Question about lymphedema sleeve?

Lymphedema sleeves generally don't do much to help reduce the swelling, they just prevent it getting worse. They help more for prevention, in my experience, than with reduction of swelling you already have. Compression (elastic) bandages work better for that. It's just they are harder to get on than compression sleeves, and most doctors will start with them. If you have a lot of edema, it may be you will need either manual drainage, or a pneumatic pump assisted drainage. Trouble is, with the manual drainage you need a physical therapist that is trained and experienced in doing that, and both methods are expensive. You can usually rent the pump from a medical supply store though, and most insurance plans will pay for one that is prescribed by your doctor. Pump treatment takes about 2 hours a day, but if you are committed to it, it can be quite helpful in managing edema. In some cases, once you have relieved the swelling with the pump, you can use the sleeve to prevent it getting so bad again. The sleeve should not be cutting off your circulation to the lower arm either, and you should have two of them. You should have one to wear, and one spare so you can wash and dry them, and swap them out every couple of days. It should also not make the swelling worse. It sounds like you need to speak with your doctor and physical therapist again, as soon as you can do it. In the meantime it might be best to not wear the sleeve and return to elevating the arm and doing the exercises you should have been taught. If you can go swimming, that is an excellent way to help as well. You can wear an older sleeve while swimming, and between the motion of the arm swimming and the pressure of the water, you may see some improvement in that arm swelling. At any rate, you need to see your doctor again. I'd ask about the pump, at least for a while, too.