CRPS in the hands: softening touch and steadying comfort with RevitaFit compression gloves

Many people notice increased sensitivity to light touch (allodynia: pain from normally non‑painful contact), a brief catch on first movement after rest, and fingertip warmth and colour changes in a cool room. This guide explains why those moments flare with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), how full‑length RevitaFit compression gloves (from fingertips to elbow) can help, what to expect, and how to fit and use them safely.

Understanding CRPS in the Hand and Forearm

CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) can follow an injury, fracture, surgery, or time in a cast. In the affected limb, sensory signals may be amplified, blood vessel control can be less stable, and movement may feel stiff or clumsy. People often notice:

• Pain from light touch (allodynia: pain from normally non‑painful contact such as clothing or airflow)
• Stronger‑than‑expected pain with pressure or movement (hyperalgesia: amplified pain response)
• Colour and temperature shifts (autonomic changes: automatic adjustments in blood flow and sweating)
• Swelling and stiffness (oedema: fluid build‑up)
• Reduced precision when the fingers cool or the skin is very sensitive (proprioception: the sense of joint and limb position)

CRPS is often described as Type I (no confirmed major nerve injury) or Type II (known major nerve injury). Patterns and intensity vary between people and over time.

How common is CRPS?

CRPS is uncommon. Each year, roughly 5 to 26 people per 100,000 develop it, with rates varying by region and study methods. It is reported more often by women than men and often follows fractures, sprains, or surgery. The hand and forearm are frequently affected. These figures are approximate.

How clinicians make the diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on pattern rather than a single test. Clinicians look for pain that is disproportionate to the initial event, symptoms across several categories (sensory, vasomotor, sudomotor/oedema, motor/trophic), and examination findings in at least two of those categories, such as temperature or colour differences, swelling, sweating changes, or mechanical sensitivity to light touch. This helps distinguish CRPS from tendon injury, nerve entrapment, or isolated cold‑sensitivity.

Why symptoms flare during everyday moments

On first movement after rest

During a spell of rest, small pain and temperature fibres (A‑delta and C‑fibres: nerves that carry pain/temperature) can become more reactive and muscles may brace in anticipation of discomfort. The first few opens and closes often feel tight or sharp, then settle as gentle movement provides steady input and helps redistribute fluid.

In cool air or a direct breeze

When the skin cools, small blood vessels in the fingers narrow more than usual (vasoconstriction/vasospasm), and cooler skin heightens touch sensitivity. Fingertips can lose warmth and change colour quickly, and contact may feel harsher until warmth returns.

During repeated light use

Sliding friction across sensitive skin builds over time (mechanical shear), and tendons and small joints are loaded repeatedly without full rest. Sting and ache can add up even during modest tasks such as typing, folding laundry, or using a phone.

Toward the end of the day

With fewer breaks and less varied movement, fluid tends to collect in soft tissues (oedema), and tissues feel tighter. Fingers can feel puffy and stiff, pressure points feel sharper, and accuracy drops during fine tasks.

After sudden contact or knocks

A fast, unpredictable bump reaches sensitised nerves before the system can adapt. A quick knock on a door frame or catching a sleeve can cause a brief spike that usually settles with warmth and gentle movement.

When the skin is damp

Moist skin loses heat faster in moving air (evaporative cooling) and has more surface drag. Cool air feels more biting, and rubbing feels stickier and more uncomfortable until the skin is dry and warm.

What drives these symptoms

Nerves near the affected area become easier to trigger. The small fibres that carry pain and temperature (A‑delta and C‑fibres) and the threat‑sensing nerves in the skin and joints (nociceptors) send stronger signals than they should, so light touch and modest movement feel sharper.

Automatic control of blood flow and sweating is less stable. Fingers can cool quickly in a breeze and show colour changes as small vessels narrow and widen. These shifts are part of the body’s autonomic system (automatic regulation of functions like circulation and sweating).

Swelling and lingering chemical signals after the original injury can keep tissues sensitive. When movement is limited, fluid collects in soft tissues (oedema), and the chemical messengers that support healing can stay active longer than is helpful (neuroinflammation: immune activity involving nerves). The combination increases stiffness and tenderness, especially later in the day.

The way the brain processes hand signals can also change. The brain’s map of the hand may blur slightly (cortical reorganisation: subtle changes in representation), and the sense of joint position (proprioception) can dip. Movements then feel less precise until steady input and warmth help restore confidence.

