You’ve heard of the seven year itch, jock itch, swimmer’s itch, and even contagious itch.
Due to a slip on the ice, I’m currently sporting a cast on my right leg. When the doctor finished patting down the last of the wet, fiberglass casting tape, he assured me that it would get rock hard, but due to the nature of the break — a spiral fracture — he added, “Don’t walk on it — no weight, whatsoever.”
He additionally cautioned me to not climb trees, ride my bike, swim, or use the cast as a weapon. And went on to say, “If you have an itch, just knock on the cast and the vibration will take care of it.” Liar!
He concluded, “Do not, under any circumstances, use a hanger or other sharp object to scratch an itch.” Easy for you to say!
I’m confident that somewhere in the dusty annuls of history there’s a long forgotten Confucian quote: “When casted leg itch, chopstick come in handy!”
Much to my immense relief, I’ve been enjoying his Zen wisdom.
What are you just itching to get at?
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan
The Book—Discovering the Seven Selves
The Experience— Life Harmony
© 2013 Laurie Buchanan – All Rights Reserved
Find me on Twitter @HolEssence
Tuesdays with Laurie 
I cannot imagine banging my broken leg even casted against anything to scratch that itch, Laurie. My leg hurts just thinking about it. Meanwhile, to scratch that metaphor, I have that spiritual itch that won’t go away. It calls to me, begs me to live it, and I respond “when I have time I promise I’ll be more spiritual!”
I can hear you laughing already.
Barbara – Laughing my head off, siSTAR!
Barbara, I would think that with all you’ve undertaken that you would be swimming in an ocean of spirituality, but I’ve found in my own life that some days it’s all I can do just to keep my head above waves.
Hi, Sandi — you would not believe the noise in my head these days; it is like I am more on a spiritual quest to conquer something rather than a spiritual journey to discovery . . . darn . . . now I have to go blog about this
Hahaha! Enjoyed it 🙂
Subhabrata – I’m glad it made you smile 🙂
I’ve always heard that itching means healing.
AThursdaysChild – I’ll grab onto that like a lifeline. Thank you!
You poor thing! Oh my goodness…who would have thought of Confucius and chopsticks at a moment like this? So hoping you heal completely very very soon. What am I itching to get at? Moving deeper into Presence, allowing fear of emptiness to be seen through clearer, allowing fear of no-self to be revealed as, well, nothing. Itching to be living this deeply enveloped in the Home that we are, enjoying tea with a friend at 10:30, perhaps reading blogs this afternoon, going to our township annual budget meeting tonight. Chop wood carry water, but in the full realization of Home.
Kathy – I love this:
“…to be living this deeply enveloped in the Home that we are…”
That sang to my heart this morning. Thank you 🙂
Laurie, you think the doctor has ever had a cast on his leg? May it mend well even if you knock and scratch it, climb trees or ride your bike – Lol.
Don – Thank you for your kind words this morning 🙂
Oh dear! I know how you feel. I had one of those many years ago whilt still a student during the summer holidays. Everyone was out on the beach sunbathing and swimming and I just had to content with reading my book! I hope your cast will come out soon, but in the meantime, good luck with the chopsticks. All the best. 🙂
Fatimasaysell – Thank you for the gift of your reflection. Good thing I love to read (and write, and ponder)…
Laurie, glad you read you are on the mend and have kept your sense of humor! 🙂
Sheila – Laughter is the best medicine 🙂 Thank you for your visit this morning.
Although I often couldn’t relate the English version of Confucian quotes to the Chinese version (the translation is beyond my imagination), I know I don’t need to translate your quote 🙂 Get well soon!
Mountain of Joy – I’m glad you enjoyed my “quote.” I use that term loosely, as I took tremendous poetic license and made it up 🙂
I love doctors’ “wisdom” like this! Years ago a doctor told me (pre-op) that I’d be able to drive in a week after surgery on my leg. Yeah, if my house was on fire and there was no other way to escape, I probably could have driven, but other than that? It was six weeks before I could even walk more than a few feet! You just do whatever you have to do to keep sane, Laurie, and I hope your leg heals quickly!
Change It Up Editing – Thank you for the gift of your reflection. They tell me I’ll transition into an air-boot-cast in a couple of weeks. Apparently I’ll be able to put weight on that and drive in it 🙂
I’m so sorry you broke a leg bone, and have to wear a cast, and ITCH. Ack, I feel your…itch, and I’m scratching it for you, in a mind-bending kind of way. However, I do love the PINK cast. That’s perfect for you. BTW, one of your commenters is smart – should we wish that your doctor needs to wear a cast, and then he may never lie again???? Heal quickly.
RoughWighting – Isn’t the hot pink color cool? I thought, if I’ve got to wear a cast, I’m might as well have FUN with it!
Oh an itch in a cast is quite the test isn’t it – but how very clever of you to find the chopsticks! 😀 I wish you a speedy recovery and knowing you, you’ll find inspiration even from this little episode! Hugs, Sharon
Sharon – Thank you for the well wishes, I appreciate YOU!
Knitting needle cast-itching is another well known practice. You are going to be one happy woman when this thing heals and the cast can come off! I am itching to get at the last of the paper work so the taxes can be done. Since it is a rather an intermittent discomfort, chopsticks are of no use. Wishing you a quick and complete recovery there my friend.
