Cast Claustrophobia Syndrome: How to Keep Your Cool in a Cast!

Diagnosis: Cast Claustrophobia Syndrome

Are you in a cast? Are you hot? Of course you are! Doesn’t matter the season, hot or cold, casts get hot. Think about it- you have layers of cotton next to your skin, wrapped with tape and finished with a glue that hardens to form a protective shell. Can you say claustrophobic?

Regardless of age or activity level (even lying on a couch watching tv) humans perspire; it’s our natural body regulating and cooling device!

Wearing a cast prevents this cooling process to occur. The heat you feel radiating from your body is REAL, it’s just trapped inside your cast.

Fighting that sticky discomfort is another uncomfortable part of wearing a cast, regardless of the time of year. When your arm or leg is itchy & hot you might find yourself getting heated and possibly anxious about your cast. At CastCoverz!, we call this Cast Claustrophobia Syndrome.

Luckily, we’ve got some cool suggestions for helping you “keep your chill” while wearing a cast.

Keeping Your Cool

CastCooler: We’ve been a HUGE fan of CastCooler ever since the company made their debut. One determined dad invented this device to help alleviate discomfort while wearing a cast. Their website states, “by creating a gentle vacuum on the outside of your cast or splint, airflow is directed through the lining of your cast/splint. This airflow immediately removes moisture and cools your skin. Without touching your skin, bacteria, itch, and odor are significantly reduced, and your cast stays fresh.” All you need is a vacuum with a hose. Check out their website for more info on this game-changing product, as well as a handful of awesome testimonials!

Oh, and it’s nearly indestructible! So, tuck it up on the top shelf of your medicine cabinet for the next injury in your family (we hope not! 🙂 ) OR we know someone in your circle (friends, neighbors, family, classmates, co-workers) will be in a cast and you can gift it to them! You’ll be loved forevermore for your thoughtful get-well gift.

Staying Hydrated: There are plenty of reasons to stay hydrated throughout the day, but a primary reason is that it helps your body stay cool! Sipping ice-cold water (even if you’re not feeling thirsty) will help lower your body temperature, therefore, cooling off your casted limb. You’d be surprised how much better and energized you feel when you’re well-hydrated!

An Icy Washcloth: Placing a damp washcloth in the freezer for a few hours and then placing it behind your neck or on your forehead is an instant fix for cooling down! While we don’t recommend placing an icy washcloth on your cast, you can try placing it around your elbow or behind your knee near the cast; this will at least help cool off the surrounding areas and wick away sweat in proximity to your cast.

Tip: Keep a good supply of ice packs and/or a bag of frozen peas handy. They can be strategically laid on top of a cast to help cool it (wrap it in a dishcloth to prevent condensation from getting your cast moist).

It’s KEY to avoid getting moisture inside your cast! Moisture and/or getting your cast wet can affect the efficacy of the cast and you could get maceration…a smelly, itchy skin condition. The last thing you want to deal with while healing it this uncomfortable irritant!

Take a Dip with AquaShieldUSA: Who doesn’t want to dip into a pool on a hot summer day?! Maybe you’re planning a trip to the beach and wanting to enjoy the waves? Whatever your hot summer day antidote is, we’ve got you covered! AquaShieldUSA is a watertight cast protector that seals around your limb, allowing you to keep your cast dry as you cool off! Don’t have a pool or a beach? Fill your tub with cool, tepid water! As you can imagine, finding the correct size in this product is essential for proper sealing (no leakage); check out the sizing chart on our website to make sure you cast will be sealed properly for ultimate protection!

Overcoming Cast Claustrophobia Syndrome

At the end of the day, it’s still frustrating to deal with an itchy, smelly cast as temperatures rise! Just remember- this is only temporary! Just as the seasons change, so does the state of your healing injuries. With proper care and rest, you’ll be out of your cast in no time! Stay positive and “keep your cool” while sporting your cast! Don’t let your elusive “cast claustrophobia syndrome” get the best of you.

What creative ways have you or a loved one cooled off while in a cast? Help your fellow members of the Broken Bones Club, by sharing your family-friendly ways to cool off while wearing a cast, below:

Spring-Themed Cast Covers

Armz! Cast Covers for Arm Casts

Armz! in Colorcopia

Armz! in Splatter Blue

Legz! Cast Covers for Leg Casts

Legz! in Neon Tracks

Waterproof Cast Covers

We also have DRYPRO and AquaShieldUSA waterproof cast covers for your arm or leg casts! These make swimming at the pool, beach, or lake a possibility! They are also wonderful for showering and bathing.

