Tag Archives: Orthopedic cast covers

8 Things You Must Know About Wearing a Cast

If you have injured a bone or ligament, or had surgery, your doctor may choose to apply a cast.  A cast will immobilize the injured area to allow healing.  Wearing a cast will feel awkward and inconvenient, but here are some important things you should know.

5 Things You Must Know About Wearing a Cast:

1.  The most important thing you must know about wearing a cast is to keep it DRY!  This is the #1 request of orthopedic doctors.  If your cast gets wet and becomes gooey inside, your skin could get raw and quite possibly infected (ewww), while the cast loses it’s integrity…Oh No!  Fear not, CastCoverz! will help you keep your cast dry, clean, and scratch & snag-free with fabric cast covers and waterproof cast protectors, which allow you to bathe and swim, while keeping your cast dry!  If you have to be injured, might as well add some personality with cast covers and have a little fun with waterproof protectors!

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2.  Keep your broken bone elevated above the level of your heart, especially in the first 24-48 hours.  This will be crucial in helping reduce the swelling and pain.

3.  Know that it is very normal to lose muscle mass in the area that is casted.  When your cast is removed, you will notice your arm or leg being very scrawny and weak (gasp!,) this is to be expected.  No worries, you’ll gain your muscle mass back in no time!

4.  Do not stick anything inside your cast, especially sharp objects to scratch an itch.  This can cause a skin breakdown, your incision to get infected, or your item could get lost in the abyss of your cast (uh-oh!)  If you have an itch, try the CastCooler®.  This dad-invented product reduces itch and keeps your cast fresh and odor-free by drying out the moisture in the lining.  All you need is the hose of your vacuum cleaner!  It’s a BLAST of fresh air for your icky, stinky, itchy cast.

5.  Feeling claustrophobic from your cast? With the CastCooler, the cool, fresh air will relieve that stifling feeling.  What a relief!  Side benefit of the CastCooler:  It will dry out your cast, if accidentally spilled or splashed on, especially these hot summer days!

6.  Your cast will scratch and catch everything in sight…your favorite sweater, those expensive Egyptian sheets, car upholstery, Fido the family dog, Grandma’s dining room table, and everything you can imagine!  Keep your cast clean and protect your favorite items and people by wearing CastCoverz! daily! These fashionable and functional cast covers come in a wide variety of fabrics from solid colors to bold, vibrant prints.

7.  Casts get dirty and are just plain ugly!  Prevent daily grime, spaghetti sauce, and coffee stains from putting a damper on your day.  It’s bound to happen, but with CastCoverz!, you’re covered because we care!  Our fabric cast covers will hide the grime and give your cast some personality.  Go bold, go beautiful, or stay neutral with our wide variety of fabrics.  Simply remove and hand wash to keep your cover clean.

8.  Please call your doctor if you experience any of the following; swelling, fever, cast feels too tight or too loose, cast breaks or cracks, or if you have ANY questions or concerns about your condition or care of your cast.

For more info on cast care, check out the following article:  Care of Casts and Splints by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.  With proper cast care, a cast will do it’s job and promote healing effectiveness!

 

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How to Stay Cool During the Summer on Crutches

The summer heat can make anyone miserable, but if you have to spend it on crutches, you are worse off than ever before. Having your injured foot or ankle in a walking boot or cast will only make that area sweat even more. Not to mention itch! There are ways you can stay cool during the summer months, even if you have a non-weight bearing injury. Here are some ideas to help you out.

Utilize the CastCooler for Comfort and Relief
girlwcast_261One of the best things you can do for yourself, while in a cast, is invest in a CastCooler. The CastCooler is a great device you simply wrap around your cast, attach to a standard vacuum cleaner hose, turn the vacuum on, and voila, the air removes moisture from the lining under your cast. It will leave you with a cool, fresh feeling that will help you from getting itchy in places you can’t access and keep your cast dry. When your injured area feels cool and fresh, the rest of you will feel cool as well.

Get an Alternative to Crutches
Goodbye Crutches Knee ScooterCrutches take a lot of work and when you’re moving around in the summer heat, you’re going to get hot fast. With the Hands Free Crutch, you can walk much like normal and get around very quickly. The Knee Scooter is easy to use and when you scoot yourself fast enough, you can even make your own breeze. The Seated Scooter allows you to sit and move around so you can rest and keep the sweating to a minimum.

Stay Inside
When the weather predictors are telling you about heat warnings and the danger of a high heat index, you should stay inside and keep cool. Your health is a priority during the recovery process and if you have to spoil yourself a little by staying in the cool air conditioning, then do so.

Drink More Water
One of the ways to help yourself feel cooler on the outside is by keeping your insides hydrated. Drink cool water continuously while you are out in the heat. You will feel better and the water will help keep you cool. You can also put the cool bottle on the back of your neck, forehead, or wherever else is feeling hot to give you some temporary relief.

