DO NOT push objects down your cast and DO NOT get your cast wet. This may cause severe skin problems.
When sitting or lying rest your leg above your hip on a cushion or pillow.
Contact plaster room immediately if any of the following occur.
- The plaster becomes too tight, too loose, soft or cracked
- The swelling increases, causing problems
- Your toes become blue or pale
- You are unable to move toes
- You experience numbness, tingling or a dead feeling
- You have pain in your calf
- You have chest pains or are breathless
Removable cast (FRC)
☐ Your cast must not be removed
Your cast may be removed for:
☐ Personal hygiene
☐ Exercise
☐ Wound care
It is sometimes difficult to know whether a pain is due to a tight plaster. If in doubt, it is always safer to report back to the hospital.
Exercises for your injured limb
Whilst sitting:
- Wiggle your toes at intervals throughout the day
- Bend your knee as far as possible, with your thigh remaining on the seat, and hold for ten seconds (not for patients with an above knee plaster)
- Keeping your knee straight, lift leg up ten times
Whilst standing
- Holding on to a firm support
- Lift your foot off the floor and swing leg out to the side ten times
- Lift your foot off the floor and swing behind you, as far as you can, ten times
Contact Details
Telephone: 0161 206 4900
Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4pm
Emergencies which occur outside these hours, contact the Accident and Emergency Department on 0161 206 4841.
Date of Review: October 2024
Date of Next Review: October 2026
Ref No: PI_SU_1997 (Salford)