Child not coping with cast on wrist

[EnglishRose1320]

Ds1, (who has asd) had to get a cast today for a broken bone in his wrist. To start with he just had a splint but then they called him back in and said it was actually broken and he needed to have a cast.
The trouble is, he hates it, can't stand the feel of it at all and has become disregulated several times today as a result.

Any tips on ways to make him more comfortable? Things that might make him cope better? I've never had a cast, so have no idea what it feels like.

Can you make it a fun cover? Old sock? Colour it in?

Does he find it heavy? My daughter (also asd) didn't have a cast but had a very thick layer of bandages. She found using a normal style sling uncomfortable but one of the doctors used a long tube bandage which the arm was put through and the two ends tied together. It's hard to describe how the doctor did it but basically put the arm in but at the hand end cut the bandage open so the hand is out but the arm is still inside the tube. And then tied around the neck. It seemed more sturdy than a regular sling which I think took away some of the heaviness.
Also having a cushion to rest the arm on when sat down helped. More for reassurance I think.
Hope his arm heals soon.

Give him a ruler to stick down it. It's soothing and cool. Also helps with itching without scratching.

Do not stick anything down the cast. You could cut the skin and cause an infection. Pretty sure the hospital will have already told you this.

Unfortunately they are hot and heavy. If you can, take the weight off it. A sling or similar with help.

His arm is probably a bit swollen, it will get better and he will get used to it.
Are you giving calpol every 4 hours?

It is a balance thing? If his other arm felt similar would that help regulate him. Obviously can't put a cast on it but if the other arm felt similarly heavy would that help,how to do that I don't know!
This may not be the case with your DS but I know some people with ASD who would find the fact one half of their body feeling different than the other very disregulating

Maybe a silly question, but can you talk to the fracture clinic about his ASD? They may be able to adjust/adapt the cast.

I've got one atm, too. Propping on cushions, using a squishy Bradford sling, paracetamol, and lots of biscuits have helped me.

@gamerchick

Give him a ruler to stick down it. It's soothing and cool. Also helps with itching without scratching.

Please don't stick anything inside the cast!!!!

I agree with regular analgesia and speaking to the fracture clinic. They might be able to change it for a fibre glass type one which is lighter, once any swelling goes down. They often have a range of colours to choose from too. A full arm sling can be supportive if its the weight that is an issue.

We used knitting needles down ours when we were kids to relieve the itching.

Thanks for all the tips. Will definitely make sure he wears the sling again, he was wearing it with the splint.
The feeling balanced might help him actually, I wonder if when he is at his desk, sticking a small bean bag on the other wrist might make them feel the same?
Currently he is refusing pain relief because he says it wasn't helping for the first few days when it was in the splint- I'm assuming that's because the splint wasn't holding it in place enough so the pain was higher? He is very tricky about medicine, finds it hard to understand that it won't magically cure things completely.
He's just had some milk, a biscuit and his sleeping medication and is in bed with a pillow under his arm, so I'm hoping he manages to sleep soon.

Mine is stubborn about medicine too. Often says "it doesn't work". I usually say if you take the medicine and it doesn't work then no problem - but it's better to try rather than not know.
(And the medicine always miraculously works )

I have ASD and am also in a cast! (Leg for me). I hope I can offer you some insight…Is he currently in a temporary plaster of Paris cast? Or did they do fibreglass? Is he under the fracture clinic?

For me, the sensory change has been very difficult. The closest I can compare is like having an itchy label on clothing that scratches. Normally I’d rip out the label or remove the clothing (yup I’m that bad) but this is permanent and big! It is better now I’m in the fibreglass but I had to go back twice to get different casts…they did two plaster of Paris that felt very tight and so heavy. Eventually they comprised and did a fibreglass cast and cut away and section at the front and covered it in bandages (this meant it was able to swell but more comfortable for me). I need regular painkillers to be able to feel close to comfortable. I found it better when I placed ice over the cast where the break is (it’s okay as long as it’s water tight) or blow cold air down the cast from a hairdryer. He can also tap on the cast to help with itching. Keep it elevated as much as possible too.

I got a full fibreglass cast after two weeks. It’s much lighter and I am able to manoeuvre better since I had it (I’m on crutches) but it’s very itchy still. I’m counting down the days til it comes off. So in conclusion, yes it is very uncomfortable for most people, difficult to tolerate if you have sensory problems. Icing, tapping, painkillers and cold hairdryers can help but if he’s in a plaster of Paris cast I’d try to get him seen in the fracture clinic and see if they can switch to a fibreglass cast. Hope that helps!

@trumpisagit

His arm is probably a bit swollen, it will get better and he will get used to it. Are you giving calpol every 4 hours?

Every 4 hours over a 24 hour period would be an overdose.

Two of my children are ASD and a few years ago now, both of them broke the same arm in a similar place within 4 days of each other. That was an interesting conversation with the consultant!

Both of them had wet plaster casts in the first instance going through A&E. Once we had been referred to the fracture clinic both were replaced with dry light weight coloured casts. They both coped much better with these. In fact all the upset and disregulation stopped straight away.

I'm hoping this might be the same for your son.