Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefitsTypesBuying TipsHow to WearCare
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits
Types
Buying Tips
How to Wear
Care
Compression sleeves are the gold standard for treating lymphedema affecting your arms. Lymphedema occurs when lymph fluids accumulate in your arm, causing swelling that may cause pain and lead to complications.
Elasticized compression sleeves apply pressure that forces the fluids to move up and out of your arm. In addition to treating your symptoms, studies show that a compression sleeve can reduce symptom severity and may preventlymphedemafrom developing.
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Benefits of Compression Sleeves
Though the sleeve applies pressure throughout its full length, the amount of pressure at the sleeve’s bottom is slightly higher than the top. This creates a pressure gradient that forces lymph fluid up your arm.
Compression sleeves are essential for treating symptoms and preventing lymphedema.
Role in Symptom Management
Arm lymphedema most often develops whenlymph nodesare removed duringbreast cancer surgery.However, enlarged lymph nodes, tumors, scar tissue, and other health conditions can also cause lymphedema.
Clearing the fluid with a lymphedema sleeve is crucial for preventing complications. Without treatment, lymphedema can progressively worsen and cause:
If you have an advanced stage of lymphedema (with thickened skin, scarring, or growths), you may need additional treatment combined with a compression sleeve or before getting one.
Role in Lymphedema Prevention
In the past, health professionals thought that compression sleeves only controlled the symptoms of lymphedema and that active prevention was impossible. More recent studies show that wearing a compression sleeve can prevent the fluid buildup from getting worse and help you avoid chronic lymphedema.
A 2017 study looked at the regular use of compression sleeves on the later occurrence of lymphedema in women who hadaxillary lymph nodeprocedures for breast cancer.
The procedures included axillary lymph node dissection (removing lymph nodes in the armpits) andsentinel node biopsies(removing the lymph nodes closest to the breast cancer). In those who wore compression sleeves, less post-operative swelling was noted up to 12 months following surgery compared to those in the study who didn’t wear sleeves.
TheJournal of Clinical Oncologypublished a study in 2022 verifying the preventive benefits of compression sleeves.Women who had axillary lymph nodes removed during breast cancer surgery were divided into two groups.
One group followed the standardexerciseprogram. The other group wore compression sleeves for eight hours daily. They started wearing the sleeves the day after surgery, which is too early for lymphedema to develop. At the end of one year, 14% of the compression group had arm swelling compared to 25% in the exercise group.
Daily use of a compression sleeve immediately after lymphedema develops also helps prevent the condition from worsening or turning into a chronic condition, according to a 2023 study.
A 2018 study found that wearing compression sleeves did not reduce physical activity or lower the quality of life for women who wore these garments regularly for one year.
There are several lymphedema sleeves to choose from and they come in a variety of colors and patterns. Your healthcare provider typically writes a prescription detailing the type of sleeve that’s best for your lymphedema. They may suggest:
Buying a Compression Sleeve
When purchasing a compression sleeve for lymphedema, it’s essential to work with your healthcare provider, a lymphedema therapist, or a highly qualified retailer. Getting the proper fit and the appropriate pressure for your lymphedema are crucial to ensure optimal results. A poor-fitting sleeve may worsen your lymphedema.
If a premade sleeve works for your arm size and lymphedema needs, you can find them at medical supply stores (durable medical equipment stores) and many online retailers. Off-the-shelf sleeves typically come in two pressure levels, expressed in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg):
However, you may need a customized compression sleeve if your doctor prescribes a higher pressure, such as:
Proper Fit
Does Insurance Cover Compression Sleeves?
The Lymphedema Treatment Act is a federal law that went into effect in January 2024. It allows Medicare to cover prescription compression sleeves.
Compression sleeves are a medical expense you may be able to deduct from your taxes if you have to pay out-of-pocket.
Wearing a Compression Sleeve
Wearing your compression sleeve can reduce pain and swelling. However, the sleeve only works if it meets your needs and you wear it according to your healthcare provider’s recommendations.
There are two types of sleeves: daytime and nighttime.Daytime sleeves provide more pressure to promote lymph circulation when you’re awake and active. Nighttime sleeves prevent rebound edema that may occur after you remove the daytime sleeve. A nighttime sleeve is looser than a daytime sleeve.
You can adjust some daytime sleeves to wear at night. However, don’t wear a daytime sleeve while sleeping if you can’t loosen it to reduce the pressure.
When to Remove a Compression SleeveIf your lymphedema symptoms worsen or the sleeve causes pain, discomfort, numbness, or tingling, you should remove the sleeve immediately and call your healthcare provider.
When to Remove a Compression Sleeve
If your lymphedema symptoms worsen or the sleeve causes pain, discomfort, numbness, or tingling, you should remove the sleeve immediately and call your healthcare provider.
Taking Care of the Sleeve
Your lymphedema sleeve will last longer if you follow the washing instructions that come with it. As a general guideline, you should use a mild detergent and lay the sleeve flat to dry.
If you apply a skin moisturizer, be sure it’s fully absorbed before putting the sleeve on. Moisturizers contain ingredients that can break down the sleeve’s elastic fibers.
Even well-cared-for sleeves lose their stretchiness over time, preventing them from applying the pressure needed to treat lymphedema. Most compression sleeves must be replaced every three to six months.
Summary
Compression sleeves can help treat lymphedema symptoms, ease pain, and lower the risk of complications. Wearing compression sleeves can also prevent or lower the risk of lymphedema developing.
Your healthcare provider determines the type of compression sleeve and the pressure needed to treat your lymphedema. They also teach you when to wear it and the signs of complications to watch for. Contact your provider immediately if your symptoms don’t improve or your sleeve causes discomfort.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ochalek K, Partsch H, Gradalski T, Szygula Z.Do compression sleeves reduce the incidence of arm lymphedema and improve quality of life? Two-year results from a prospective randomized trial in breast cancer survivors.Lymphatic Research and Biology. 2019;17(1):70-77. doi:10.1089/lrb.2018.0006
American Cancer Society.What is cancer-related lymphedema?
National Cancer Institute.Lymphedema.
Merck Manual.Lymphedema.
Paramanandam VS, Dylke E, Clark GM, et al.Prophylactic Use of Compression Sleeves Reduces the Incidence of Arm Swelling in Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Randomized Controlled Trial.J Clin Oncol. 2022 Jun 20;40(18):2004-2012. doi:10.1200/JCO.21.02567.
Johansson K, Blom K, Nilsson-Wikmar L, et al.Early Intervention with a Compression Sleeve in Mild Breast Cancer-Related Arm Lymphedema: A 12-Month Prospective Observational Study.Cancers (Basel). 2023 May 9;15(10):2674. doi:10.3390/cancers15102674.
Ochalek K, Gradalski T, Szygula Z, Partsch H.Physical activity with and without arm sleeves: compliance and quality of life after breast cancer surgery-a randomized controlled trial.Lymphat Res Biol. 2018;16(3):294-299. doi:10.1089/lrb.2017.0045
BreastCancer.org.Compression sleeves and garments for lymphedema.
Congress.gov.Lymphedema Treatment Act.
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