Protective movement patterns add to the effort. Muscles around the wrist and fingers may co‑contract to guard the area, which makes the first movements feel tight. Gentle, repeated motion usually helps these patterns relax.

Understanding these patterns matters because changing how the skin, nerves, and small vessels are stressed at those exact moments—start‑up after rest, cool air, longer light use, end‑of‑day stiffness—is where a well‑fitted, full‑length compression layer can make tasks feel more manageable.

How full‑length compression gloves can help

Because CRPS flares are often driven by cooler skin, touch‑sensitive nerves, and end‑of‑day puffiness, a well‑fitted compression layer can change what your hand experiences at those moments. A light, even squeeze across the fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm provides steady contact that reduces tiny rubbing forces and can quiet over‑responsive touch signals, so the first movements after rest are less likely to sting. The close‑fit knit holds a thin layer of warm air at the skin (microclimate), which slows heat loss and reduces cold‑triggered narrowing of small vessels. As fingertip temperature stays steadier, colour swings tend to be less dramatic and light contact feels kinder. Gentle pressure also supports venous and lymphatic flow (the body’s fluid‑drainage system), which can limit end‑of‑day puffiness so pressure points bother you less. Extending coverage to the elbow steadies the muscles that control the wrist and fingers and conserves heat over a larger area, which many people notice as less fatigue and smoother fine control. A smooth inner surface and flat seams further reduce friction over sensitive areas, helping everyday contact feel more comfortable.

Moisture and temperature: why fabric choice matters

Skin that is slightly damp cools quickly in moving air and can feel sticky against fabrics. A breathable, moisture‑wicking knit moves sweat away from the skin and lowers friction, reducing both the quick “cold bite” that follows evaporative cooling and the drag that can make touch feel harsher. This complements the microclimate and gentle compression described above.

What to expect in day‑to‑day use

Most people notice that light contact feels softer and fingertip warmth is steadier in cool indoor air. Swelling by evening can be lower, which often makes everyday tasks feel smoother. Perceived fatigue and soreness during light activity may improve modestly. These gloves are a comfort‑focused aid and work best alongside your current care plan; they do not cure CRPS.

About the RevitaFit full‑length gloves

The gloves are available in multiple sizes for a snug, individualised fit for men and women. Coverage from fingertips to elbow provides gentle external support to moving tissues without immobilising the hand. The breathable knit helps maintain a stable microclimate and reduces clamminess and evaporative chill. Copper‑infused nylon is designed to stay fresher during wear; laboratory testing shows antimicrobial activity on the fabric against odour‑causing bacteria, though this does not treat skin infection and does not replace regular washing. A slim profile makes layering under a thermal pair straightforward in cold weather. A 30‑day money‑back guarantee allows a practical trial in daily life.

If you want to see whether they make your daily tasks easier, consider trying the RevitaFit full‑length compression gloves and use the fit and wear tips in this guide to get the best start.

Getting the fit right

• Measure the palm at its widest point and the forearm about two‑thirds of the way towards the elbow. Choose the size that accommodates both; if between sizes, select the one that provides a gentle, even hold without squeezing.
• Aim for snug but not too tight feel. You should be able to slide a fingertip under the cuff and fully open and close your hand without tingling.
• Check at two and fifteen minutes. Fingers should remain warm and normally coloured with normal sensation. If tingling, blanching, or numbness appears and does not ease within a few minutes, re‑position the glove or size up.
• Rotate seams away from hotspots so the smoothest fabric lies over your most reactive areas, often the backs and sides of the fingers.
• Begin with short sessions. Wear the gloves for 30–60 minutes a few times daily and build up over several days. If sensitivity rises, pause, gently warm the hand, and try again later.
• Remove rings before first fitting and re‑check ring fit after wear to avoid pressure points.

Using the gloves in daily life

Put the gloves on before entering a cool room and before restarting after rest so warmth and gentle contact are in place for the first movements. Break tasks into shorter blocks with brief pauses to limit rubbing on sensitive skin. Re‑settle the cuff during the day if swelling shifts so the glove never feels tight. Take the gloves off if pain, numbness, or a colour change increases and does not settle with gentle warming.

