ANSWERS: 8
  • The best thing to do in this situation, is not to itch at, just take your mind off of it. (I know its hard, we feel for you, good luck).
  • I spent April and May of my junior year of high school with an above-the -ankle- to-thigh cast plastered around my left leg, so it's pretty easy to empathize with the whole itch-o-rama. It drove me crazy...for about 5 minutes. Sanity returned when I acted just like anyone who's ever been in that situation acts. I found a way to stop the itch. A coathanger looked like the perfect solution, too - free, easy to find, lightweight - until my mother asked the doctor what he thought. This guy really disliked coathangers, I'll say that. He and Joan Crawford would have understood each other perfectly, but that's another story. He explained that you could accidentally puncture or scratch your skin. (like I couldn't rig a coathanger so that wouldn't happen.) You don't want an open wound underneath a cast, since that would provide bacteria with an ideal environment for growth: warm, moist and dark. Then you'd get a big bad infection and may not even realize it - until it's "too late". Well, gangrene wasn't my big concern when I tore my knee up, and hints of gloom and doom didn't radically alter my viewpoint. The doc made no suggestions about coathanger alternatives, so my dad took a 3 ft. long smooth metal rod and fashioned a soft, plastic, non-wounding thing for the end, and that pretty much took care of the itching. Of course, I was really careful when poking around and scratching; after all, the doctor was a doctor, and even a slight chance of gangrene was too much to ignore completely. I ignored it partially, instead, but only when my skin itched When the cast came off, we discovered a penny stuck to my leg. Then it was "Doom. Part 2: The Hindsight: What COULD Have Happened." Keep in mind that since nothing infectious occured and it all took place a few years ago, it's easy for me to be cavalier about the whole thing. You'll be much better off if you follow your doctor's advice over my experience. If he or she can't come up with some good anti-itch ideas, you could always ask a pharmacist to recommend something effective, or check out some natural sources of relief from your local health food/natural products store. Whatever you do, just do it safely and remember, that cast will be off soon, before you know it. Be careful with your spare change til then, too. Hope this helps.
  • I heard the horrific story of someone sticking a knitting needle down a cast once they punctured the skin without realising, the itching got worse and worse, so the cast was removed and revealed a nice nest of maggots! Must of been eggs on the needle. This maybe one of the risks that doctors might be advising you against. I agree go to your pharmacy and see if there is anything safe and hygienic you can use, or do your best to take your mind off it.
  • i put my arm in the freezer til it cools - two or three minutes - and that helps a lot; stay out of the heat as much as possible.
  • There is a terrific product called the original castscratcher. Go to www.castscratcher.com.
  • Baby Powder... es todo.
  • If you still have the cast on and its waterproof i found soaking it in a bath with unscented hypoallergenic feminine wash. I tried both walmart and Eve brand the walmart brand just makes it itchier so try the Eve brand. if its not waterproof try to keep busy and when your ready to relax take a benadryl to help releve the itch. Whatever you do dont stick anything in there. if its really bad try moving your arm from side to side there should be enough room for you to move. also with the waterproof cast make sure you wash it out with soap after swimming the cholrine will dry your skin out and cause it to itch even more. dont put any powder in it either although it will soak up the mosture it will dry out your skin.
  • I dunno.. why would a doctor advise you to not jab sharp, dirty objects into your own skin? It's a total mystery to me too!

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