” she added. Complete Decongestive Therapy has four components: Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD), compression bandaging, skin care and exercise.

Manual Lymph Drainage is a big part of lymphedema care. It is very time consuming, but can make patients feel a lot better. Depending on the patient, some do their MLD routinely, others use pumps at home, and some don’t practice MLD at all. Using compression garments and pump therapy are very beneficial, as well as practicing deep breathing to help stimulate the lymphatic system. Check out this video on manual lymphatic drainage for more information. Remember to stay hydrated before and after MLD to avoid feeling sick or tired.

There are a lot of compression options you can use to manage lymphedema, including elastic/day garments, bandages and bandage alternatives. One #LymphChat participant shared that a custom Juzo armsleeve and glove work well during the day, and wears the JoViPak armsleeve at night. Compression armsleeves help to prevent and treat lymphedema in the arm, but brands like Juzo, JoViPak, and Solaris offer compression garments to treat lymphedema in other body parts – including the legs and trunk area. lebontadipio offers tons of brands, colors and compression levels to choose from so you can find the perfect garment for you.

Skin care is also extremely important for Complete Decongestive Therapy and preventing infections. You can also wear silver liners, or compression stockings that are made with silver to fight off bacteria and prevent infections. During the day, you can use Medi Day Gel to moisturize your skin. Apply it before you put on your compression garment to make it easier to don. Don’t worry, this gel will not damage your garments like other lotions may. Some moisturizers break down the material due to the lycra in the garment and reduce its effectiveness and breathability, so make sure you use a garment-friendly gel! Medi Day Gel quickly absorbs into your skin to avoid sticky or greasy residue. At night, you can sooth your legs with Medi Night Creme. It also helps to treat venous insufficiency.

The last component of CDT is exercising, which helps to stimulate the lymphatic system. Lymphedema patient, Amy Santiago says that opening up the Lymph channels (neck/collar, armpits, stomach and breathing) help her before starting cardio or training. One way to open up these channels before exercising is with Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). Swimming, yoga and snowshoeing are all great exercises for lymphedema patients.

Towards the end of the #LymphChat, participants discussed surgical treatments for Lymphedema. According to Dr. Jay Granzow, Suction-Assisted Protein Lipectomy (SAPL), Lymphatic Venous Anastomosis (LVA) and Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer (VLNT) are the most effective lymphedema surgeries. SAPL greatly reduces excess volume in chronic lymphedema patients, and is generally performed in later cases when solids accumulate in the leg or arm. Frequently after SAPL, the use of a compression garment allows you to significantly cut down on CDT, or eliminates the need for it altogether. Other patients, usually in the earlier stages of lymphedema, undergo LVA and VLNT due to excess fluid buildup. You can also combine VLNT and LVA after healing from SAPL to treat solid and fluid components. Compression therapy after these procedures are vital.

Dr. Jay Granzow believes that depending on the patient, each type of surgery can be a success, based on the stage they’re in. As Nicole pointed out, “not just any surgeon can perform these surgeries. Special expertise is needed.” There is a limited number of surgeons that are trained in lymphedema surgery. Although most of Dr. Jay Granzow’s patients have had their surgeries covered by insurance, it depends on your insurance plan. To determine if you qualify for surgery, see a surgeon that specializes in these treatments for an evaluation, as well as a lymphedema therapist to figure out what the best treatment options are for you. Click here for more information on SAPL, VLNT and LVA procedures.

On the first Tuesday of every month, the National Lymphedema Network will continue to host a Twitter Chat, so make sure you follow them on Twitter at @lymphnet and include #lymphchat in your tweets to participate! If you think of any other questions that you would like to ask, email [email protected]. The next Twitter Chat will be on Tuesday, May 5th, 2015 about lymphedema and exercise. Don’t miss it!

