Raven broke her wrist.

Alicia · Senior Member

Raven broke her wrist.

Sonya · Guru

OH man! That sucks, Alicia!

I hope she's a good patient for you.

Don't feel too bad. It could happen to anyone!

Poor Raven.

(I have no experience (knock on wood) so I have no advice)

3s_a_crowd · Guru

poor girl and poor mommy. dont feel too bad you did tell her to do something else.

i have no clue about this but hope she feels better soon

a_mastermom · Guru

Alicia, Natalie has broken both her arm and her leg. With her arm, she had a waterproof cast, so she was able to fully submerge it in water...baths were no problem. The waterproof cast cost an extra $85 since it wasn't covered by insurance, but was well worth the money.

Unfortunately, when she broke her leg, our orthopedic stopped using the waterproof casts. The affiliated hospital claimed that they weren't as strong and therefore would not allow him to use them anymore. The orthopedic didn't really seem to think there was a difference in quality between a waterporoof cast and a standard cast, but he complied with the hospital as a matter of course. So, with her leg, bathtime became much more of a hassle. We used plastic bags and duck tape for a while. Then a neighbor lent me this (http://www.activeforever.com/p-1403-xerosox-waterproof-cast-cover.aspx) and it was an absolute lifesaver. They come is small sizes for kids and we used it everyday for baths.

Natalie had both casts on for about 4 weeks. Surprisingly, she didn't complain much about them after the first few days - really when the pain from the breaks subsided. You will be surprised, kids are much more laid back about these things than adults are. She also was not that itchy either, which was a big concern for me. The ortho said to use baby powder for the itch, but it never really became an issue for us.

When Natalie broke her arm, her cast was from the wrist to above the elbow, but she did not use a sling. I would imagine that with a broken wrist, the cast will probably be below the elbow. I don't really remember her using her fingers much. Natalie broke her right arm, which was her dominant arm, and actually started eating and drawing with her left hand to compensate. It was pretty amazing to watch.

One other thing - don't be concerned if Raven needs some form of physical therapy after the cast comes off. And also don't expect her to have full use of her arm for about 2 weeks after the cast comes off. There is still a certain amount of healing that occurs after the fact. Also, remember to bring a ton of baby wipes on cast removal day...when those casts come off, they are stinky!!

Let me know if you have any other specific questions.

-- Edited by a_mastermom on Monday 7th of June 2010 07:35:00 PM

Michele · Senior Member

I'm so sorry to hear this! I hope she isn't hurting too badly. Please don't feel guilty either. I let my kids climb alone all the time on the playground.

They always wait 5-7 days for swelling to go down before casting. Now about waterproof casts; I do know about this. Anna had both her legs casted for her foot/leg disorder and they used waterproof casts. The company that makes them is Gortex. It's not that the cast themselves cost so much but that they require a special application and not all offices are trained in applying them. They are amazing though and are completely waterproof. They actually want you to bathe in them everyday so all the skin and dirt is washed out. Anna's exczema cleared up on both her legs while she was casted and they said that is actually very common in kids who have the waterproof casts. Beg and plead if you can for one. I know Malin did when her son broke his leg. She actually bought the supplies from the manufacturer and brought it to the ortho's office for them to apply when they said they couldn't get them!

Please keep us posted on how she is doing. Thinking of her.

Sara · Guru

I am so sorry. I have no advice as far as casts.

Alison · Guru

Aww, poor Raven and poor you!

Alicia · Senior Member

a_mastermom wrote:

Alicia, Natalie has broken both her arm and her leg. With her arm, she had a waterproof cast, so she was able to fully submerge it in water...baths were no problem. The waterproof cast cost an extra $85 since it wasn't covered by insurance, but was well worth the money.

Unfortunately, when she broke her leg, our orthopedic stopped using the waterproof casts. The affiliated hospital claimed that they weren't as strong and therefore would not allow him to use them anymore. The orthopedic didn't really seem to think there was a difference in quality between a waterporoof cast and a standard cast, but he complied with the hospital as a matter of course. So, with her leg, bathtime became much more of a hassle. We used plastic bags and duck tape for a while. Then a neighbor lent me this (http://www.activeforever.com/p-1403-xerosox-waterproof-cast-cover.aspx) and it was an absolute lifesaver. They come is small sizes for kids and we used it everyday for baths.

Natalie had both casts on for about 4 weeks. Surprisingly, she didn't complain much about them after the first few days - really when the pain from the breaks subsided. You will be surprised, kids are much more laid back about these things than adults are. She also was not that itchy either, which was a big concern for me. The ortho said to use baby powder for the itch, but it never really became an issue for us.

