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Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/8/2009 1:03:25 PM   
MissMorrigan


Posts: 2309
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		It's driving me insane! I have a full cast on my left leg. The itching it along the shin towards the foot and I can't get at it to alleviate it. I don't want to shove anything sharp down it as my skin is generally dry due to eczema and it would just exacerbate it.

Does anyone have any useful suggestions or experience with this - I prefer not to remove my leg at this juncture


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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/8/2009 1:09:30 PM   
angel4hopew8ting


Posts: 5
Joined: 3/8/2009
Status: offline 		Hello Maam, have you tried some medicated powder, like gold bond, or something, and maybe a knitting needle with a cloth covering it, so you can at least rub it with something.. ( i know your not supposed to but itching is enought to drive you psycho!) hope that helps

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/8/2009 1:14:13 PM   
MissMorrigan


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Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		LOL I'm more than halfway to psychosis presently, Angel. Thank you for those suggestions... I just wish I had a knitting needle. Oooh, actually, I'll improvise. Reality, get me those sounds! Muhaha

^^ I did say I was well on the way


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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/8/2009 1:23:29 PM   
sluna


Posts: 5
Joined: 8/27/2007
Status: offline 		Don't untwist, but pull the bottom down on a clothes hanger, making a very narrow, elongated diamond.  It will slide in and out of your cast smoothly, and feel soooo good. 

Hope you're all recovered soon.

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/8/2009 1:27:34 PM   
MissMorrigan


Posts: 2309
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		Excellent idea, thank you, Sluna. In my desperation, after shoving a sound down the front of it with a wet wipe on the end, I lost the wet wipe and the alcohol in it started burning my shin - oooh the stupid things we do in desperation! I have since retrieved the wet wipe and the burning has lessoned... at least it lessened the itching somewhat.

Thank you for your well wishes, that's kind of you.


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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/8/2009 1:57:05 PM   
RCdc


Posts: 8674
Status: offline 		My daughter has eczema and takes antihistamine (cetrazine) which really helped.(Doctors advice).  Available from a pharmacy.
 
the.dark.

< Message edited by Darcyandthedark -- 4/8/2009 1:58:37 PM >

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/8/2009 2:28:01 PM   
kiwisub12


Posts: 4742
Joined: 1/11/2006
Status: offline 		One of the reasons you aren't supposed to shove things down your cast is that they can get lost down there - and cause pressure on your skin. I have never forgotten the picture in a medical book of the sore on the skin in the shape of a toothbrush!!!!!

Be careful,  very very careful! (spoken to the sound of Bugs Bunny talking)   -   and poor you, full length casts are miserable.

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/8/2009 5:51:35 PM   
maybemaybenot


Posts: 2817
Joined: 9/22/2005
Status: offline 		I have used an 18 inch ruler and cut a peice of old cloth to cover the last 6 inches. Then wrap silk tape around and around and around it, making sure to secure it tightly to the wood above the 6 inch mark.  The silk tape is " scratchy enough to do the trick. I have short legs so the 18 inch ruler can't get lost inside th cast.

I have also used the same ruler and wrapped it with a few layers of saran wrap and secured it very well with tape at the top and applied  anti itch lotion, such as Sarna or Gold Bond Ultimate healing lotion. You need to apply it in tiny amounts, or you will have a mucky cast. It helps quite a bit.

As a nurse, I have to tell you not to do this. As someone who has had her share of casts, I have done it every time, the itching drives me nuts.

                                             

                                             mbmbn

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/9/2009 1:22:00 AM   
MissMorrigan


Posts: 2309
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		@ the.dark. Thank you for that suggestion, I hadn't thought of taking antihistamine which is rather stupid given I have plenty of it in my medicine cabinet.

