Cast Care

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

• Put ice on the injury for 15 to 20 minutes each hour for the first 1 or 2 days. Put the ice in a plastic bag and place a towel between the bag of ice and your cast.
• If you can, keep the injury above the level of your heart for 48 hours. This will help relieve the pain and swelling.
• Keep the cast dry. Cover it with a plastic bag or plastic wrap while bathing. Do not lower the cast into the water.
• Do not try to scratch the skin under the cast by pushing a sharp or pointed object down inside the cast.
• Check the skin around the cast every day. You may put lotion on any red or sore areas.
• Do not push or lean on any part of your cast; it may break. You may need to use crutches if you have a cast on your leg, ankle, or foot. A sling may be necessary to support a cast on an elbow, arm, wrist, or hand.

Call Your doctor If...

• The cast gets damaged or breaks.
• You have really bad pain that is getting worse.
• You have more swelling than you did before the cast was put on.
• The skin or the nails below the cast turn blue or grey.
• The skin below the cast feels cold or numb.
• There is a bad smell from the cast.
• There are new stains coming from under the cast.