what is a compression sleeve used for
Updated February 20, 2016. A compression sleeve is a stretchy elasticized garment that is custom-fitted to your arm, and helps with pain and swelling caused by arm lymphedema. Sometimes a compression sleeve is referred to as a compression garment, compression arm sleeve, lymphedema sleeve or a pressure sleeve. A compression sleeve may be worn during exercise, when traveling by air, or when you need help managing lymphedema. During breast cancer surgery, some of your lymph nodes may be removed and tested in a procedure called axillary lymph node dissection.