Smelly cast?

Question

I just got my cast changed on Friday and it already smells really bad. I have a six inch long incision under the cast. Should I wait until my appointment this Friday to get it changed or what? It is hurting really bad!

Answer 1

being that there is a foul odor combined with pain, the chances of you having an infection are very high.

i would call your surgeon's office right away and speak to the on-call dr. if that's not an option, then get yourself into the nearest emergency room or urgent care to have it looked at.

the longer you leave an infection untreated, the worse it's going to get and you could end up back in the hospital or needing surgery again.

good luck!!

Answer 2

The cast should not be hurting really bad after a cast change. Time to call the doctor. Also mention the odor. Pain+odor+presence of an incision could suggest the possibility of wound infection. If you're having fever or chills as well, that would also suggest infection. The doctor may choose to take the cast down to have a look at the incision. If the incision is OK, s/he can always put another cast on.

Also, cast pain can be from a cast that's too tight or a cast that's irregular and is rubbing against a part of the skin. Both of these are cured by replacing the cast with a new one.

Answer 3

Its because you can't wash the skin underneath the cast, and when you sweat as you normally do, it all goes into the cast and there is no way to get rid of the sweat and dirt... Just like your clothes get dirty and smelly when you wear them, and then you wast them, so does your cast, but you cant wash it....

Answer 4

If it smells bad, and hurts, go to the doctor ASAP. an infection at the incision site can cause a bad smell and pain. get it checked out. better safe than sorry.

Answer 5

You have a hot, and sweaty piece of cloth wrapped pretty tight around your skin... all it is doing is sitting their fermenting in sweat... it isnt going to get better...