At CastCoverz! we make it easy to celebrate Spring because when you feel better, you heal better!

Keep Your Walking Boot, Toes, and Cast Warm and Dry This Winter

3 Replies

Now that the weather is cooling, don’t get caught with your walking boot “knee-deep” in the slush or snow. CastCoverz! BootGuardzXtreme! are weatherproof, water-repellant covers for your orthopedic walking boot, protecting your boot, boot liner, and toes from the rain, snow, and slush. Two years in the making, one year in the testing, BootGuardzXtreme! protects your orthopedic walking boot, boot liner, and toes from EXTREME wind, rain and snow with our made-in-the-USA weather-resistant material. Drawstring closure and tread (sole) of the boot are left exposed for proper footing and safety.

FUN FACT: Just in case you’re heading on a beach vacation this holiday season, our BootGuardz! prevents sand from getting in and on your boot!

If you’re wearing a leg cast, slip on one of our Slickerz! before you go out in the storm. Think of it as a pull-on rain boot! Our full-foot, closed-toe design, and weatherproof fabric will keep your leg cast and toes clean and dry. Not for immersion in water. A drawstring cord gives an added measure of security from rain and snow going down your leg or cast.

Slickerz! shown in Tie Dye and Camo Green

All CastCoverz! products are proudly Made-in-the-USA!

Winter Safety Tips with Crutches

Leave a reply

Helpful information for anyone on crutches this winter season!

Nursing an injury during winter poses many risks and challenges. Any other season seems awkward enough getting around on crutches, but add snow and ice into the mix and disaster awaits. Of course, precautions and steps can be made to reduce the dangers and possibility of further injuries (and without becoming a hermit).

Crutches are going to be dangerous no matter what, but here are 5 safety tips to help you handle the winter months on crutches:

Keep Crutches in Good Working Condition

In order to make sure crutches are as stable as possible, you will want them to be in the best possible working order. Even at the slightest show of wear, get new tips. New tips will help prevent sliding on the snow and ice. Since the tips grip the ground, a little wear can cause an accident. You can also purchase ice grip tips to help get even better traction on snow and ice. Also, make sure the crutches are adjusted to fit you perfectly so you can walk upright as comfortably and slowly as possible.

Use Sand or Salt

Keep some sidewalk salt or sand in your car with you at all times. Whenever you have to get out somewhere that looks slippery spread a little sand or salt right outside your car door so you can get your crutches and steady yourself as safe as possible. You will want to keep your driveway and sidewalks salted as well, but when you have no control over the street conditions, keep that salt and sand handy to do the best at keeping yourself safe.

Alternatives to Crutches

No matter how well you do on crutches, they still pose a risk when used in the winter. The Seated Scooter, for example, is a wheeled device that allows you to sit and scoot yourself from place to place while keeping your bad leg elevated and out of the way. You will remain stable at all times in the seated position and you don’t have to worry about slipping at all. The Knee Scooter works much the same way, only you stand and place the knee of your bad leg on the padded area. You have handlebars to keep you stable and a basket to carry your keys and other items. Even The Hands-Free Crutch is a better option than crutches. This device attaches to your bad leg and allows you to walk much like normal while retaining the use of your hands. Having your hands available to balance you is never a bad thing in the winter.

Ask for Help

Independence is important, but when it comes to your safety, sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Ask friends and family members to run some of your errands for you so you don’t have to venture out into the cold, icy weather. When you do go out, try to have someone meet you at your car to help usher you inside safely. Having one injury is bad enough; you don’t want to add another to it.

Think of Comfort

In order to advance your recovery, you need to think of your comfort, as well as your safety. Things like cold toes can not only be uncomfortable and irritating, but also dangerous in colder temperatures. CastCoverz! Sleeperz! for leg casts (arm casts too!) and Sleeping Bagz! for boots are made from soft fleece to keep your toes warm and cozy, while protecting your sheets from snags and cooties, too! Be sure to check out our Bootz! and BootGuardzXtreme! to keep your toes & boots protected from the elements and clean while wearing a walking boot out in snowy and rainy conditions. Think through other comfort levels and research what you can do to fix them during the winter months.

Safety must be a high priority for you while you recover. And while safety should always be at the forefront, winter creates more obstacles to consider (and are often overlooked). Think ahead and use these tips to get yourself to the other side of the season safely, on crutches.