Waterproof Casts?

[ekatiel]

DS fell off his bike yesterday and hurt his wrist. It was still hurting this AM, so we called the ped's office. They told us to ice it periodically today and splint it and bring him in tomorrow. I think he may have broken one of the small bones in his wrist. Anyhow, we're leaving on a cruise in 28 days . Anyone have experience with waterproof casts? I've been googling, but there seems to be conflicting info out there. Do most docs offer them now? Can you swim in ocean water in one? Still hoping it's not broken, but if it is, I'd like to be informed when we head to the doctor's! TIA for any input!

 

[debster812]

DS broke his wrist (cracked the radial head in his right wrist) a few days before he started 3rd grade. He was casted the day after he broke his wrist, and 2 days after that he spent about 6 hours swimming in the ocean.

Our insurance at the time did not cover the waterproof cast, so we paid the whopping $25 out of pocket. In hindsight, I would have paid quadruple that, just for the convenience. He could swim, shower, basically do everything, because in addition to it being waterproof, it was very lightweight.

Good Luck!

 

[jen1977]

If they don't offer, ask for it. They won't do waterproof if the cast will be on the foot because blisters can be rubbed since there's no padding, but will arms. We've had two waterproof casts here, and they are wonderful. Our insurance doesn't pay for it, but it's not that much extra.....I think $30.

 

[4littleones]

My daughter broke her wrist and had 2 different water proof casts. The casts are the same whether they are water proof or not. It is the liner that is different in the waterproof cast. Some people say that the regular liner is a little more comfortable.
If there are cuts/laceration to the skin they will not allow a waterproof cast. Also we were told not to have the cast around sand because it just gets stuck in there and becomes itchy and horrible. I always tried to rinse my daughters cast if we went swimming so that i was removing the chlorine and it would be so dry and itchy for her.
We were happy with the waterproof cast. No complaints.
Hope it's not broken!

 

[ekatiel]

Thanks for the replies, guys! $30 is a SMALL price to pay for being able to vacation normally. I am a little bit worried about sand. We're planning on swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman-- I know that's on a sand bar-- hopefully, there won't be too much sand in the water. We're undecided for Cozumel, so maybe we need to stay away from the beach. We'll be at an AI for our Jamaica day, so he can just stick with the pools and water slides. He does LOVE to build sand castles, though. Still hoping it's not broken!!!

 

[Ephany]

The waterproof one is sooo worth the small upcharge. We paid $25 for DD's and I seriously would have paid much more. She went swimming in the pool, although we did avoid the beach until it was taken off. One of the ladies at her school had a regular cast and listening to her talk about showering, and how difficult it was to keep hers dry, made me really appreciate how easy to use the waterproof one was.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

My DD had a waterproof cast a couple of years ago for a broken wrist. The doctor wouldn't put her in one initially, but agreed to re-evaluate her after 2 weeks in a regular cast (but we had to ask).

DD did pretty much everything in that cast - pool, ocean, etc. The cast was really faded and full of sand by the time she got it removed. But I was so thankful for it ... she broke it about 3 weeks into summer break.

 

[Chelley00]

DD had a waterproof cast when she broke her wrist. She's a competitive swimmer and was afraid she'd have to go 8 weeks out of the pool. With the waterproof cast she swam 3-5 nights a week.

They just told us no soap because it can break down the material, and to make sure she rinsed in plain water whenever she went swimming. So well worth the $25.

 

[weswife]

Hello,

I hope its not broken... so painful.

My DS broke his arm 10 days before Disney! We live in Canada so a price difference indeed! We paid $150 for a waterproof cast and liner!!!!! It was soooo worth it! It was much lighter and he could go in the pool. When he came out of the water he would hold his arm down and drain the water out. The characters also signed it! We were careful what rides he went on. The only thing was he had to get a plaster cast on for a week then have it changed to the fiberglass I think it was due to the swelling. It took the full 8 weeks for DS to recover due to due break but he enjoyed his trip!

Good luck!

 

[beth5762]

Both my sons broke bones in their wrists snowboarding. They both got waterproof casts. Once again, the insurance didn't pay but it was so worth us paying the little extra they charge. It was in the winter so they weren't swimming, but it made showering so much easier. I can't imagine having to keep the cast dry.

 

[dreaming4disney]

My ds had fractured his wrist before one of our trips to Disney a couple of years ago. He got a waterproof cast. It cost a little more than the regular one. It was done at a local ortho office. everything worked out fine- just be careful with sand

My older son just fractured his wrist snowboarding on Friday night and we took him to Children's Hosp of Philly- they don't put on waterproof casts- they don't like them- funny thing- we are headed to Disney this week I don't think I like this pattern of broken wrists and Disney trips…

Good luck !!!!

 

[kkwis2]

Interesting . . . my son broke his wrist last summer. We were supposed to be leaving for a camping trip the day of his surgery to put a couple of pins in place to set the bones so we delayed our trip for a day. We were also leaving on another camping trip (a big one) a couple of weeks later. Our doctor said there are no waterproof casts.

But, one of my students just broke his thumb a few weeks ago, and he came back with a waterproof cast. Different doctor's office though.

Good luck!