Graded exposure and desensitisation

When light touch is uncomfortable, gradual, predictable input is often easier to tolerate than sudden contact. Gentle compression provides a steady baseline of touch. You can build on that by adding short, controlled exposures—for example, brushing a soft cloth over the glove for 30–60 seconds, then repeating briefly on bare skin. This approach is commonly used in CRPS rehabilitation and can help move from “tolerable with the glove” to “tolerable without it,” reducing sting from everyday contact over time.

Who is likely to benefit, and when to be cautious

Many people with CRPS find that gentle compression and warmth help reduce stinging touch, cold‑triggered symptoms, and mild swelling. People with arthritis, tendon irritation, wrist sprain or strain, repetitive strain injuries, fibromyalgia, neuropathic discomfort, Raynaud‑type cold sensitivity, and clinician‑guided oedema or lymphoedema may notice similar comfort‑focused benefits.

Seek advice first or use extra care if you have significant arterial insufficiency of the arm or hand; fingers that turn very pale or blue in the cold and do not re‑warm; uncontrolled heart failure or rapidly changing swelling; open wounds or suspected skin infection under the glove; an acute hot gout flare; or pronounced numbness with reduced protective sensation.

Choosing an appropriate compression level

If a compression level (mmHg) is specified, light day‑wear levels are generally most comfortable for symptom relief. If no level is provided, let your hands guide you. The glove should feel supportive rather than tight. At two and fifteen minutes, fingers should be warm and normally coloured with normal sensation. You should be able to remove the glove without deep marks. Persistent indentations or tingling suggest re‑positioning or a different size. For oedema or lymphoedema that requires higher compression, fitting and wear should be guided by a clinician.

Frequently asked questions

How do these gloves affect circulation?
Even compression supports venous return and helps limit fluid pooling. The warm microclimate reduces cold‑induced narrowing of small vessels. The gloves do not force arteries open.

Will they stop cramps or prevent injury?
They can lower common cramp triggers, such as cold and sudden touch, and reduce strain during repetitive tasks. They are not a guarantee against injury.

Is it okay to sleep in them?
Only if you wake without numbness or marks. If you are unsure, use them in the evening while awake and reassess.

Can I wear them during therapy and exercise?
Yes for light activity or between exercise sets for comfort. Remove them if your exercise needs bare‑skin feedback or if irritation increases. In cool conditions, the added warmth and smoother contact often make activity feel easier.

Do I need full‑finger coverage?
Full‑finger coverage helps conserve warmth at the fingertips and smooths contact across sensitive tips. Fingerless styles feel cooler but do not protect areas where fine control often drops first.

Are they helpful beyond CRPS?
People use them for comfort in arthritis, tendon irritation, wrist sprain or strain, repetitive strain injuries, neuropathic discomfort, Raynaud‑type cold sensitivity, and clinician‑guided oedema or lymphoedema. During a hot gout flare, compression may feel worse, so let comfort guide you and seek advice.

Tracking your progress

• Rate discomfort from light touch on a 0–10 scale at similar times morning and evening, using the same kinds of tasks with and without the gloves.
• Note ease of everyday activities such as buttoning, opening jars, typing, or using a phone (easier, the same, or harder).
• Record fingertip comfort in a cool room (better, the same, or worse).
• Check ring tightness or measure finger circumference at the same time each day.

After two to three weeks, review notes from similar tasks at similar times to judge whether comfort, warmth, and fine control are improving. Share your observations with a clinician if you are unsure how to interpret changes.

Safety and when to seek advice

Do not wear the gloves over broken skin, suspected infection, or a new unexplained rash. Be cautious after recent hand or wrist surgery unless a clinician confirms it is safe. Stop wearing the gloves and seek advice if pain rapidly worsens or is severe at rest; if marked swelling and heat are not improving; if new weakness or spreading numbness appears; if the hand becomes very cold or blue and does not warm with gentle measures; or if symptoms are not settling after a few weeks despite the steps in this guide.

A steady next step

CRPS can make everyday touch feel more sensitive than it should. Full‑length RevitaFit compression gloves are designed to soften contact, buffer temperature shifts, and support steadier control from fingertips to elbow. They fit alongside your current care plan and can be tested in day‑to‑day life to see how much difference they make for you.

Important disclaimer

This guide is for general information only and does not provide a diagnosis or personal medical advice. If you are unsure about your condition, medicines, or whether compression gloves are suitable for you, speak to a qualified healthcare professional. Results vary.