Suggestions for bathing or showering with a cast on

[Serena]

My 11yo has a cast all the way one arm, her right one no less. I tried wrapping it in plastic wrap and it works but it's a pain. This morning I tried a plastic bag that I taped on. It's awkward too.

That poor child was very modest before she broke her arm, now she isn't letting that bother her thank goodness. She about had a cow when she had to strip for the surgery. lol

 

[Luvinit]

When my DD 6, broke her arm the DAY AFTER SCHOOL let out last year...i thought it was going to be a LONG summer....

She was going to camp NO MATTER WHAT...so i searched high and low for a cast cover that she could swim in and I found one for 30$$ that she could actually swim with underwater!! It had a little "pump" on it to suck out all the air and make it air tight!!
It was GREAT!!

I got it at Suncoast Pharmacy and medical supply...you may want to check out a medical supply store in your area. If you need more information you can PM me and I will see if I can help you find one...I don't know what I would have done without ours!!

Tracy

 

[jfulcer]

Ask your doctor about this .

 

[Pam]

Serena,
My DS broke his arm at National Jamboree two years ago - it was his left arm - and I bought him a plastic cover thing for around $30.00. I'll see if I have it and get back to you...

 

[pumba]

the cast went up to his armpit....and he got sick and tired of the shower problem....so he got it soaking wet and then dried it with a hair dryer.....the doctor could not believe that.....neither could I ....it started to SMELL.......so then he went with the baby powder and put some in it.....he was worse then the kids when they were younger

 

[Serena]

LOL

 

[Octoberbride03]

There are plastic waterproof sleeves and boots you can use for showering. You just put some nylon hose(panty hose) over the cast and then slide on the sleeve. If your orthopedist doesn't have some he should be able to tell you where you can get them. I used one 5 years ago when i broke ankle and it worked great. HTH

 

[erikthewise]

If you want to go cheap you could buy some of those $1 disposable ponchos (Walmart, Target, Dick's sporting goods, etc) and just put one arm in when showering. Maybe a rubber band at the wrist.
It would be a lot more convenient than working with plastic wrap.
(I haven't tried this -- it's only a suggestion!)

 

[mamajoan]

You have gotten some great suggestions.. but can I tell you something?.. this is from my experiences with ortho patients..

1. Yes it is MOST important to keep the cast dry..inside and out
You can always have her sit in the tub to take a bath with the casted arm on the outside of the tub.. but the best working answer is the cast cuff for $30 second is the heavy trash bag with waterproof tape.. keeping the arm out of the water spray as much as possible.

2. Please DO NOT PUT CORNSTARCH or any POWDERS in the cast
If the cast gets damp from sweat or water.. the powders are great for feeding bacteria... thus the smell and worse.. it can eat into the skin..if an open wound developes.. then infection can set in.. If the cast or arm begins to SMELL.. contact MD .. they probably will recast.

3. Try to AVOID sticking pencils, backscratchers, hangers etc.. down the cast to "SCRATCH" the "ITCH".. sometimes the skin will open during the scratching... and there we come to the infection cycle again...Sometimes blowing the hairdryer set on cool into the cast will decrease the itching sensation.

Hope your dd feels right as rain soon!
joan

 

[Music Mole]

I broke my wrist (and had surgery to repair it) in February - my complete sympathies to your daughter!

I have used the long plastic bags that the newspaper is delivered in, with two rubber bands at the top to hold it in place (two for "extra" protection).

My ortho's office had a sign up about a waterproof cast. If she is going to have the cast replaced (I had a total of three over 6 weeks but that may have been related to surgery - having to check incisions, etc.) maybe they could give her one of those.

Good Luck!

 

[deirdrefitch]

My eighteen year old son broke his leg back in August. The ortho
told him to use the Hefty steele sack trash bags when he showered, or when it was raining outside to keep the cast dry.
He tied the top of the bag shut, and then put an extra large rubber band around the top of the cast. He did this for ten weeks, and did not have any problems.

 

[Serena]

She's seeing the doc on monday and I'll see what's up. In the mean time I'll do what I did this morning. It worked and I guess that's what's important.

Thank you for all the suggestions and Joan, for the advice.