Did you know the spine and nerves are infamous for referring pain elsewhere? If a portion of your lower back is irritated, you could possibly feel pain in your back, but you may also feel it in your thigh or knee.
It would seem that if you feel pain in your knee, it must be coming from inside the knee. This is not always the case. Knee pain can come from many different areas, including the spine, muscles, tendons, and nerves.
Common causes of chronic knee pain can vary from bulging discs in your back and irritated quadricep muscles, to knee arthritis and tendon tears, in addition to many other causes. Refer to this cool info-graphic from Regenexx for more information.
The Regenexx Procedures are a family of non-surgical adult stem cell and blood platelet treatments for common injuries and degenerative joint conditions, such as osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis. These stem cell procedures utilize a patient’s own cells to help heal damaged tissues, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, spinal disc, or bone.
If you find yourself wearing a knee brace or having to use crutches due to a knee injury, CastCoverz! has you covered! CastCoverz! has the world’s largest selection in cast covers and patient requested orthopedic gear. We give casts, braces, splints, boots, and our designer colored crutches fashion, function and FUN!
Looking for fun things to do while in a cast? From audiobooks and game nights to creative projects and visits with friends, these ten ideas can help you beat boredom while following your care team’s instructions.
Of course, knowing you need to slow down doesn’t make sitting still any more fun. Whether you’re wearing an arm cast or a leg cast, here are ten ways to give yourself something to look forward to.
Before you start: Follow your care team’s restrictions on movement and weight-bearing. Keep your cast dry, and choose activities that don’t require using your injured limb against medical advice. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ cast-care guide explains the basics.
1. Give Movie Night a Theme
Turn “watching something” into an occasion. Pick a favorite actor, revisit childhood classics, or let each person choose a comedy. Friends can join from their own couches and compare favorite scenes afterward.
Set up your remote, phone, and snacks within easy reach before pressing play.
Settle in for movie night with a soft Sleeperz! arm cast cover, designed to help protect against cast scratches and snags. AI-generated model and scene; product design based on a real CastCoverz! photo.
2. Find Your Next Favorite Audiobook or Podcast
An audiobook is especially handy when an arm or wrist cast makes holding a book awkward. Try a mystery, a funny memoir, or a story you’ve always meant to read.
Podcasts can keep you company, too. Choose an interview, a history series, or a topic you know absolutely nothing about. Your local library may offer digital borrowing options.
3. Bring Game Night to Your Favorite Chair
Invite a few people over for trivia, word games, or a round of “Would You Rather?”
Wearing an arm cast? Pick a game where you can answer aloud, or team up with someone who can handle cards and pieces.
Wearing a leg cast? Ask someone to arrange the game around your seated setup, with room to position your leg as instructed.
4. Try a Creative Project You Can Pause
Make a digital photo collage, dictate a short story, or design a birthday invitation. If your restrictions allow it, drawing or coloring can be another way to pass an afternoon.
Choose something that fits your current abilities. A project you can enjoy for fifteen minutes and return to tomorrow is plenty.
For children, let them choose the theme while an adult handles any tricky setup.
5. Learn Something Just for Fun
You don’t need to master a new skill during recovery. Following your curiosity is enough.
Take a virtual museum tour, learn a few phrases in another language, or watch a short lesson about astronomy, photography, or movie special effects.
If an arm cast limits hands-on hobbies, look for activities you can enjoy by listening or watching.
6. Schedule a Little Company
“Let me know if you need anything” can be hard to answer. Try making a specific invitation instead: “Would you come over for lunch on Thursday?”
A short visit, video coffee date, or regular phone call gives you something to anticipate. Let friends know what would help, whether that’s bringing food, setting up a game, or keeping the visit brief.
7. Plan a Short Outing, If Your Care Team Approves
Want to get out of the house? A quiet café, movie theater, or library event might work, depending on your restrictions.
Before leaving, check parking, step-free access, seating, and restrooms. Arrange transportation or help if needed, and give yourself permission to head home early.
An outing doesn’t have to fill the afternoon to feel worthwhile.
8. Make a Playlist With Your Friends
Ask everyone to send a song that makes them smile. Build a playlist from their suggestions, then challenge them to guess who chose each track.
You could also create a relaxing evening mix, revisit the music you loved growing up, or listen to an entire album without doing anything else.
Sometimes the simplest plans are the best ones.
9. Give Your Cast a Look That Feels Like You
A little company can brighten your day. Enjoy coffee and conversation while showing your style in a red-and-white polka-dot Legz! cast cover. AI-generated models and scene; product design based on a real CastCoverz! photo.
