any lacing/tying suggestions?

[treesprite]

Last time I had an arm cast, I had to get other people to tie my skates, and they never got it right. I then was trying to do it using a hook, but it was impossible to tie tight enough. I am wondering if anyone has some special tricks.

Am also wondering if there are things like elactic with Velcro that I could wrap around bother the foot parts and ankle partsof the boots.

 

[bladesofgorey]

You will probably have to still have some help if you can't use that arm at all, but I have polyneuropathy which results in my not having any hand strength at all so I use a hook/skate key. I had the same issue- I still could not get them tight enough- but the trick that ended up working for me is to tie them once with the key and then once they are tied go back up through the laces with the key pulling tighter starting at the toe area. I do put a finger on the tightened lace as I work my way back up (so this sounds like a two-person job in your case unfortunately) but it makes all the difference in the world. There's no way I can get them nearly tight enough in just one pass.

I know people use skate tape on their boots sometimes when the boot is starting to break down, but again that sounds tricky with only one hand. I'd be afraid that anything elastic or velcro just would flex too much to give you the support you'd need. Seems like you are going to have to lean on friends/colleagues to get the skates safely tied until you have more mobility in that arm. :/

 

[treesprite]

This one person I know used to complete wrap her boots in tape because they were so broken down. I don't want to put tape on my boots.

 

[antmanb]

is it wise to be doing any skating with a cast on?

 

[treesprite]

The last time I broke a wrist, the doctor told me the cast would protect it if I fell on it. It doesn't mean it won't be painful, but the bone will be okay.

I think if I get extra wide industrial Velcro, I can make straps that would use the blade stanchions to keep them from slipping out of place. One could be around the front of the foot passing through the front stanchions, one could bea around the midfoot passing through the back stanchions. I don't know how would secure the one(s) above the ankle.

 

[spinZZ]

The last time I broke a wrist, the doctor told me the cast would protect it if I fell on it. It doesn't mean it won't be painful, but the bone will be okay.

I think if I get extra wide industrial Velcro, I can make straps that would use the blade stanchions to keep them from slipping out of place. One could be around the front of the foot passing through the front stanchions, one could bea around the midfoot passing through the back stanchions. I don't know how would secure the one(s) above the ankle.

I doubt if Velcro (even the industrial strength) would work. You could try releasable zip ties (cable ties); these are reusable. Grab the free end with a pair of pliers and you can pull them real tight. You will probably need some type of cloth cover with Velcro closure to cover the free ends of the ties so they don't protrude.

 

[treesprite]

Haha, speaking of zip ties, I have been using an extra long zip tie to scratch my arm inside the cast. It is the only thing thin enough that isn't sharp or pointy. It fits in the tightest spots.

 

[hanca]

Haha, speaking of zip ties, I have been using an extra long zip tie to scratch my arm inside the cast. It is the only thing thin enough that isn't sharp or pointy. It fits in the tightest spots.

Don’t do that! I did that with a coat hanger when I had plaster on my arm because it was itching, and somehow I broke the skin without even knowing and it got severly infected. They had to take the plaster off because it started hurting quite badly, and under the plaster it looked quite gross. Like rotting flesh. Smelled badly too. I was told off in the hospital. They cleared it and put a new plaster on. It was embarassing experience, I felt bad that I gave them extra work to do and it was not very pleasant for me either, so pretty good learning experience about not scratching under the plaster.

 

[LilJen]

Do you have all-nylon laces, or part cotton? All-nylon are notorious for slipping.

 

[treesprite]

Don’t do that! I did that with a coat hanger when I had plaster on my arm because it was itching, and somehow I broke the skin without even knowing and it got severly infected. They had to take the plaster off because it started hurting quite badly, and under the plaster it looked quite gross. Like rotting flesh. Smelled badly too. I was told off in the hospital. They cleared it and put a new plaster on. It was embarassing experience, I felt bad that I gave them extra work to do and it was not very pleasant for me either, so pretty good learning experience about not scratching under the plaster.

This is why I am using a zip tie and not a coat hanger. Zip ties are just flexible plastic. It doesn't poke against the skin or scrape.

Casts always get flaking peeling nasty skin under them. We naturally shed skin flakes on an ongoing basis. Those flakes get stuck under the cast, then get moist and gooey, and then bacteria starts to grow on them under the cast. Naturally that is going to look and smell disgusting. This is one of the reasons casts need to be changed through the course of treatment, and the other reasons are to take x-rays and to accomoodate reductions in swelling. This is my third time experience with wearing a cast, and every time my doctor has changed the casts multiple times, at which times I took the opportunity to wash my skin. My current cast is being replaced on Friday.