Author Archives: CastCoverz!

About CastCoverz!

CastCoverz! creates fun and functional fashions for casts, braces, splints and boots. Our products, our service and our blog helps people feel better so they heal better. We'd love your comments, cast cover stories, broken bones stories and tips!

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Your Injured Loved One

If your loved one is suffering from an injury and you want to make them feel better on Valentine’s Day, give a gift that shows you truly care, take a look at these gift ideas and choose one or more.

Idea #1:  Chocolate Covered Strawberries

strawberryEveryone knows you’re supposed to give your love chocolate on Valentine’s Day, but since your true love is going through the recovery process, he or she really needs to eat a healthful diet. You can give them a treat and some nutrients at the same time with chocolate-covered strawberries. Shari’s Berries is a fantastic source for delicious goodies, delivered quick and easily.

 

Idea #2:  CastCoverz!

If your loved one enjoys looking fashionable or is just tired of the sight of their cast and wants to keep it clean and scratch-free, consider one or more CastCoverz! products to help put a smile back on their face during recovery, from orthopedic cast covers, crutches, and crutch covers, to walking boot covers and waterproof cast protectors. At CastCoverz!, we’ve got your injured loved one covered!

Idea #3:  Love Letter

It doesn’t matter whether your love is injured or not, telling them exactly how you feel and what you love about them will be something that will never get old.

Idea #4:  Flowers

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Your Injured Loved One

These aren’t your ordinary die-in-a-week flowers. These flowers can last up to a year and are a beautiful statement piece for any table. They come in Valentine’s Day heart shaped boxes, as well. Venus et Fleur flowers will be sure to make your loved one swoon this Valentine’s Day.

 

Idea #5:  An Alternative to Crutches

If you’ve noticed your loved one is struggling with crutches, the nicest thing you can do for them is offer another solution. Here are some items to consider from KneeRover®, a Seated Scooter and Steerable Knee Scooter. Take a look at all of the options and see which would fit their lifestyle and needs the best.

Idea#6:  Comfort Items

The recovery process is going to feel long no matter how long it actually is. Look into some comfort items that can make it as easy as possible for your loved one. Things like a shower stool or waterproof cast protector to make bathing easier. The CastCooler® is also very helpful in raising your loved one’s level of comfort.

Idea#7:  Kind Gestures

Valentine’s Day is really all about showing your love. When your loved one is injured, all you really need to do is care for them to make them feel special and loved. Cook some fresh meals to put in the freezer so they’ll be ready whenever needed. Offer to do the shopping and arrange the kid’s carpool. Any worries you can take off their plate and add to yours is a bonus!

Idea #8:  Candles

Reminding your loved one how much you love them by giving them a scent you’ve picked out will bring them back to you every time they smell it. These Homesick Candles last for hours, and will be sure to put a smile on their face for Valentine’s Day.

 

 

When your loved one is injured, you might have to get more creative about gift giving on Valentine’s Day. But with these ideas, you can’t go wrong!

What-to-Wear-When-Your-Arm-is-in-a-Cast-or-a-Sling

What to Wear When Your Arm is in a Cast or a Sling

What to Wear When Your Arm is in a Cast or a SlingIt is HARD to find something that is stylish and will work for you when you have your arm casted, braced, or in a sling. Limitations are everywhere when it comes to your wardrobe unless you have a personal assistant helping you dress, bathe, etc. Button-down jeans, attempting to put on a belt or even something that used to be so simple like tying your shoes is now giving you fits. But you still want to look good while you heal and let your personality shine when you are out and about right?  You could look to your caregiver for help or do it on your own. Here are some great fashion tips from our friend, Alison Gary, a fashion journalist and owner of the popular blog, Wardrobe Oxygen, that helped her get through her time of healing while staying stylish, comfortable and looking great!


Tops

To top things off, Alison wore shawls and pashminas, flowing garments that wouldn’t be too close to the skin or the cast, and give a feeling of freedom. She also recommends jackets in softer materials that can be taken off easily, just in case you start to feel uncomfortable.


Slouchy sweaters and tunics that are easy to get over the head, and tops with elbow-length sleeves that won’t stick to the cast are excellent options. For your first layer to give you hidden comfort underneath the stylish items, a ribbed tank will help to keep the top layers in place, and v-neck tees are a comfortable choice.

Wearing these free-flowing and soft tops can help with an overall feeling of attractiveness, which is so important while you’re wearing a cast and worrying about whether your movements look stiff or pained.

Bottoms

fashion-605508_1280What about bottoms? Getting bottoms in a larger size than you need could help make it easier for you to get dressed with one arm. Leggings can also give you a good solid bottom option to wear with your oversized tops and you won’t miss a step when it comes to style.

Dresses

Stretchy dresses may be the way to go, and you can wriggle your way into them without worrying about whether they can get over the cast. A stylish caftan that is big enough to slip on easily can also be an option to pair up with leggings or boots.

