OT - how to keep a cast dry?

Hi all,
At the ripe old age of 34, I broke my wrist while my daughter and I
were visiting my parents. A moment of inattentiveness, and I slipped
on some ice, and broke my fall (and wrist) with my left arm.

One thing that has proved irritating is keeping the cast dry during
showers. I did a web search, and came up with a "drycast" and another,
similar product. Has anyone used something like this? Does it work?
And do I really have to keep my cast on for six weeks???

Cathy Weeks
Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01

"Cathy Weeks" wrote:

One thing that has proved irritating is keeping the cast dry during
showers. I did a web search, and came up with a "drycast" and another,
similar product. Has anyone used something like this? Does it work?
And do I really have to keep my cast on for six weeks???

I take it you have already had the cast put on? The 2nd time I broke my
wrist, I was able to get a cast with a layer of absorbent material
underneath the plastic part. It looked sort of like bubble wrap but the
bubbles were more like small sponges with a plastic covering on the inner
side so the water wouldn't seep through to the skin and cotton underneath
(yeeuck! that would be smelly and moldy!) It was something like $35 in
addition to what the insurance covered. You might explore this option. It
takes a little longer to dry and you will find that you occasionally drip on
things an hour or so after you actually got it wet. They still recommend
drying it with a blow dryer but I would swim daily with it and rarely used a
blow dryer and I was fine. It was, however, VERY heavy when it was wet! The
bulk of the weight drains immediately though.

The first time I broke my wrist, I was given something that looked like an
over sized oven mitt with that was closed in at the top except a small hole
to put my arm through. I think a garbage bag held tight by duct tape (but be
sure not to get the tape on your skin! I would just tape the bag tight
around your arm rather than taping it TO your arm!) or another durable tape
would do.

Sorry to hear about the injury. Broken bones are never a pleasant thing. Is
it your dominant hand, as well?

-Kara.

I broke my ankle about a year ago. I had surgery on it one week after the
break. During that time I had the kind of cast that they make out of a
plaster of some kind and it had to stay dry. I used a garbage bag over my
leg and taped it above the top of the cast with duct tape while going out in
the rain and while bathing. I also tried not to submerse it in water during
those activities. Luckily, after my surgery, they gave me a removable cast
that I could take off while bathing. Did your doctor say you would wear
that particular cast for six weeks? I guess sometimes they might exchange
it for a removable cast. It will take six weeks for your wrist to heal, I
am sorry to say. You will probably also have some pain (mostly mild) for
years. Broken bones are a real bummer. Sorry you are having to endure one.

-Melissa Ann

Cathy Weeks wrote:

Hi all,
At the ripe old age of 34, I broke my wrist while my daughter and I
were visiting my parents. A moment of inattentiveness, and I slipped
on some ice, and broke my fall (and wrist) with my left arm.

One thing that has proved irritating is keeping the cast dry during
showers. I did a web search, and came up with a "drycast" and another,
similar product. Has anyone used something like this? Does it work?
And do I really have to keep my cast on for six weeks???

Cathy Weeks
Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01



Do you have a medical supply store in your area? There are
things like a big rubber glove that you can put over the cast
while you shower. I found one for my husband when he broke a
bone in his fooT and had a cast from toes to just under the knee.
He mentioned it to his doctor when he had the cast removed and
the dr. said "Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you about those."

gloria p

"Cathy Weeks" wrote in message
om...
Hi all,
At the ripe old age of 34, I broke my wrist while my daughter and I
were visiting my parents. A moment of inattentiveness, and I slipped
on some ice, and broke my fall (and wrist) with my left arm.

One thing that has proved irritating is keeping the cast dry during
showers. I did a web search, and came up with a "drycast" and another,
similar product. Has anyone used something like this? Does it work?
And do I really have to keep my cast on for six weeks???

Do you have the cast on yet or do you just have the splint? DS broke his
arm not too long ago. When he had the splint on, I had a heck of a time
keeping it dry. So when it was time to get the cast, I made sure to ask
around and they do make waterproof casts with waterproof liners. He could
bathe with it and everything. It only cost $20 more.

"Kara H" wrote in message ...

The first time I broke my wrist, I was given something that looked like an
over sized oven mitt with that was closed in at the top except a small hole
to put my arm through. I think a garbage bag held tight by duct tape (but be
sure not to get the tape on your skin! I would just tape the bag tight
around your arm rather than taping it TO your arm!) or another durable tape
would do.

I've been using the garbage bag method. The problem is that I can't
get it fastened and water tight with only one hand.


Sorry to hear about the injury. Broken bones are never a pleasant thing. Is
it your dominant hand, as well?

Thank God no. Whew. Traveling home on a plane with my toddler would
have been much more difficult.

Cathy Weeks
Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01

"Melissa Ann" wrote in message ...
Did your doctor say you would wear
that particular cast for six weeks? I guess sometimes they might exchange
it for a removable cast.

Yes, he did say I'd wear this cast for 6 weeks. But he was the doctor
at the ER back in MO where I was visiting my parents. He was a
specialist, fortunately, and he seemed to know his stuff. But he's
not going to be treating me long term. I have to find an orthopedic
doc here in NJ now that I'm home. So maybe they'll give me one of the
waterproof casts. This one (plaster) is REALLY heavy.

Cathy Weeks

"toypup" wrote in message news:MKBYb.54791$jk2.217625@attbi_s53...

Do you have the cast on yet or do you just have the splint? DS broke his
arm not too long ago. When he had the splint on, I had a heck of a time
keeping it dry. So when it was time to get the cast, I made sure to ask
around and they do make waterproof casts with waterproof liners. He could
bathe with it and everything. It only cost $20 more.

No, I've got the old-fashioned plaster cast. The doctor at the ER
thought that since I was going to be traveling with a toddler that we
wanted the stronger more immovable cast, and I agreed with him. But
having the lighter-weight and waterproof cast would be really nice.
We'll see what the doctor here says.

Cathy Weeks

In article ,
(Cathy Weeks) wrote:

Hi all,
At the ripe old age of 34, I broke my wrist while my daughter and I
were visiting my parents. A moment of inattentiveness, and I slipped
on some ice, and broke my fall (and wrist) with my left arm.

One thing that has proved irritating is keeping the cast dry during
showers. I did a web search, and came up with a "drycast" and another,
similar product. Has anyone used something like this? Does it work?
And do I really have to keep my cast on for six weeks???

Cathy Weeks
Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01


I always just slid the plastic bag that comes over the news paper over
the arm and used a rubber band to hold it on-- and yes you risk
arthritis in a wrist if it is not properly splited for the full healing
period -- and in fact wrists are real bummers -- you may well end up
with arthritis in the wrist that is broken even if you are careful

In misc.kids.breastfeeding Cathy Weeks wrote:
: Hi all,
: At the ripe old age of 34, I broke my wrist while my daughter and I
: were visiting my parents. A moment of inattentiveness, and I slipped
: on some ice, and broke my fall (and wrist) with my left arm.

: One thing that has proved irritating is keeping the cast dry during
: showers. I did a web search, and came up with a "drycast" and another,
: similar product. Has anyone used something like this? Does it work?
: And do I really have to keep my cast on for six weeks???

: Cathy Weeks
: Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01

I broke my wrist and had the same problem. I solved it by wrapping
the cast with plastic wrap and taping it to my arm. I took the
wrap off after the shower.

Larry