Bone healing and caring for a cast

Have you ever been in an arm or leg cast? I have. Twice, in fact. First, when I was just three months old and my mom accidentally tripped while carrying me. Second, when I sprained my left hand after a fall. To be sure, having a cast is inconvenient and can be quite annoying. However, we just have to learn to live with it.

 I would sincerely like to thank my orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Ida Tacata, who also specialized as a hand surgeon. I am grateful to Dr. Ida for diagnosing me correctly and for insisting that my hand be placed in a cast for six weeks. “It’s for your own good, Willie. No excuses,” she says firmly, knowing that some doctors can be hard-headed.

 During the time that my hand was in a cast, I learned important lessons on how to manage having a cast and how to make our bones, ligaments, and tendons heal faster.

 First lesson: Don’t treat yourself. After an accident, see your orthopedic doctor immediately. The sooner you get to consult, the better. Some fractures can still be corrected if seen by the doctor quickly. Waiting for it to heal by itself is counterproductive and may result in a deformed arm or leg.

 Second, I learned that a cast is best for broken bones and bad sprains. The doctor uses a cast to immobilize and protect your injured bone and surrounding structures. It usually takes four to six weeks of “no movement” for the injury to heal quickly and properly.

Cast care DO's

• Do complain if the cast is too tight or too loose. While your cast is being molded, make sure that it is the right fit for you. If the cast is made too tight, this can restrict blood flow into your arm or leg and cause serious complications. If the cast is too loose and your arm moves around freely, this might defeat the purpose of immobilizing the limb.

• Keep your cast dry. When you take a bath, make sure that you wrap your cast securely in a plastic bag so it won’t get wet. Sweat can also make the cast smell awful. Limit your exercise routine while in a cast.

• Keep the cast elevated most of the time. One way to reduce swelling of the injured area is to elevate the limb above the level of your heart. Especially in the first two days, you need to keep the hand or leg elevated for better healing. At night, I prop my arm cast on a pillow.

• Move the other parts of your extremity. If your arm is in a cast, you can still move your fingers and shoulders. A downside of having a cast is that it weakens and stiffens your muscles and ligaments. Once the cast is removed, you need to ask your doctor how to slowly rehabilitate your arm or leg.

• Check the cast regularly. If there are cracks or breaks in the cast, you should inform your doctor. Loose and rough edges in the cast can be trimmed down by a strong scissor or smoothened by a nail file.

• Cool your cast. One trick I learned while in a cast was to periodically cool my hand with an electric fan or air-conditioner. This can reduce sweating and keep you feeling cool. For my exposed arm and fingers, I use alcohol to clean these areas.

• Periodically check your fingers or toes (the one with the cast). Because there’s the danger of having a tight cast and impeding the blood flow to your arm or leg, you should make sure that your exposed fingers or toes are warm and pink. If they change in color or feel numb, see your doctor immediately. As an emergency measure, keep your arm or leg elevated above the level of your heart.

Cast Care Don’ts

• Don’t insert anything inside your cast. Even when it’s darn itchy, resist the urge to scratch the inside of your cast with a stick, a hanger or what have you. You might injure yourself. And although this rarely happens, you should be careful not to let insects get inside your cast.

• Don’t wet your cast. One acrobatic trick you shouldn’t do is to try to take a shower while stretching your arm away from the flowing water. Believe me, you’ll lose your concentration and wet your cast. The solution: Wrap your arm or leg in a plastic bag while bathing.

• Don’t exercise too much while in a cast. The sweat and moisture inside the cast may cause bacteria and fungi to grow and lead to a foul smell. The best way to prevent a stinky cast is to prevent it from smelling bad in the first place.

Tips To Heal Faster

• Quit smoking. Studies show that those who continue to smoke are at a higher risk of having a poor union (connection) of the bones. Smoking somehow impedes the normal blood flow to the bone, hampering the delivery of important nutrients for healing.

• Have a balanced diet. Make sure you eat enough fruits, vegetables, and protein for the day.

• Calcium is good for the bones. Fish and milk products are high in calcium and may help in bone healing. You don’t really need to take a calcium supplement; just focus on a well-balanced diet.

• Ask and follow your doctor strictly. Changing your treatment or bargaining with your doctor may be counterproductive and result in a deformed limb and delayed healing. If surgery is being considered, there is no harm in asking for a second opinion. Remember, our orthopedic surgeons, like Dr. Ida Tacata, are the experts in all things related to bone health.