If you’ve broken a bone, you may end up needing to spend some quality time wearing a cast. Here are some tips to help care for your cast!
- Keep the cast dry. It’s going to be a pain, but you’ve got to do your best. Wrap the cast in plastic if you want to bathe — a bath may be easier than a shower, depending on where the cast is. When I had nine stitches in my palm and had to keep them dry, I had a heck of a time washing up. A bath was easier because I could just dangle my hand off the side of the tub, away from the water.
- Don’t use sticks, coat hangers, rulers, or other objects to reach under the cast. This can damage the cast — but worse, it can damage your skin.
- If your cast has rough edges that are poking at you, DON’T use scissors or try to break pieces off. Use an emery board to file down rough edges.
- Watch for cracks, breaks, and loosening.
- Watch for reddened and/or raw skin around the edges of the cast — you may need your doctor to pad these areas to protect against friction.
Itching can be a real pain when you’re stuck in a cast. Orthopedic experts suggest using a hairdryer on a cool-air setting to relieve itching — point the air flow down the cast. If that isn’t enough, try an over-the counter antihistamine like Benadryl to help relieve itching.
In the initial days after an injury, you may experience pain and swelling — even once a cast has been applied. Elevate the injured limb to help prevent or relieve swelling. You can also apply an ice bag to your cast — just be sure to keep the cast dry. Wrap your cast in a plastic bag, then apply the ice.
Don’t forget to exercise the muscles around the injury. For example, if you break your arm, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep exercising your fingers. The same goes for toes if you break your leg! Talk to your doctor about appropriate activities and exercises for your extremities. Let your doctor know if you experience pain while doing exercises.