cast help

[madein1995]

Hi I'm in a cast for a few weeks due to dislocating my knee. All fine (well as it can be) except my cast (full length) is rubbing my ankle and its really quite sore. Don't want to go back to a and e as already had to have cast changed (got it wet in the loo) so afraid they'll get sick of e of I go agai! Its really sore (worse than my knee pain at times which isn't right!) Friends have suggested putting socks on to protect ankle, or plasters, and will get mum to do it when home at weekend. Does anyone have any advice?

Can you phone them as ask for some advice ?
If the cast is runnig and you get skin irritation or an infection you ll need the cast changes anyway. I wouldn't feel bad about going back. You might need it adjusted. Better get it adjusted than develop an infection/ pressure area.
If you can reach or see the area if skin tha s sore you could see if you can get some protective plasters too maybe ?!

Thing is some of my uni flatmates are being really arsey over the whole thing (i know I shouldn't live my life according to them...) basically told me that I should've paid to get a new cast, and I'm worried what they'll say if I come back with yet another new cast. Plus worried that the NHS will make me pay for it.

You really need to go back as you do not want to end up with an infected pressure sore , no one will mind how many times it needs redoing it's really not your fault .

Thanks both ?? I think ill get my mother to look at It when I'm home and then ring nhsv direct for advice. If my 'friends' get annoyed then they can, they don't know what the pain is like - I'm not one to whinge at trivial pain.

If it's rubbing your ankle it needs to be changed to avoid infection, your GP should be able to refer you to the fracture clinic rather than back through A&E.don't listen to your flatmates, if a cast is causing a problem dye to the way it is fitted that's not your fault!

As im going home for the weekend (Thursda-Monday) would it be best trying to get an emergency gp appointment at my surgery at home (not registered) to get it looked at, or waiting til I'm back in uni town (Monday) and making appointment to see gp then?

I would think probably best to see a GP at uni, as they will need to refer you to the fracture clinic I imagine, however, you might to need to actually see the GP, they may well because to speak to you on the phone as perhaps try ringing the surgery in the morning and explain the situation and see if they do telephone appointments (many do).

Yes, uni GP for fracture clinic referral, they might be able to swap it for a light weight fibreglass one or maybe just trim the existing one

Your home GP won't be able to refer to the uni fracture clinic

If it's really sore 4 days is a long time to leave it and I suggest you get it looked at by either your GP or local A&E asap after you've arrived home.

Would u say perhaps go to a and e tonight before going home? Or would I be wasting their time?

Look, if a cast is put on in such a way that it s rubbing and causing a pressure area, it s not your fault.
Go back to the place that put it on and get them to fix it.
I mean this kindly - but you re really overthinking it.
Who gives a monkeys what your mates think or what the staff in the clinic think fgs.
This kind of thing happens regularly (I work in allied health). Usually when a cast is put on you re given an advice sheet on how to take care of it and where to phone if you have concerns around it (such as rubbing pressure areas or sores or too tight). Just contact the place where you got it put on ask them to fix it.

Phone your regular GP surgery now and ask them.

You won't be wasting anybody's time getting this looked at.

If you've got time to go to A&E before you travel home, go - if not, go to the nearest A&E when you're home tomorrow.

Thanks everyone. Right, plan is to go to A and E at home tomorrow. Mums working early in the morning (thats why we can't go to one in uni town tonight), however me and dad will get the bus down 2morrow to get it sorted out. As a side note, never ever go on a surf simulator, despite the bouncy castle like landing they're not safe.

I had my hand and arm in a cast up to my shoulder after a skiing accident and, by the time it was due to be removed 6 weeks later, I'd hacked most of it off and there was some 3 inches left around my wrist and umpteen pins protruding from my forearm.

For the pain of broken bones, nothing beats vodka - purely medicinal of course.

New plan. Mother has protected ankle with plasters, dressings and 20 year old medical tape. Plan for tomorrow is enforced rest (gotta love parents! Dad - retired - is under strict instructions to make sure I don't use my leg a lot apparently). Then Saturday is a and e day to get my ankle looked at and a new cast. According to mam ankle looks bad but plasters etc should help until Saturday. Although God help me when the dressing/20 year old tape falls off and its up to dad to help get it back on!

Ice in a sandwich bad insulated with a tea towel might help keep swelling and therefore rubbing down. Keep your leg elevated higher than your heart when sitting too

Have been to A and E and saw a very nice nurse. the plasterer wasn't in today so they couldn't remove the cast, but she did remove a bit off the bottom of cast and clean and dress my wounds. she was quite concerned at them and amazed they hadn't become infected, apparently they were quite bad. My ankles are already comfier. Was told to have complete rest for the rest of the weekend and Monday when I go back to uni, stop off in a and e down there - told to explain that I've seen local a and e who've patched me up a little but nurse reccomends I be seen by plasterer, as I can't have this cast left on (when cut falls down leg after time) and if I have another cast that rubs I'm at risk of getting a pressure sore and getting infected. Very nice lady, was very surprised that when the plasterer changed my cast last week as it was rubbing he didn't check my sore ankle! Also told me I need to be firm and make sure the ankle is properly seen to, not just another cast put on without ankle being looked at. Thanks so much ladies. Everyone in rl had me convinced I was being a wuss, on here was where I was taken seriously and persuaded to get it seen to, good job I did or it couldve been a lot worse!

Good result , if you have a wound that needs dressing they will have to accommodate that with the new plaster .

Relieved to hear you've had it looked at and it's no surprise that you're going to need a new cast.

In future listen to your body and not your flatmates! If you're in persistent pain or discomfort it means there's something wrong that needs medical attention sooner rather later.

Is there any way you can get back to your local a&e before you go back to uni? It may be worth missing a lecture to get it sorted where it seems the staff know what they're doing and you may need a few more days at home to help your ankle wounds heal.

If it's been a few weeks since the injury ask if you can have a shorter cast, but if not make sure they protect your ankle before a new one's put on.

With regard to the cause of your injury, I suggest you take advice from one those ambulance chasing law firms that advertise on tv as you may have a claim.