Your cast may be part of your outfit for a while. A favorite color or playful print can make it feel a little more personal.
Armz! arm cast covers and Legz! leg cast covers combine style with everyday function: they help keep casts clean and protect clothing and furniture from snags and scratches.
Choose a print together, coordinate it with an outfit, or pick a subtle solid. Check each product’s sizing instructions before ordering.
Important: Legz! covers are for non-weight-bearing use and must not be walked on. Everyday fabric covers do not provide waterproof protection.
10. Make Two Lists: “Now” and “Later”
On your “now” list, add small pleasures you can enjoy within your restrictions: a new audiobook, a visit from a friend, or a favorite takeout meal.
On your “later” list, collect things you’d like to do once your care team clears you.
There’s no deadline and no pressure to be productive. These are possibilities to look forward to, one day at a time.
Common Questions About Keeping Busy in a Cast
What can you do for fun with a broken arm?
Try activities that don’t depend on your injured arm, such as audiobooks, podcasts, spoken trivia, movies, and conversations with friends. Follow your care team’s instructions about using your hand, wrist, and arm.
How do you stay entertained with a leg cast?
Bring activities to a comfortable seated setup: games, virtual tours, photo projects, and video calls are good starting points. Keep your leg positioned as instructed, and get medical clearance before planning outings.
Can you decorate a cast without painting it?
A removable fabric cast cover is one way to change its appearance without applying paint or glue directly to it. Ask your care team when covering your cast is appropriate, then choose a cover designed for your cast type and intended use.
No one wants to be on crutches. They hurt your hands, your arms, and they certainly hurt your sense of style; and, we all know the frustration of how even the simplest of tasks (carrying keys, a water bottle, cell phone, etc) becomes unmanageable while on crutches. That’s why CastCoverz! brings you the most comfortable, beautiful, expressive, and practical CrutchWear®on the market. But first, let’s talk about some ideas if you’re stuck with those ugly, standard issue crutches.
“Tribal Fusion” designed by one of our very own customers, shown with our original “Go Wild” 5-piece cover set.
Get creative and think outside the box to bling those babies up. How about using some leopard print duct tape and ribbon to fashionize your crutches? Other clever ideas include blinging them up with sparkly rhinestones, covering them up with your favorite stickers or decals, and how about permanent markers? Use colorful markers to create your own design or have your friends and family autograph them. If these ideas don’t strike your fancy or you just aren’t the creative type, ask your friends for suggestions, or better yet…have a crutch decorating party…Oh-so-fun!!! Whatever you do, make them yours! Please send us your pictures. We’ll include your design in future posts.
5-piece crutch cover set in “Hearts to You”
If you’re looking to add comfort and style to your crutches, CastCoverz! Crutchwear crutch covers and bags are made with superior construction and premium fabrics for the ultimate in style and durability. Need vibrant, stylish crutches to perfectly complement our crutch covers? Put away those standard issue crutches and go bold, go colorful with LemonAid designer color crutches, now a CastCoverz! brand.
However you decide to decorate your crutches, have FUN with it and add your own personal touch! If you have to be hobbling around because of an orthopedic injury, you might as well look good doing it! OH…and crutches aren’t the only part of the equation, if you’re wearing an orthotic walking boot or cast, check out our related posts: How to Bling Your Boot! and How to Bling Your Cast!
In support of all those who are fighting the fight and those fighting to find a cure, CastCoverz! will be donating 10% of the net proceeds for the entire month of October to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure fund. Annette d. Giacomazzi, our founder, launched CastCoverz! the same year she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She is definitely a survivor and a thriver!
Bubblegum Pink crutches with “Hearts to You” Crutchwear
“Ribbons of Love”
To honor our Breast Cancer warriors, check out our oh-so-soft “Ribbons of Love” fleece fabric available in Sleeperz! covers for leg and arm casts, and Sleeping Bagz! for orthopedic walking boots. We can’t “Go Pink!” without mentioning our best-selling Bubblegum Pink designer color crutches, too! In fact, we have many pink functional and fashionable cast, splint, brace, and orthopedic walking boot cover fabrics, such as Zebra Diva, Cheetah Girl, Tres Chic and many more! Join the fight today! Go Pink! and support Breast Cancer Awareness!
Did you know the spine and nerves are infamous for referring pain elsewhere? If a portion of your lower back is irritated, you could possibly feel pain in your back, but you may also feel it in your thigh or knee.
rt 3: How to Bling Your Crutches!
