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Proper Cast Fit Your cast should feel very snug, maybe even tight, for the first few days after your injury. This is normal. A cast is meant to help your injury heal by protecting it from movement. Feeling a reasonable amount of tightness means the cast is doing its’ job!Jul 2, 2019.
When should cast discomfort be a concern?
When to Call Your Doctor A fever (higher than 100 F for child and 101 F for adult) Numbness, tingling, burning, or stinging in the injured arm or leg. Sores under the cast. Pain or swelling that gets worse.
What if your cast is tight?
New pain or numbness may mean that the cast or splint is too tight. You should also call your doctor right away if you have new pain that develops in another area (for example, pain in your fingers or forearm if you have a wrist or thumb injury, or pain in your toes or calf if you have an ankle or foot injury).
How loose is too loose for a cast?
Your cast was applied in such a way as to minimize excessive movement and therefore should be snug but NOT too tight (there is a difference!). for an ARM cast, raise it as high above your heart as possible (overhead if necessary). for a LEG cast, lie down and prop your leg up on several pillows.
Should a cast feel tight?
Proper Cast Fit Your cast should feel very snug, maybe even tight, for the first few days after your injury. This is normal. A cast is meant to help your injury heal by protecting it from movement. Feeling a reasonable amount of tightness means the cast is doing its’ job!Jul 2, 2019.
Is it normal to have pain while in a cast?
Because bones, torn ligaments, tendons, and other tissues can take weeks or months to heal, you may be stuck with your cast for a while. Although the pain may ease after a few weeks, the discomfort – swelling, itchiness, or soreness – may last the entire time.
Can bones move in a cast?
A cast, which keeps a bone from moving so it can heal, is essentially a big bandage that has two layers — a soft cotton layer that rests against the skin and a hard outer layer that prevents the broken bone from moving.
How should a cast feel?
The cast should be comfortable to wear, holding the affected bone still, without feeling tight or having any areas of pressure. If you have a non-waterproof cast, with a cotton wool style liner, you will need to get the cast changed if it gets wet. The liner will retain the moisture and remain damp.
What to avoid while wearing a cast?
Plaster casts and fiberglass casts with conventional padding aren’t waterproof. Keep your child’s cast dry during baths or showers by covering it with two layers of plastic, sealed with a rubber band or duct tape. Avoid swimming while wearing a cast that isn’t waterproof.
Is it OK to sweat in a cast?
Because you cannot get a cast wet, there’s not a good way to thoroughly clean them off. It’s best to avoid these products near a cast. Be diligent about hygiene after sweating. Sweat beneath your cast is likely, especially if you are participating in physical therapy or other form of exercise.
What happens if you leave a cast on too long?
While it may not seem like too much of an issue, putting a cast on a patient too tight can actually cause permanent damage. This is because a cast that is too tight will restrict blood flow to the limb, will put excessive pressure on the nerves, and may even cause atrophy of the muscles or tendons in the limb.
Why is my cast so uncomfortable?
Why does my cast feel so uncomfortable? It is common for a cast or splint to feel snug at first. arm or leg up on pillows or another support so that it is above your heart. Keeping your cast raised helps fluid drain “downhill.” You will have to recline if the splint or cast is on your leg.
Is a cast more comfortable than a splint?
In general, splints provide less support but more flexibility than a rigid cast. They’re easy to take on and off and allow your doctor to reevaluate your injury with x-rays or other diagnostic tools. They also tend to be more comfortable for patients.
Is it normal for fingers to go numb in a cast?
Numbness & Tingling: This may be caused by pressure on the nerves. Extreme Swelling/Tightness/Pain in Cast: This can be the result of swelling inside the cast.
Is a bone completely healed when a cast comes off?
During this “remodeling”, the body can straighten the fractured bone by laying new bone on the inside edge, and taking away bone on the outside of the angled area. In young children, bones can remodel fairly large angles, healing to appear completely normal within one to two years.
Can you get a blood clot from wearing a cast?
If you wear a plaster cast or brace for several days or weeks, the blood flow through your veins is slower than if you can move normally. This increases the risk of a blood clot (thrombus) forming in a leg or pelvic vein. Blood clots may end up blocking veins, preventing blood from flowing through them properly.
Is it normal for a broken bone to hurt while in a cast?
Almost all broken bones and torn ligaments cause pain. The cast should relieve some pain by limiting your movements. Usually your pain will be less severe each day. If you were given pain medication to use, follow the directions on the package.
How often should a cast be changed?
Plaster casts are made up of a bandage and a hard covering, usually plaster of paris. They allow broken bones in the arm or leg to heal by holding them in place, and usually need to stay on for between 4 and 12 weeks.