@ kiwisub. Ouch! I understand why items aren't meant to be shoved down a cast to alleviate the itching, but damn, when that itch grabs a person, it becomes so intense all sensibilities are lost - and there's no good sex at the end of it to justify it, just temporary relief from the itching which comes back with a vengeance. I can imagine the poor person's pain and frustration when they lost that toothbrush down their cast. I have been known to give in to moment's sheer stupidity, but thank goodness they're always moments that are easily rectified.

@ mbmbn Thanks for those suggestions. I haven't seen those products in the Uk, so doubt I'd find them here. I am getting an 18" ruler today! Having very dry skin which needs to be emoliated every day, it's obviously dried out and flaking. I'm going to be in seventh heaven when I shove that ruler down there and manage to get some cream in there, albeit minute quantities. I use diprobase as I have to be careful with my skin and it's one of the few base creams I don't react to.

The cast should have already been removed by now so that the specialist can check on the healing progress of my achilles, removing the sutures before reapplying a new cast to adjust my foot in a correct position. Due to long waiting lists, I have to wait an additional two weeks and each time I  move I can feel the sutures pulling/rubbing against the cast making it ever so sore. Ouchies! I know consultants have a rep as sadists, but you'd think that to benefit fully they'd need to see their patients more frequently so that they know just how much discomfort they're inflicting 



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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/9/2009 4:07:14 PM   
Vendaval


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Status: offline 		I recommend anti-inflammatories too, since itching is low-level pain. 

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/9/2009 4:15:43 PM   
smilezz


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Status: offline 		Ohman! do I ever know how you feel!! Today at 10:00 am I got my cast off. I have a bit of dry skin, but normally lotion will take care of that, THIS! however is BLAH! I could not wait to get home and take a shower, shave my legs and lather with lotion.

I will say that when mine was unbearable, I took a wooden spatula that I have and glided it down inside of the cast. While it was not perfect, it sure did help and feel better.

-smilezz-

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/9/2009 7:15:55 PM   
MasterG2kTR


Posts: 6677
Joined: 8/7/2004
From: Wisconsin
Status: offline 		Once when I was in a cast a friend suggested (and I used) the handle of a plastic flyswatter....works GREAT!! and it wont snag on anything inside the cast.

Also, it wont alter shape on you like the coat hanger suggestion, and you can't lose the cloth wrap like the ruler suggestion.

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/10/2009 12:16:00 AM   
FangsNfeet


Posts: 3758
Joined: 12/3/2004
Status: offline 		You can only suck it up and drive on. Hair is growing and you can't shave it. You'll get use to it. Try not to go into shock when they cut the cast off.

You'll be alright. I'll keep you in my prayers.

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/10/2009 2:09:01 AM   
MissMorrigan


Posts: 2309
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		@ Ven. Since reading the.dark's suggestion, I've been taking antihistamines and lo and behold, no more itching. Such relief!

@ Smilezz  Wooooo congratulations on getting your cast removed yesterday. I know that when I go for my check up on the 20th when the cast will be temporarily removed and replaced with another, they're giong to have to strap me down but only b/c I'm going to have to fight the urge to run to the nearest bathroom and scrub my leg clean. I feel such a dirty girl!  One thing's for sure, those of us with casts are ingenius with ways in which we scratch that itch!

@ MasterG2kTR I've learned not to put anything down my cast that is shorter than the cast itself so that the propensity to lose it is removed. It's heavenly to at least be able to slip a wet wipe down there and provide minor rehydration to the surface. Such relief! I haven't seen a fly swatter in the UK in years.

@ Fangs  Thankfully since taking the antihistamines there's been no further itching. It was also helped by using the wet wipe on the surface of the skin. Reality always laughs at the lack of hair naturally on my legs... in the sunlight I can spot very fine blond hairs that are barely discernible and he's so darn envious b/c he's covered in thick black hair which takes him hours to keep shaven every week. I have it much easier!

When the cast comes off the skin underneath will likely resemble that of an armadillo's. That's when I'll likely faint! At least I'll remain still enough if I do for them to recast it lol Thank you for your reply, it made me smile. 