 

[wiigirl]

If they don't offer, ask for it. They won't do waterproof if the cast will be on the foot because blisters can be rubbed since there's no padding, but will arms. We've had two waterproof casts here, and they are wonderful. Our insurance doesn't pay for it, but it's not that much extra.....I think $30.

 

[tina.tina]

Our local peds offices will refer to an orthopedist for a cast. Before you make an appointment, ensure that the orthopedist will agree to a waterproof cast. An office in my area says there are no such things as waterproof casts and won't budge. I think you should find a doctor who will do what you will pay for them to do (well, within reason ).

What happened just now in my house:

DS8: Do people in China have power?
DH: Well, they're a communist country and the government...
Me (interrupting): Do you mean electricity?
DS8: Yeah.
DH: Oh!

 

[mommasita]

My daughter broke her wrist twice falling off a bike..

Our experience was that they put the regular cast on first, as the break (both times) wasn't totally clean, and if she was able to bend it, it would should straight up her arm....... She wasn't allowed a water proof cast until 3-4 weeks, as the Dr informed us they aren't as good.

If that is the case (i hope it is NOT) then you should be ok.. In Canada also, and was about 50$.

Is it worth it> YEEEEEEEEEEESSS........

 

[pezheadmeg]

Interesting . . . my son broke his wrist last summer. We were supposed to be leaving for a camping trip the day of his surgery to put a couple of pins in place to set the bones so we delayed our trip for a day. We were also leaving on another camping trip (a big one) a couple of weeks later. Our doctor said there are no waterproof casts.

But, one of my students just broke his thumb a few weeks ago, and he came back with a waterproof cast. Different doctor's office though.

Good luck!

I know when I was more than willing to pay oop for one after ankle surgery the answer was no. It was because of the internal jewelry that I so nice sport. And this was at the 2 week post op check, where the ortho found a pretty ugly post op infection. They could've never done the wound check window I need for daily dressing changes in a non plaster class.

For the OP hoping the wrist is not broken. Casts suck! And if the ortho offers it go waterproof no matter what the cost!

 

[monorailsilver]

If they don't offer, ask for it. They won't do waterproof if the cast will be on the foot because blisters can be rubbed since there's no padding, but will arms. We've had two waterproof casts here, and they are wonderful. Our insurance doesn't pay for it, but it's not that much extra.....I think $30.

No true (not in a mean way). My dd broke her ankle last August and was In a purple waterproof cast. I only let her swim in the pool though because I didn't want the sand from the beach getting stuck in the cast.

It was great! Insurance covered it but I would pay OOP. We just had to let her sit in the shower and drip before she got out and even then she sat with her leg on a towel.

I have see the cast covered. We were in Disney in August and a dad had one on him and he was in the pool.

My friends ds just broke his wrist. The ortho she went to put him in this new cast?? He could shower with it but she had to take it off when he was done and dry the cast completely before putting it on. I told her to take his arm out of that cast before the shower and wrap it in kerlex this way that removable cast would stay dry. They ended up going back to the ortho and he now has a waterproof cast.

 

[jen1977]

No true (not in a mean way). My dd broke her ankle last August and was In a purple waterproof cast. I only let her swim in the pool though because I didn't want the sand from the beach getting stuck in the cast.

It was great! Insurance covered it but I would pay OOP. We just had to let her sit in the shower and drip before she got out and even then she sat with her leg on a towel.

I have see the cast covered. We were in Disney in August and a dad had one on him and he was in the pool.

My friends ds just broke his wrist. The ortho she went to put him in this new cast?? He could shower with it but she had to take it off when he was done and dry the cast completely before putting it on. I told her to take his arm out of that cast before the shower and wrap it in kerlex this way that removable cast would stay dry. They ended up going back to the ortho and he now has a waterproof cast.

Our ortho absolutely won't do it. My 13 year old son broke his ankle a week ago Saturday, and I asked on Monday, and they said the same thing as when he broke his foot a few years ago....no cushioning for the foot, and the pressure could cause blisters. I'm sure different orthos have different opinions. Normal casts are a huge pain!

 

[dunningdisney]

My daughter broke her elbow in three places one week before disney. We practically had to beg for a waterproof cast--they had me all freaked out also because they kept saying insurance won't pay for it, I was prepared to pay whatever--thinking like $300.00--nope it was $30--no problem--i would have paid tenfold. She couldn't do rides, so swimming was all she had. She outswam the whole family. After our trip the doctor wanted to put a regular cast on because we were done with out trip, "but she can shower" and he agreed to leave the waterproof one on.

The best tip we ever learned with casts is if it itches, put the hairdryer on cool and blow into the cast. (or a small portable fan)

Also Walgreens carries a waterproof plastic that is made to go over casts, I think the brand was Curad. Really nice for the shower and I think about $10.

Best of Luck--hope it's not broke.

 

[motor58]

Another perspective: My DD just last month broke her arm *right* at the wrist (forgot what the bone is called) She got a splint! After talking to the doctors at ER, her pediatrician and the orthopedist-they don't always do a hard cast. So don't assume there will be a cast. My DD splint was nice-it had to stay on 23 hrs a day, but it could be washed!!! And she was totally allowed to swim (we have swim lessons). So you just never know.