Submerge in Water with DryPro
DryPro customer

If you have a cast on your foot, you can’t just jump into a pool, unless you have the DryPro Waterproof Cast Protector.  But, that doesn’t mean you can’t at least put one foot in the water. Use your kid’s little blow up pool and sink one foot into the cool water while you watch them play. You might even ask the kids to squirt you with their squirt guns this year!

CastCoverz!

Group Photo with CCZ products and AdGIn order to feel a different kind of cool, take a look at the variety of CastCoverz! you can purchase to hide or jazz up your plain, boring cast, while keeping it clean and snag-free! CastCoverz! provides FUNctional and fashionable orthopedic accessories such as cast covers, walking boot covers, designer color crutches & crutch pads, in addition to comfort and care products. Take the attention off your injury and put it onto your fun and fashionable cast cover instead!

Staying cool during the hot summer months can be a challenge, especially with a non-weight bearing injury. But with a little planning and the above tips, you can ward off a little bit of the misery!

Put a Spring In Your Step Despite Your Orthopedic Injury

Guest Post by GoodBye Crutches

Spring is on the verge of bursting through the seams of Winter and you can’t enjoy it because you can only bear weight on one foot! Don’t worry, even though the recovery process will still be hard, there are things you can do to put a spring in your step and enjoy the nicer weather, beautiful flowers, and all of the other perks that come along with the new season. Here are just a few things you can do:

-Cover your Cast!

Legz_ClassicCheetah_WO_560__04869.1378873283.165.165The cast on your foot probably already looks old and gloomy, even if you just got it put on last week. In order to brighten up your attitude and your appearance, browse through the variety of CastCoverz! fun and functional orthopedic accessories available and see what fits your style and your wardrobe. You can get something that would go with everything or a few stand-out selections. Welcome this new season with an update to your cast’s appearance.

-Make Your Mobility Easier

If you have been suffering on crutches all Winter long, there’s only one way to go thisGoodbye Crutches Knee Scooter Spring. Choose an alternative to crutches and you will soon find that you can go where you want and do what you want to do. Goodbye Crutches has three options, all of which are easier than crutches. The Hands Free Crutch is a great option for those who want to walk much like normal and retain the use of both hands. The Knee Scooter can help you scoot from place to place even faster than before. And the Seated Scooter allows you to sit and scoot, so you can save your energy for the things you really want to do.

-Get Fresh Air

You’ve likely been cooped up inside all Winter long, nursing your injury, and now that the weather is nicer, it’s time to get out and breathe in the fresh air that Spring brings. It’ll make every part of your day better. Plus, if you have a mobility device from Goodbye Crutches, getting outside is easier and sometimes even downright fun!

-Make Plans

With any luck, your doctor has given you a range of dates for your recovery. You won’t know exactly when you’ll be able to walk on both legs again, but you have an idea. Spend the Spring making plans. Whether you want to plant a garden, go on vacation, or simply take the kids to the zoo over the summer, making plans will help you look toward the future and forget about the pain of the recovery process.

-Eat Right

The best way to give yourself energy during the recovery process, and aid the process along as fast as possible, is to fuel your body with the proper nutrition. You may not always feel like eating healthy meals, but once your body gets used to it, you will notice a definite spring in your step and you will enjoy the extra energy you have to use in the warmer weather.

Sure, you’re still stuck on one leg, but don’t let that ruin this beautiful Spring season. Use these tips to help put a spring in your step…even if you can only step with one leg!

 

Have Style and Enjoy Comfort with CastCoverz!

We LOVE to hear what our customers are saying about our products AND customer service, and we sure do appreciate the time taken to email, share on Facebook, or blog about CastCoverz! and how our products have comforted orthopedic patients.

Our most recent review was done by one of our customers and fashion blogger, Alison Gary, and was featured on her blog, Wardrobe Oxygen Personal Style by Alison Gary, which provides real-world fashion advice for all women, regardless of age, figure, lifestyle, or budget.

Classic Cheetah Alison GaryIn Alison’s “All the Newness!” post, she shares her personal experience of  breaking her arm and her recovery.  She speaks about CastCoverz! glowingly, “They’re so much fun and especially nice now that my cast is at the dingy grody stage…CastCoverz! also sells items to make your healing process more comfortable, crutch accessories, mitts and boots for snow and cold weather, waterproof covers, and this genius item called a CastCooler…it cools and dries your cast and feels aaaahhhh-mazing!”  Our favorite part is, “Best thing about CastCoverz! is the service – quick shipping and each order comes with a sweet personalized handwritten note.”

To read her review in full and for fabulous fashion advice, check out her blog, Wardrobe Oxygen Personal Style by Alison Gary!  Feel Better, Heal Better with CastCoverz!