Sometimes it's only for a few weeks. Sometimes it's much longer. It depends on the type of injury you have. It also depends on how badly the bone was broken.
Your doctor may put on the cast himself. Usually, though, another person who is specially trained to put on casts does it. First, he will measure the exact amount of soft cotton you'll need. Second, he will wrap several layers around the broken area. Third, he will dip the plaster or fiberglass layer in water. This softens it so he can shape it. Last, he'll wrap it snugly around the cotton. Before the outer layer dries, the cast may feel quite heavy. In a short time you'll get used to wearing it.
The cast may be on your arm. If so, you may be given a sling. A sling is a wide piece of cloth with straps. The straps go around your neck. They are attached to the cloth that goes around your arm. This will help you support and carry the cast.
The cast may be on your leg. If so, you might get crutches to help you walk. Crutches let you keep the weight off the injured leg. Too much weight can prevent the bone from healing properly. Sometimes you get a special shoe to wear over the cast. The shoe lets you walk without putting too much weight on the cast. It looks clunky, but it's better than being in pain!
So now that you have a cast, what do you do? Here are some tips. First, if you have a plaster cast, you don't want to get it wet. Water will make the cast loose or even come off. Then it will not be able to keep the bones from moving.