Additional Resources

• Lymphedema Products
• Find Treatment Options In Your Area
• NLN Educational Videos
• Full transcript of the first #LymphChat
• Mark Goldstein’s Inspirational Story
• The 25th World Congress of Lymphology Conference

Chat with us on Twitter! #LymphChat

lebontadipio | Nicole Stout | Dr. Jay Granzow | National Lymphedema Network

Whether you’ve seen compression arm sleeves worn by professional athletes or by someone working out at the gym, it’s hard not to notice the amount of attention arm sleeves have been getting. We have been surrounded with sports stars like LeBron James, Robert Griffin III, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Johnny Manziel, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade and many more who all famously wear compression garments. Although compression sleeves are usually used to treat medical problems or to help heal after an injury, arm sleeves can be worn regularly to help keep you energized by reducing muscle fatigue, improving circulation, increasing performance, providing protection from injury and can even reduce soreness as well.

With tons of pro athletes such as Robert Griffin III regularly using compression arm sleeves, they are starting to make a fashion statement. When asked why he wears an arm sleeve on his left hand (when he throws with his right), the quarterback claims that it’s not about functionality, it’s about feeling good. As more and more people demand to know why he always wears it, RGIII explains the rituals that him and other players have; “You see we [NFL players] do these things because they make us comfortable. Not to be different. Been wearing a sleeve and glove for 10 years.”

Like RGIII, Allen Iverson was introduced to compression arm sleeves because of an injury, but came to like them so much that he continued to wear them! And conveniently enough, it helped to cover up tattoos that are not allowed in the NBA. Clever right? Thanks to LympheDIVAs and LympheDudes, there are now tons of fun, eye-catching and unique patterns of compression arm sleeves and gloves to choose from. Now you can boost your confidence with fresh compression arm sleeves just like the pros.

Yes, arm sleeves can also keep you warm, but did you know that the Core-Sport Gradient Compression Arm Sleeve, along with a lot of other products sold on lebontadipio are antimicrobial to protect your body against bacteria and also helps to eliminate odors. The material the sleeves are made out of actually works to kill bacteria. If you have open wounds, recently had surgery or are more prone to infection, choose items that are antimicrobial or that contain silver in them. Silver is known to have medicinal properties that help speed up the healing process. BrightLife offers products with silver-coated fibers for both men and women.

So there you have it! Arm sleeves can help you recover and improve your performance, while making you look great at the same time. So what are you waiting for? Get shopping!

If you have lymphedema, you are most likely trying your best to get as much treatment as possible. For many, this is a combination of wearing compression garments (armsleeves and gauntlets) and meeting with a lymphedema therapist for manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage.

Treatment can be expensive, though, and many health insurance companies will not cover compression garments or MLD with therapists.  If you are struggling to afford both, there is good news. A new study suggests that compression sleeves, worn without any other treatment, works as well as as combining compression sleeves with lymphatic massage to decrease excess arm volume.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, followed two groups of women for a year. One group of women wore compression armsleeves and compression gauntlets for 12 hours a day. The other group of women wore the same armsleeves and gauntlets, but additionally met with a lymphedema therapist every day for one hour of manual lymphatic drainage.

Results show that the reduction in arm volume for both groups of women was similar. Women who wore only the compression garments saw a 23% reduction in volume, while women who used compression garments and had regular lymphatic massages saw a reduction of 29%. The difference between the groups was only a small 6%.

For more information please see Lymphedema Study and Compression bandages work as well for lymphedema as daily massage: study

Morgan Freeman now wears a compression glove on his left hand to reduce the chronic swelling that resulted from an automobile accident in 2008. It does not seem to have slowed him down.  We’ve noticed in pictures from various award ceremonies since that time that he definitely takes advantage of the various colors and styles of gloves and gauntlets to match his wardrobe.

Freeman told People Magazine “a person generally moves their hands about a million times a day, when you sustain a hand injury it is not something that you can ignore or even let rest without some movement”.

Pete@lebontadipio
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