When Natalie broke her arm, her cast was from the wrist to above the elbow, but she did not use a sling. I would imagine that with a broken wrist, the cast will probably be below the elbow. I don't really remember her using her fingers much. Natalie broke her right arm, which was her dominant arm, and actually started eating and drawing with her left hand to compensate. It was pretty amazing to watch.

One other thing - don't be concerned if Raven needs some form of physical therapy after the cast comes off. And also don't expect her to have full use of her arm for about 2 weeks after the cast comes off. There is still a certain amount of healing that occurs after the fact. Also, remember to bring a ton of baby wipes on cast removal day...when those casts come off, they are stinky!!

Let me know if you have any other specific questions.

-- Edited by a_mastermom on Monday 7th of June 2010 07:35:00 PM

If I can't get her in a waterproof cast I will get that cover. Thanks for posting that. I haven't even attempted to give her a bath in what she has on. I really hope the cast is below the elbow. She hates the sling but how they have it wrapped when she stretches out her arm it puts a lot of pressure on the back of her upper arm so I try to keep her in the sling.

I think someone needs to tell her she broke her wrist.LOL She isn't complaining about anything except the sling and her fingers being stuck. It's funny watching her trying to play the gameboy with her good and hand and poking it with the other. She goes on like nothing happened. She made my SIL so nervous last night when she was playing outside. Thankfully I'm over that but wrapping her in bubble wrap couldn't hurt.

Alicia · Senior Member

Michele wrote:

I'm so sorry to hear this! I hope she isn't hurting too badly. Please don't feel guilty either. I let my kids climb alone all the time on the playground.

They always wait 5-7 days for swelling to go down before casting. Now about waterproof casts; I do know about this. Anna had both her legs casted for her foot/leg disorder and they used waterproof casts. The company that makes them is Gortex. It's not that the cast themselves cost so much but that they require a special application and not all offices are trained in applying them. They are amazing though and are completely waterproof. They actually want you to bathe in them everyday so all the skin and dirt is washed out. Anna's exczema cleared up on both her legs while she was casted and they said that is actually very common in kids who have the waterproof casts. Beg and plead if you can for one. I know Malin did when her son broke his leg. She actually bought the supplies from the manufacturer and brought it to the ortho's office for them to apply when they said they couldn't get them!

Please keep us posted on how she is doing. Thinking of her.

That is one of the reasons I decided to send her to the pediatric ortho specialists. I'm pretty sure most parents would want their kids in waterproof and hopefully that is an option. The lady who bandaged her up said she wouldn't be able to get her cast wet. She had 11 broken bones due to cheerleading and never had a waterproof cast. She was probable in her late 20's so maybe that wasn't an option 10 years ago.

Supafly · Guru

We haven't had casts (and I have never had one either), so I don't have advice, but I am so sorry!!

And I agree with the others-don't feel guilty. We go to the park and I let the kids climb stuff by themselves all the time. They are still more timid than some of their peers, which is probably why we haven't had broken bones yet, but seriously-it could happen to anyone.

sbucking · Guru

Oh man! Hang in there!!

Braydon didn't get a waterproof cast so we used a special cast cover that worked great. Hopefully she'll be able to get a waterproof cast as it is summer time!

Luckily kids' bones heal fast so she shouldn't need to cast for too long.

crystal · Guru

Supafly wrote:

We haven't had casts (and I have never had one either), so I don't have advice, but I am so sorry!!

And I agree with the others-don't feel guilty. We go to the park and I let the kids climb stuff by themselves all the time. They are still more timid than some of their peers, which is probably why we haven't had broken bones yet, but seriously-it could happen to anyone.

ita about not feeling guilty! it could happen to anyone for sure.

i'm so sorry she broke it. poor raven :(

Michele · Senior Member

I am pretty sure they are fairly new (in the last decade). I can't believe how few doctors use the waterproof casts/liners but then I guess you have to consider my location (FL). Anna's Ortho told me he was the largest buyer of the Gortex waterrpoof supplies in the nation. He sure knows what he's doing. $$$$.

I'm so glad to hear Raven is doing well and feeling okay despite everything.

LucsMama · Senior Member

How is Raven doing?

Alicia · Senior Member

LucsMama wrote:

How is Raven doing?

She is doing great. Her cast appointment got moved to Thursday(was suppose to be today). So almost 2 weeks in what she has on. The bandage was getting really dirty so now I keep a baby leg on it. The only thing she can't do is pull her shorts up/down for the bathroom so I have to help her. Thanks for asking.

LucsMama · Senior Member

Glad she is doing so great!