Jump to content

Menu

We are home from the hospital and dd's surgery went well - Any great FULL CAST tips?


Recommended Posts

She has a full leg cast. The nurse walking us down gave a few helpful tips on doing things. If you have had a child in a full leg cast, please share any helpful advice. I am thinking it is going to be a LONG 6 weeks! Did I mention we just moved to a split level house with stairs. She is still in a good bit of pain from the surgery, but "they" tell me she will feel better in a few days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When my son first broke his leg, we felt so guilty and bad for him that we carried him everywhere. (He was nine.) Then we realized he was scared to use his crutches and that it would be a looong six weeks if he had to depend on us to move around. (Not to mention that he was in ps and needed to be mobile.)

 

So we hardened our hearts and forced him to use his crutches. Fast forward six weeks. The cast came off. The doctor pronounced the leg fully healed . . . and ds wouldn't walk without the crutches. He just didn't believe that his leg would hold him up.

 

Once again, we had to implement tough love and hide the crutches. The first two weeks, he walked like he'd had a stroke. Literally. We went on vacation, and I remember people starting at him as we walked through the airport.

 

But he got stronger and more confident and his gait became closer to normal. It took several months for the last of the limp to go away, but by the end of the summer (he broke his leg in March) he was back to normal.

 

I don't remember much about the cast, other than thinking showers were a lot easier once it finally came off. Oh, and having a step stool in the bathroom so he could rest his leg on it while he was sitting on the toilet helped.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a full leg cast in 5th grade. I remember showers with a large black bag taped to my leg. I remember the itching under the cast. A pair of chopsticks or a back scratcher can help with reaching the itch in the upper leg. I also remember getting to put my leg up on a chair while eating. Stairs going down just need to be done on her bottom for a while. Going up is easier. Just take them one at a time and hop or go up on your bottom also. Extra love and TLC from mom helps a lot at a time like this!;) Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, one of my younger brothers had a full leg cast and it got ITCHY. Back then, you kept the cast on forever (okay, I think it was 6 weeks as he was in Gr 1 or 2). Also, his leg was skinny and covered in dark hair when they took the cast off. I'm mostly posting to say I'm glad it went well!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...