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/10/2009 10:30:40 AM   
barelynangel


Posts: 6233
Status: offline 		I've never had a cast --- knock on wood and ducks before those that have throws something at me, but just a thought,

couldn't you put duct tape on the ruler instead of like cloth or something and just duct tape the whole thing so it doesn't slide off? Also, they now have those flat type screwers that are really long, you could use those with maybe ducttape around the end or the whole thing. also, many of the plastic hangers are flexible you could put ductable around the wider part to keep it thiner without using your hand.

Hope it feels better soon, i know this may sound cliche but have you told your doctor? Especialy with your ecezema. he may be able to prescribe something for the inflamation or give you some other advise.

angel

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/12/2009 4:34:57 AM   
FangsNfeet


Posts: 3758
Joined: 12/3/2004
Status: offline 		The only problem with the antihistamines is that your body can start getting use to them. Should you encounter allergy problems latter on, antihistamines can be less effective when you really need them. I suggest you take as little as possible.

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/12/2009 4:35:44 AM   
Missykink


Posts: 35
Joined: 9/11/2008
Status: offline 		I had my right leg in a full leg cast a few years ago and was allergic to the plaster crazy crazy times !!! Piriton worked really well for me.

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/12/2009 8:04:11 AM   
MissMorrigan


Posts: 2309
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		@ Barelynangel, thank you for those suggestions, thankfully all the itching has stopped. I've managed to winkle my fingers down the first 4" of the cast so that I can at least emoliate part of the leg but not to the extent it affects the plaster, so that has remained dry. Anything further down I'm ignoring for the time being, the cast comes off in ten days' time temporary for a check up, so I'll try to persuade the doc then if I can wash my leg/emoliate it fully before the cast goes back on - I hope he says 'yes' otherwise it'll be af urther four - six weeks before it comes off again.

The doctor should have known about my eczema as it was clearly indicated in my notes when 'any other conditions' needed to be listed. It's a good point though and i'll mention it to him again when I go for my check up.

@ Fans, good point on the antihistamines. Thankfully I don't take them too often for my body to lower effectiveness. I think I also read that they can lower a person's BP unpleasantly if the dosage is increased in some people - I make a point not to abuse any meds (which I take rarely in any case). Have only taken x 2 dozes of antihibamine so far and that was spread out over two days, thankfully it did alleviate symptoms, Fangs.

@ MissyKink, it's times like this a person discovers allegies they didn't know they had! 

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A free society is a society where it is safe to find one's self unpopular and where history has shown that exceptions are not that exceptional.

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/12/2009 8:37:36 AM   
barelynangel


Posts: 6233
Status: offline 		You are welcome. Sometimes when something is a long standing issue, it could be one of those things that is noted but not discussed because there is a (well he will know what is a problem on your part) and a (well she will tell me if she has issues on his). When he could have 1000 patients with that same issue that don't report problems so he figures they didn't have any problems you won't have any either and if yiu do you will let him know. Usually a doctor will say, let me know if you have issues and patients feel ackward letting them know about things they may see as insignificant problems. Patients should always let a doctor know what a problem FOR THEM is, and let the doctor tell them its not anything to worry about or here are some solutions.

Its always good to report things to your doctor no matter how minor, otherwise he may think there were no issues and so will wait for the report from people instead of guessing at what problems their particular issue may cause them.

If that makes sense.

angel

< Message edited by barelynangel -- 4/12/2009 8:39:49 AM >

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RE: Plaster Casts & Intense Itching - 4/13/2009 4:44:57 PM   
ReverendJim


Posts: 43
Joined: 4/13/2009
Status: offline 		How long do you have the cast on for? I had several casts and a number of operations,I found that NOT scratching was the answer,after a while the sensation dies down,or if you do not have the determination,you could try pouring itching powder down your back,thats sure to take your mind off your leg.

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