I have had a cast on my lower leg for the fracture of a small bone in the base of my toe.
The cast has now broken and is of absolutely no use at all as it no longer immobilizing my foot.
I can't get an appointment to have it removed for 3 weeks and so I was hoping that someone could give me some tips on how to remove this, now cumbersome and totally useless , fiberglass cast ... (not to mention extremely uncomfortable) myself?
There is obviously a safety issue here, so without anything too drastic, like the possibility of sawing off my leg, is there a safe way of removing this cast? Perhaps soaking it in water for a long period of time?
Please help! I need this cast removed! I live alone and have no family or friend support system in place, so I obviously need to be more mobile! As my cast is no longer giving me any healing benefits I want to get it off!
Help?! Please? :-)
2007-09-21 00:56:44 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
I don't know about a fibreglass cast. The doctor would probably remove it with a small power saw. Soaking it probably won't work (since it is plastic, presumably, like car filler).
If you try cutting it with a knife or stout scissors, go very carefully and slip a flexible sheet of metal - maybe a palette knife/spatula from the kitchen - between the cast and your skin!
Really, the best would be to have it removed by people with proper tools. Going to the emergency room sounds like a good plan!
2007-09-21 01:05:45 · answer #1 · answered by Owlwings 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How To Remove A Cast
2016-10-01 09:30:20 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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RE:
Self removal of cast on leg?
I have had a cast on my lower leg for the fracture of a small bone in the base of my toe.
The cast has now broken and is of absolutely no use at all as it no longer immobilizing my foot.
I can't get an appointment to have it removed for 3 weeks and so I was hoping that someone could give me...
2015-08-18 05:53:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call your doctor back and insist on being seen. You don't say how long your cast has been on so far. I find it a bit strange to have a lower leg cast for your 5th toe. If it's a fracture af the base(proximal) of the 5th metacarpal I can see the need for the cast. This really is one of those "don't try this at home" things.At least a urgent care clinic would have a saw that would not cut you
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2007-09-21 01:09:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh how familar that sounds...I was in the same boat a few years back and unable to get into the Dr's for awhile( I was boat camping with friends so I just gently removed it using a very sharp bread knife. Be sure it's time to have it removed by all means...And Be careful, you need alot of patience.
2007-09-21 01:05:31 · answer #5 · answered by kick it 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i see lots of people every day in the er that have tried to take their own casts off. it usually involves getting lots of stitches. go to the er or an urgent care clinic. why risk doing more damage to a foot that is already hurt. it won't soak off if it's fiberglass. that's the whole reason for using orthoglass casts - they won't change when wet (rain, body fluids, spills). it takes about 2 mins to cut it off with the right saw. it takes 15 days to heal with stitches and probably some sort of wrapt/cast to go with them.
2007-09-21 01:16:45 · answer #6 · answered by bryce k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it really is fiberglass you cant soak it off. most are plaster and could be soaked off but not in the tub as it will clog your drain. if it is that broken up you should be able to get it off just start working at it. I had a small metatarsal bone broken in the same place and it heals pretty quick because of the location so taking off the cast now should be okay. just be careful and dont cut yourself or you will have to go in anyway.
2007-09-21 01:05:18 · answer #7 · answered by Aloha_Ann 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
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could be water/fluid retention since it wasn't bearing any load... fluid may build up since there was no "pressure" to force the liquid out and reduced circulation due to the cast and boot. Could be the remains of a sprain if it contributed to the break? It's hard to really say... Ask your doctor.
2016-04-10 09:32:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Walk into your doctors office early in the morning and tell them it is broke. You must have it fixed.
Why should you suffer because their cast did not last as long as they thought it would.
2007-09-21 01:25:45 · answer #9 · answered by Dionannan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd suggest you contact the doctor's office and ask. If they realize how serious you are about taking it off yourself, they may manage to squeeze an appointment in for you sooner.
2007-09-21 01:00:44 · answer #10 · answered by Sport 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