Cast Off How To Travel And Take Care Of Your Cast Too

You've been planning a vacation for months. You've gone over your packing list and you are just now in countdown mode when it happens. A simple broken bone that now results in a cast on your arm. Do you have to cancel your trip? Nope, you don't! You will have to tweak your carefully laid travel plans a bit to make some accommodations, but you can still have a great vacation.

When you are getting your cast, be sure to mention to the orthopedist that you are planning to travel away from home. A cast will help keep your broken bone immobilized allowing the muscles, tendons and ligaments to heal too, and it should not hinder your every day activities too much. However, you will have to make some allowances:

Make sure that you have detailed instructions from your orthopedist about the care of your cast. What do you do when you shower or swim? Are there any activities that you can and cannot do?

Your orthopedist should give you a list of symptoms to watch for in case there are any problems with your cast. You should not feel severe pain, numbness, and temperature changes to the skin or red streaking from under the cast. These are all signs of complications and possible infection.

Ask about ways to keep your cast dry. There are waterproof shields you can purchase. You can also rig some plastic bags and cover your cast as a backup.

If your cast gets wet from the rain or some other source, you can use a hair dryer to dry it up. Use a low setting about a foot and a half away from the affected areas to dry. In a pinch, you could use the hand dryers in the public restrooms too.

Never try to remove the cast on your own. If you are out of town and your cast becomes cracked or damaged, you should get to a hospital as soon as you can to get a temporary cast or splint until you can get home and see your regular orthopedist.

Finally, while you may get some itches under that cast, never stick anything down there to try and relieve the itch. That means no powders, rulers, chopsticks, lotions or any other foreign objects.

If your doctor suggests using a sling or crutches, follow their instructions. After a few days, you may not need them. However, if possible, bring them with you on your trip. Sometimes, the weight of the cast and wear you're your arm or leg or whatever you broke. The crutches or sling help alleviate the pressure and ache from manipulating your cast area.

A broken bone, while painful at first, does not have to slow you down. Now, if it has happen within a day or two of your departure, it would be best if you could postpone your travels for a day or two until you become accustomed to your cast. This delay will also allow some swelling and pain to dissipate. Most importantly, just follow the instructions left to you by your orthopedist. As long as you take some minor precautions, you should still have a great vacation.

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