To Help with Showering
- Shower Chair with back support: (I have this one, and it was very useful.)
- Shower Transfer Bench for easy getting in/out of the tub. (I actually should have bought this one..)
- Another version of Shower Transfer Bench (And it’s a little cheaper than the one above.)
- More Shower Transfer Benches
- Brown Medical Seal-Tight Cast Cover
- FLA Orthopedics Cast Protector - Half Leg
- Duro-Med Adult Short Leg Protector
- Cheaper Cast Cover
- SEAL-TIGHT shower bag
- Shower-Beauties shower cover
Any particular leg cover do someone recommend?
good stuff on here
My wife got me a Curad brand cast cover and I couldn’t have been happier with it (other than if I didn’t have to use it to begin with). I think it is made of some kind of rubber but it was cheap ($13 for two) and they last (3 weeks on 1st one). It really cinches well on your leg so that no moisture gets in.
Here is the link:
http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=209768&catid=59970
I have been using the “original” from “dry cast”. Here is the URL to their web site: http://www.medcareproducts.com/castcovers
The dry cast products are like large condoms with a plastic rim (of varying size diameters) at the open end. There is a rubber membrane stretched across the plastic rim with a hole in the middle in which you insert your leg. the hole is smaller than the diameter of your leg, but the stretciness of the rubber membrane allows your leg to enter, and then forms a perfect seal around your leg. (The company also apparently sells a fully submersible product, but I did not purchase it.)
I have been using it to shower and it works great!
The Duro-Med Adult Short Leg Cast Cover I found listed on this site is awesome as it works as advertised. Excellent invention and well worth the money.
do these products cover the boot as well? Or the initial splint?
Here is a shower tip. It occured to my son Eli, who has a 1 year old, that I try “Diapergenie” plastic refills, which are long (about 50 feet or so) continuous plastic tubes, 12 inches or so in width, that are widely available in drug stores like CVS in their baby department. They are designed to be part of a diaper disposal system, but they work great to keep my cast dry in the shower. Just cut a suitable length, tie a knot in one end, slide the open end up over the cast condom-style (sorry), and when you get to the thigh, tape it to the skin with packaging tape or the equivalent. I tape a second time around at the top border of the cast, for safety. It works to keep my cast bone dry in the shower, is easily removable, and can be discarded after use. Haven’t had a failure yet. I think I get about 6-7 uses from a 10 dollar roll, which I guess could add up, but its simple, pretty fail proof, and effective, and can be applied without assistance from a second person. So my grandson Louie and I are both using diapergenies! Best, Arnie
This time (my second ATR) I had the advantage of (a) a boot instead of a series of casts, (b) no surgery (so no incision to keep dry or “baby” or otherwise worry about), and (c) a relatively quick and aggressive protocol that got me FWB at around 5 weeks, and gave me permission to shower barefoot a bit earlier than that. (I went into the shower stall in the boot, sat down, and took off the boot, having left the crutches leaning against the outside of the stall.)
I thought of buying a fancy cast cover, as I had for my first — MUCH slower — rehab. But even that time, by the time I found one and got it (by mail), I was almost ready to stop using it! This time, I already had a great 1″ wide Spandex-and-Velcro strap (from the Dollar Store!) that wrapped around my leg just above the knee, and applied a reasonable amount of pressure. I also had a big box of cheap black plastic garbage bags.
When I put the strap together with the garbage bag, it did a reasonable job of sealing. To be doubly sure, I also tucked a big microfiber car-washing towel into the top of the boot, and draped it down into the bottom of the bag. (It always seemed to come out dry, as did the boot.)
As I moved toward FWB, I started standing on the bag more, which gave it little “stretch marks”, but they seldom went through. I may have used TWO cheap garbage bags in total by the time I started showering bootless.
The main “trick” I used was to try to keep the top of the bag tilted so that the water would run away from it, rather than into it. In the shower, I had a little padded seat AND a little “foot rest”, so my knee was raised up. (I used a little plastic pail of Spackle (”wall mud”) for the “foot rest”.)
When I washed my backside, I often stood on one foot with my bagged boot on the little padded seat. Or I just kneeled, and it still didn’t seem to leak.
Hi,
I ruptured my Achilles twice in 2011, the second time 12 weeks after the original surgery.
While in the cast I purchased a DryPro waterproof cast cover.
It allowed me to shower, take a relaxing bath and even swim in the pool.
I was so impressed by the product that I have founded my own company, DryPro Ireland to distribute the products in Ireland and the UK.
Check out our website, http://www.drypro.ie
HAGLUND’S DEFORMITY SURGERY
I am a 69 year active male. I hike, back pack, swim, go to the gym and do Pilates and yoga
I have had pain in the right Achilles tendon (Achilles Tendonosis) in addition to suffering from Haglund’s deformity for more than 18 months. Conventional treatments such as boot immobilization, cast, icing and numerous sessions of physical therapy failed to make any improvement. Finally I consulted an orthopedic surgeon recommended to me by my PCP.He recommended posterior calcaneal ostectomy and Achilles tendon debridement and repair.
Attached videos show the procedure that was followed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTJrQfb-ANo&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUxtE7mQ68Y
I had my surgery on the morning of January 28th .It lasted approximately 90 minutes. Throughout the surgery a nerve block was inserted behind the knee to numb and anesthetize the ankle. I was discharged with a heavily bandaged splint for support and immobilization. I was prescribed Percocet for pain relief. I took two on the morning of January,29th as the effect of the block lasted me throughout the night. Later on in the afternoon I took 500 mg of sodium naproxen which was sufficient to relieve the pain. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the pain has been quite tolerable.
For mobility I have been using a knee walker which is a real blessing to have compared to moving around on crutches. My hands are free and I am able to make my coffee and breakfast. Also I can move freely on the sidewalk and shop in the mall.
For shower I have been covering my leg with a water tight cast sleeve. As an additional precaution I put on a hard plastic garbage bag wrapped over the sleeve and fastened by rubber bands at the knee. It has kept my dressing and splint dry.
January 30th
I went to the surgeon today for a follow up visit. The wound is healing well. There is some blood drip oozing from the bone. That is expected. On Feb 13 I will be fitted with a boot.
February 2nd
This is the first day that I went without the painkiller.
Feb 3rd.
Pain resumes. Took 2 Percocet
Feb 4th
Pain increases.Have an appt to see surgeon. Still NWB with splint and ace bandage
I wish to copy and paste a picture of me hell on this blog. Can anyone tell me how?
Forget Covering when Washing. An easier method
What I am amazed at is how little information you get unless you ask! When getting my cast I asked the question “are there any tips you have for me that will make my life easier?” Here are 3 that have been great:
1. Get a plastic chair for the bathtub so you can sit on it. (I went with the backless because I thought it made #2 easier)
2. Hang the leg with the cast over the tub instead of wrapping it. (I have a shower liner on the inside of the tub that I ensure is sealed around my leg. No issues)
3. Get a hand held shower nozzle. (We got one with a shut off button on the nozzle. It was handy and prevented water from spraying all over the place.)
Works great!