But the struggle continues. Now you have a few options for clothing choices that give you room to move your arms around and make it easier to get into tops, bottoms and dresses. What else can you do to try to get around the “snags” in looking good while your arm is in a cast? What do we do when the material of those clothing items we have rub against the cast or ride up while we’re wearing them?

Cast covers can help, and you can quickly identify which clothing materials work well with the comfortable and washable material used in CastCoverz! Armz!. Armz! will help to protect your clothes from snags and you can pick a couple of colors to wear with outfits chosen to make feel free and attractive while you keep yourself comfortable and stylish!

Accessories

Accessories present a new and exciting challenge during the cast-wearing days, don’t they? You can’t get into those boots you loved to wear, and your favorite handbag is hard to swing down from your arm so you can rummage through it. What-to-Wear-When-Your-Arm-is-in-a-Cast-or-a-Sling-2
Flat shoes that you can slip into, and stretchy boots that you can pull on will make a big difference when you’re getting dressed and undressed. A cross-body purse is a practical alternative to the shoulder purse, and scarves are easier to put on than necklaces during this time. A wool cape or a down vest can be roomy options for the cold winter days or spring weather. The ultimate accessory is a cast cover that you can wear with any number of outfits and you can get them here at CastCoverz!

Looking your best while your arm is in a cast can help you to feel better and heal better, and you may want to consider some of the other things that can contribute to your recovery. If you’re thinking of things to do to keep you occupied while your social activities are limited, check out Fun Things to Do While Wearing a Cast. Or you can take a look at Cast Fashion and Lori’s List of Most Loved Products for more reading fun.

We’d love to hear what worked for you!  Please add your family-friendly comments, below!

Why-an-Orthopedic-Walking-Boot-VS-a-Cast-For-Your-Healing-Journey

Why an Orthopedic Walking Boot VS a Cast For Your Healing Journey

In this Facebook Live: All Things Orthopedic, Annette de Lancey (Founder and Owner of CastCoverz!) speaks with Dr. Scott Hoffinger, Medical Director of OrthoPediatrics, and Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon, about why orthopedic walking boots are prescribed! 

Not all broken bones, sprains or soft tissue injuries require a cast; sometimes an orthopedic walking boot is the best and most comfortable option for a patient as they heal. 

Why are so many orthopedic walking boots prescribed now?

When you have a broken bone in your foot, you need a firm base to step on, but casts are not always necessary (24/7 support), this is where an orthopedic walking boot can be helpful. Boots are also good for sprains and soft tissue injuries. 

Orthopedic walking boots can be beneficial but wear them with caution, if you are supposed to wear them all the time when you are standing up, comply with that. They can be just as effective as casts, but they can be taken off for sleeping and showers. 

Check out some of our orthopedic walking boot accessories like Bootz! and Sleeping Bagz! to provide fashion and comfort during your healing journey. 

Leave your family-friendly comments below, and be sure to join us for our next All Things Ortho event!

Rashes and Infections That Can Develop Under Casts

In this Facebook Live: All Things Orthopedic, Annette de Lancey (Founder and Owner of CastCoverz!) speaks with Dr. Scott Hoffinger, Medical Director of OrthoPediatrics, and Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon, about rashes and infections that can develop under casts.

No need to worry about infection right off the bat if you or someone you know is in a cast. Casts do not cause infection; however, the environment inside a cast often allows bacteria to grow or spread more easily. We encourage you to pay attention to signs of irritation or pain inside your cast in order to prevent infection and/or a spreading rash. 

What kinds of infections and rashes can you get inside a cast?

It is very important a cast is not too tight, as this can lead to pain inside of the cast caused by pressure. Some things that you can get from a cast are simple infections (pimples) and ingrown hairs. You can also get Impetigo (a skin infection) that will be both under the cast and elsewhere (normally above the cast). 

Maceration is a condition that is caused by excessive exposure to moisture.  Washing dishes, hot tubs, etc… are often the culprits.  If you get your cast wet, priority #1 is getting the cast dry. To dry out your cast we recommend The CastCooler a product invented by a dad that wraps around your cast and attaches to your vacuum cleaner.  A patented inverter valve blows cool air in your cast (fiberglass only) which dries out the moisture absorbing layers of your cast that are trapped next to your skin.  Though rare, maceration can also be caused by unsanitary conditions while the cast was being applied.  

The most concerning thing that was found by chance was chickenpox. If someone has chickenpox, doctors will remove the cast at the very least to look at the extremity. 

Symptoms to be on the lookout for rash or infection: itching and burning of the skin under the cast (this is beyond the typical by-product of itchiness while wearing a cast). Visual signs of redness on the skin at the cast’s openings. Intense odor (again, beyond the by-product of wearing a cast).  FYI… the CastCooler prevents the itch and stench of wearing a cast. 

As always, it’s important to keep your cast clean and dry, and let your physician know if you suspect an infection or rash inside your cast.

Stay tuned for our next All Things Ortho! Leave your family-friendly comments below.