There are many challenges involved in life when your child has a cast on his leg. But none are as challenging as the incredibly funky smell emanating from that cast. At four weeks of age, the big red cast was stinky. “Stink, stank, stunk,” I would think as I opened the door to JT’s bedroom each morning (thanks Dr. Suess). And driving around in the car with the funky smelling cast riding shotgun was less than enjoyable.
Yesterday, eight weeks out from the original leg break, we headed to the orthopedist to get things checked out. JT was reluctant to participate in the fun because his leg has been immobile for the past four weeks and it’s working fine for him. He saw no reason to change up the arrangement. Removing the cast meant stretching muscles that had been still for days on end. Not fun, as we learned the last time we went through this process.
But removal was in order and though my boy expressly announced his objections (crying and screaming loud enough to startle several of his fellow patients), the cast came off and x-rays were made. The leg was nasty yucky ----- hairy, and covered in an unpleasant coating of boy funk and grime. The smell was other-wordly: like sweat and grime allowed to ripen.
“You’ll want to wash that. Soon,” Dr. T suggested. And then she told us that things are looking good. The x-ray shows all sorts of fuzzy bone growth. Good news. An air cast, rising to just below the knee is our next step (pun intended). He’ll be able to have a much greater range of mobility (which will take some getting used to). And we can see his (very hairy) knee for the first time in 8 weeks.
By the end of the night, he was already starting to appreciate the new range of movement. And the air cast looks cool ----- like he’s the bionic boy. As for me, I’m just happy that the stink is gone.
yuck!!! i have never had a cast... guess i have nothing to look forward to in that arena either!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks a whole lot better, I'm sure it will be more comfortable for him too, once he gets used to it. I hate to break it to you, but they do begin to smell after a couple of days too...(been there and done that with my hubby!)
ReplyDeleteYipeee!!! For being able to scratch the itch, to wash the stink and to get around more easily for everybody involved - it is indeed a cool cast. This is a big step in the right direction -oh that was bad, sorry.. =)
ReplyDeleteYay! Did he insist on keeping the old cast? Em has hers ... in a large zip lock back to keep the stink out :)
ReplyDeleteOh, my. Hope he's happier now - I didn't know about the stink problem - guess you could write a Seuss book about that - don't think it's been done! Nice easy-reading post!
ReplyDeleteAw...glad he's improving.
ReplyDeleteI had that cast for three weeks after I dislocated my right elbow. It was in mid july and it was so hot and humid. My arm used to itch inside, I could feel the sweat trickle inside but I could do nothing. I could barely look at my after y cast was removed. It was filthy and stinky. The fisr think I did was take a good scrubbing for my still locked arm.
ReplyDeleteGlad your boy is ok.
My one and only encounter with a cast of my own was when I was 7 and broke my wrist and shattered my elbow. Horrible stench emanating from it, and never an opportunity to escape from it! Glad you got him washed up.
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