Living with a cast

Anyone wearing a cast will need to take care not to get it wet as this will weaken the plaster and its ability to keep the bones straight.

It is important to keep a fiberglass cast dry and clean as well to prevent softening and breaking down of the skin. When showering, a plastic bag can be wrapped around the cast and secured with an elastic band to protect it.

The skin under the cast may feel itchy for the first few days, but doctors advise not to put anything inside the plaster to scratch, as it may cause a sore.

Turning a hair dryer onto a cold setting and blowing underneath the cast may help but needs to be done very carefully without any heat so as to prevent damage to the skin. People should speak with their orthopedic surgeon before doing this.

It can be uncomfortable to wear a cast, particularly if it is for a relatively long time.

The British National Health Service (NHS) offer some top tips for living with a cast:

• exercise any joints that are not covered by the cast to improve circulation
• try not to get powders and creams inside the cast
• no heavy lifting or, in the case of adult patients, driving while wearing the cast
• using crutches or a sling if the medical team advises it

Read the full article at Medical News Today