Caring properly for your cast is important to make sure your bone heals properly.
Looking after your cast
Elevate the cast. Lift your broken arm or leg above the level of your heart whenever you can. Overnight, keep it on pillows while you sleep. During the day, rest your leg up on a chair. This prevents swelling in the first few days after the injury.
Keep it dry. Keep the cast dry at all times. When washing, carefully wrap the cast in plastic — cling wrap or a plastic shopping bag work well — and keep it away from water.
Do not stick things under the cast. The skin under a cast often becomes very itchy. Resist the urge to poke objects down it, and avoid coat hangers in particular, as these damage both the skin and the cast. Pointing a hairdryer on a cool setting down the cast usually relieves the itch.
Keep an eye on the cast. Tell your doctor if it cracks, breaks or becomes loose.
When to see your doctor
Contact your doctor if you have any of the following:
- Pain or swelling not controlled by your prescribed medication, or pain that is getting worse
- Numbness or tingling
- Skin problems caused by the cast
- Inability to move your fingers or toes beyond the cast
- Circulation problems in your hand or foot
- Loosening, splitting or breaking of the cast
- Unusual smells, sensations or wounds beneath the cast
- A fever, or feeling generally unwell
A cast that becomes tight in the first few days needs medical attention immediately.