About your visit
We have examined you and have ascertained that you have broken your lower arm. Your arm has been placed in a cast. You may also have been given a sling to keep your arm immobile while it heals. Your hand should be elevated above your elbow when wearing the sling. You must wear the sling the first 24 hours.
The cast will be on for ___ weeks.
The cast will be removed by your general practitioner or at the hospital. You will be told which applies to you.
When you get home
Contact your general practitioner if your condition deteriorates
Call your general practitioner or dial 1813 to reach the medical helpline outside your general practitioner’s opening hours if your hand:
- begins to feel prickly/tingly or falls asleep
- becomes numb
- loses colour
- becomes hard to move.
These symptoms may be a sign of damaged blood vessels and nerves.
Take pain-relieving medicine if you are in pain
You should take pain-relieving medicine if you are in pain. Pain-relieving medicine can be bought over the counter. Take only the amount of pain reliever recommended on the package. Contact your general practitioner if you need help managing the pain.
Dial 1813 for the medical helpline if there are problems with your cast
Dial 1813 if the cast:
- begins to pinch
- feels too tight
- becomes loose
- breaks.
The 1813 operator will guide you to the appropriate care. Do not remove the cast yourself.
You may bleed under the skin
You may develop bruises or blood spots under your skin that extend to your fingers. These symptoms will go away on their own.
Avoid inserting objects to relieve itching
Do not insert objects, such as a knitting needle, into the cast to relieve itching. You risk damaging the skin and causing sores.
Keep the cast dry
Place a plastic bag over your cast when you are washing or when it is raining to avoid getting it wet.
Do not wear jewellery
Avoid wearing rings on the hand of the arm in a cast as your fingers may swell.
Prevent swelling
To keep your hand from swelling, keep it level with your heart. Rest your arm on a pillow, for example, when you are sitting down.
Use your arm while it is in a cast
Move your arm and fingers as much as possible every day, even while wearing a cast. This will help you maintain mobility and avoid swelling. Use your arm as you normally would when dressing, cleaning and eating. Do not lift heavy objects, for example grocery bags, for one to two months.
Check-ups
We will determine whether you need to come to the hospital for a check-up or whether you should visit your general practitioner. If you need to visit the hospital for a check-up, we will notify you via digital or physical post, or we will call you with information regarding time and place. If you need to visit your general practitioner, you will have to contact the clinic yourself and schedule an appointment.
If your condition deteriorates before your check-up, do not wait, contact your general practitioner. If your condition deteriorates acutely, dial 1813 to reach the medical helpline.
Exercises
Begin rehabilitation immediately
Start doing the exercises while you are wearing the cast. These exercises will help you regain mobility faster. We will guide you through the exercises.
Complete the exercises four to five times a day and repeat each exercise at least 15 times. Relax your shoulders and keep an easy pace.
If you begin to feel pain while doing the exercises, take a 30-minute break and then continue doing the exercises. Remove your sling when you are doing the exercises.
Exercise 1
- Stretch your fingers.
- Slowly make a fist by first bending the joints closest to the fingertip, then the middle joints and finally the joints at the base of your fingers.
- Release the fist and stretch out your fingers.
Exercise 8
Straighten your back, lower your shoulders and keep your arms by your side.
- Push your chest forward and pull your shoulders back.
- Let your chest and shoulders relax.
You can see a video of the exercises on https://regionh.dk/bqb or hold your smartphone camera over this QR code: