Looking after your leg plaster
Date issued: July 2022
Review date: July 2024
Ref: C-506/PP/LDT/Looking after your leg in plaster
PDF: Looking after your leg plaster final July 2022.pdf [pdf] 590KB
Your plaster:
Your plaster is made of plaster of paris and will take 2-3 days to dry.
Do not try to dry it with a heater or hair dryer; it must dry naturally.
You must not push anything down inside the plaster no matter how itchy your leg or ankle may get.
Try to keep your leg up to reduce any swelling. It needs to be higher than your heart so prop your leg up with pillows or cushions.
You can take paracetamol to help with any pain or ibuprofen if there is swelling. These types of painkillers can make you constipated (find it hard to poo).
Looking after your leg:
If your foot is covered with plaster you must rest your leg on a pillow with nothing touching your heel.
If your plaster is above your ankle and your foot is free you need to support your heel.
Blood clots:
The member of staff who saw you will have spoken about the risk of blood clots.
Possible clot symptoms include:
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A heavy ache in your leg
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An area of very warm skin on your leg
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Swelling and your leg is sore to touch
Return to ED (A&E):
You must come back to ED straight away if:
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If you find it hard to breathe
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You get chest pain
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You collapse
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If your plaster becomes wet or damaged then you need an appointment to be seen again. Please phone 01752 439745 and we will book you in.
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If you are going on a plane within 6 weeks of your plaster cast coming off please talk to someone in the Fracture Clinic.
