Living with Your Broken Arm

I only meant to go for a late uphill walk, but instead of taking the steps as usual, I went up the ramp beside them. In seconds, I was sliding backwards, landing on my rump and, yes, my hand. An hour later, I learned I had broken the radius bone in my non-dominant arm.

But even breaking my left arm has not been a picnic. For three weeks I've been wearing what in the U.S. is called a long-arm plaster cast going from the knuckles nearest my wrist to two inches above the elbow. Perhaps in Canada or the US, I would be in a cast for a shorter time, then in a splint. In Mexico, I will be going back to the orthopedist in two weeks to see how my arm is doing.

Here's what I know about living with the cast:

Keep it dry. Very important if you don't want to itch or smell bad. When I take a shower, I cover my arm with a plastic bag fastened by a rubber band. It's not advisable to leaver the arm uncovered--you will get water on the cast. If that happens, use a hair dryer set on cool to dry the cast right away.

By the way, washing my own hair would be impossible. Someone else does it for me.

Expect to tire more quickly: I learned to accept that my body is using energy to heal and have stopped trying to be Super Woman.

Exercise the shoulder, fingers and, if the cast permits, the elbow: You'll be stronger and more flexible afterward. My doctor recommends shoulder rolls and similar exercises for five minutes daily so I put on a CD and do them. Ending up with a frozen shoulder is the last thing I want!

Everything takes longer, especially at the beginning: I had to learn to put my cast-ed arm in the sleeve first, not my natural inclination I also bought some loose-fitting T shirts to avoid hassling with buttons. As I live alone, I am fortunate in having two front-opening bras I can close at least partly.

Expect to cut out some tasks or let them wait until someone can help: For example, anything like uncapping a medicine container. Once the container is open, I keep the cap loose. I can't open cans either,, but I do use the crook of my cast as a vise for opening small jars with the other hand.

I keep my lower arm elevated at night most of the time by propping the elbow to wrist part against a reading pillow, thus minimizing swelling.

I expect to need to exercise my arm after the cast comes off to regain strength and flexibility.

And of course I bought bright markers so friends could autograph my cast!