Getting a cast hurts a lot, but you will find it difficult to take a bath with it as well. You need to make sure that no amount of water splashes on the cast or it will damage the case. Try the following ways of showering with a cast.

How to Shower with a Non-Weight-Bearing Cast?

Non-weight-bearing casts are hard to deal with and you have to take special care of them as well. While showering, you need to make sure that no amount of water reaches the cast.

  • First, get a stool for you to sit on since standing and showering with a cast is risky. Sit on the stool and shower at ease.
  • Second, ensure that you wrap the cast with something that is waterproof so that water doesn’t splash on it.
  • You can wrap the cast with a polythene bag so that water does not reach the cast while showering.

How to Get in the Bath with a Broken Leg?

Taking a bath with a broken leg is hard since there will be a cast over it and you need to keep it dry. So, you should make sure that no water reaches the cast or splashes on it while you take a bath.

  • Sit and take a bath, get a stool or a small table to sit on while taking a bath. Wrap a plastic bag around the cast so that water hits the plastic bag and not the cast.
  • Keep your leg outstretched and away from the stream of water as much as possible.

How to Shower with a Broken Foot?

After getting your foot broken, you will have to live with the cast for a few weeks. During this period, one of the hardest tasks you’ll have to do is showering with the cast.

  • If you’ve been given a wheelchair, you can take a bath in the wheelchair. Don’t step into the bathtub, use a shower that is outside the tub, or use a mug and bucket.
  • Wrap the cast with a plastic sheet ensuring that the whole cast is covered. Then, you can take a bath in a slow stream of water while keeping the cast away from the water.

How to Shower with Crutches?

Dealing with crutches is difficult and for you, showering for them will also be a tad bit difficult. However, you can use the following ways to shower along with crutches.

  • Before entering the bathroom, make sure that the floor is dry or you may slip. If the bathroom floor is wet, throw a towel on the floor before you enter.
  • Get a stool to sit on and cover your cast with a waterproof material like plastic.
  • Sit on the stool and keep your crutches aside. Now, you can start having a bath keeping the cast away from water.

How to Shower with a Splint?

While showering with a splint, you need to keep it away from water or it will get spoilt. Make sure that you are careful while showering the splint or you will have to get it changed.

  • Cover the splint with some plastic sheet and duct tape and make it waterproof.
  • Use the duct tape liberally so that there are no exposed parts of the splint. Then sit down and take a shower keeping the splint away from running water.

Tips

  • Make sure that you completely cover the cast with waterproof materials like plastic, polythene, and duct tape.
  • Don’t leave any part of the cast exposed to water or it will go bad you’ll have to change it.
  • Keep the limb which bears the cast outstretched and away from running water.

How do I keep my cast dry in the shower?

A newspaper bag is often the perfect size plastic bag to cover your cast. Other good options are bread bags or small trash bags. These can be sealed at the top either with some tape or a rubber band. A rubber band allows the bag to be reused, and it is also much gentler on your skin.

What happens if a cast gets wet?

In general, casts are meant to stay dry. A wet cast can lead to skin irritation or infection. 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.

Can you shower with a boot cast?

Moisture can collect under the boot and cause skin irritation and itching. If your doctor says to keep your boot on to shower, protect it so that it won’t get wet. Put your leg inside a plastic trash bag and tape the top around your leg. If you can take the boot off when you shower, pat the area dry after you shower.

How do you shower with a fiberglass cast on?

Waterproof Cast Covers

These cast protectors, also known as shower bags for casts, slip right over the injured area and use self-sealing technology to cling to your skin and keep water out during a shower.

How do I stop my cast from smelling?

Keep the smell under control
  1. Rub a scented dryer sheet on the outside of the cast. Do not push it underneath the cast.
  2. Sprinkle on baking soda or moisture-absorbing powder. These can safely absorb moisture and odors on the cast and around the openings.
  3. In extreme cases, request a new cast.

Can a bone move in a cast?

What are the different kinds of casts? 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 tight 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.

Should I wiggle my toes in a cast?

Try to keep the area around the edge of the cast clean and moisturized. Wiggle your fingers or toes while wearing a cast or splint. This helps with circulation. You can apply ice for 15 to 30 minutes over a cast or splint.

Can you sleep on your side with a cast?

Do I really need to elevate my cast when sleeping? Yes. This is probably the most important thing to remember when sleeping with a cast, no matter what bone you‘ve broken. Keeping the injured bone elevated above the heart prevents blood from pooling around the break which can cause painful swelling.

Do Broken bones hurt more night?

Bone stress injuries occur because of an unfamiliar increase in physical activity and is related to overuse, under recovery and several considerations that result in the bone not being able to keep up with the required adaptations. A fracture can result and this will cause pain at night time.

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 you feel ice through a cast?

Ice your cast for the first 48 hours

Yes, the ice will penetrate through your cast if you leave it on long enough. This will help reduce any swelling and pain.

Why does my cast feel tight?

Your cast may feel snug, especially the first few days after your injury. Usually it’s from your body swelling. To make it go down: Prop up the injured part of the body so it’s higher than your heart.

Can you wiggle your toes with a broken ankle?

Most believe that if they can wiggle their toes or move the ankle around that an ankle fracture has not occurred. The reason this is not true is because the nerves and muscles that allow the movement of the ankle have not been affected by the fracture.

Is it normal for a broken bone to hurt while in a cast?

When you suffer a fracture, it will eventually heal and recover to the point that you no longer experience pain. Unfortunately, this does not happen for everyone. Some people may continue to experience pain long after the fracture and soft tissues have finished healing.

What bone takes the longest to heal?

The femur — your thigh bone — is the largest and strongest bone in your body. When the femur breaks, it takes a long time to heal. Breaking your femur can make everyday tasks much more difficult because it’s one of the main bones used to walk.

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 remove a cast early?

Your provider will be able to inspect your cast to make sure it is still giving you the support you need. Don’t take your cast off. Removing your cast not only hinders healing, but it can also cause injury.