Terrill – I feel for you. I think tax discomfort is way worse than itching 🙂
Oh, I’m so sorry! I’m so glad you thought of the chopsticks. It has been 52 years now since I wore a plaster cast on my leg, and I can still remember the itching! Take care!
Cindy – I think the memory of cast itching stays with us so long because it’s something that’s out of our control. At least with the length of mine, I can sort of get at it. Some people have shared experiences of being in a full leg cast and there wasn’t a bloomin’ thing they could do!
Thank you for the well wishes!
While I am very happy you are on the mend Laurie, I can’t say I am pleased that you’ve had to endure this, and I know only too well how the need to relieve and itch can drive you up the wall. It’s a tame variation on Chinese water torture. Yeah I don’t buy that “knocking on the cast” remedy either. A nice gesture, but fraudulent. What am I itching for? I’m itching to stroll outside with just a tee-shirt, and the chance to put that winter coat in mothballs!
Hope you are feeling better every day Laurie!
Sam – T-shirt and a stroll. Me too. Me tooooooo!
Sorry Laurie, I entered the above comment without changing the ID. Now it’s in moderation.
-Sam Juliano
Sam – I’d know that Gravitar anywhere 🙂
This makes me think of al the times I have been incapacitated in one way or another… thankfully on a temporary basis… and how grateful I am to have my independence. It is true (for me, anyway) that sometimes we have to lose something to truly appreciate its importance. I am sending you healing vibes… and may all the ice in your part of the world melt into a beautiful spring.
RMW – Thank you for the healing vibes – I appreciate it. And yes, you can well imagine my gratitude has been ratcheted in the upward direction since being incapacitated 🙂
Laurie, I don’t know if it would be helpful to you but as a veteran wearer of casts, I always found that a smooth wood spoon ( long-handled) gave much relief.
Sandi – Now THAT’S a splendific idea! Thank you 🙂
Nothing worse than an itch you cannot scratch. Would someone really try to swim with a cast on a leg?!
Carol – I suspect they just might. But gosh it would be heavy – like an anchor!
I’m so sorry for the fall, Laurie. To even mention this as a huge inconvenience is quite the understatement. I remember years ago when a cast came off I’d “lied” for weeks that I wasn’t putting anything down the cast to scratch, but the long, lead pencil markings kind of gave me away! 🙂 My granddaughter recently broke her arm and we all commented that “at least it wasn’t her leg.” I send very loving healing wishes for ease in the waiting and a good end result. oxo
Three Well Beings – I can well imagine the lead pencil markings being a dead giveaway 🙂
Oh, Laurie, I’m so sorry to hear of your leg’s imprisionment. That sucks! I’m sending you best wishes for a quick recovery.
This morning my muse gave me several new scenes for my latest WIP. I’ve scribbled notes and I’m itching to add them to the word document. But I had to come here first. : ) You’re an important part of my Tuesday routine.
Leanne – I feel honored that I’m part of your Tuesday routine 🙂 And I’ll just betcha you’re itching to weave your new ideas into your manuscript!
I am so sorry and am wishing you a speedy recovery. I too had a cast on my leg once and was told the same thing. The itching drove me nuts and no knocking or hitting the cast could solve the problem.
Right now I am itching to get outdoors and enjoy nature first hand.
LivingSimplyFree – I’m itching right along with you to get outdoors and enjoy nature first-hand 🙂
I can only imagine your discomfort, Laurie! (Perhaps the un-scratchable itch is even worse than the pain of the fracture itself?) Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Dana – The UNscratchable itch is, indeed, worse than the break itself 🙂
Oh I am sorry, Laurie!! Hope you will soon be back to full speed again and be able to climb the trees 🙂
I remember the itch well from when I had a broken arm and yes Thank God for chopsticks!
Anne – Yesterday my doctor informed me that I should transfer to an air-boot-cast in a couple of weeks. Yippee Skippee!
Yayy you WILL be climbing trees soon 🙂
I have no advice from first person, as I haven’t ever had to wear a cast.
Have had a lot of experience of Ailsa in cast over the last couple of years, and bits of wood seem to be the best (chopstick an excellent choice, also knitting needle as Sandi mentioned).
One thing you may not have thought of, put some cardboard on the sheets.
Ailsa managed to wear through a $600 set of Egyptian cotton sheets with her casts. By the time I noticed the wear it was too late. Those sheets were definitely a luxury item, and we have not replaced them with anything like as good a quality.
So maybe others can learn from our loss.
Wishing all the best for rapid healing, and minimal itching.
Ted – Holy Cow! I never even thought about the damage the cast might be doing to our (much cheaper) sheets! I’m going to have to check that out. Thank you for the heads-up!
Oh no, Laurie… hope the break heals quickly for you!
…and the itchiness goes away too…
Tom – Thank you for the well wishes 🙂
You’ll be back on the run before you know it ~ enjoy the breakaway and hubby’s grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning (smile)! I didn’t remember until now that I broke my left ankle the first time ever when skiing. The biggest challenge was learning to walk after taking the cast off. Keep us posted of your progress!
Thorns4Roses – Len (my husband) has been AMAZING! I’m so doggone grateful for him 🙂
I am just home from an all day get acquainted and have a zillion lab tests new doctor routine. They can not treat the itch in the middle of my back from the cyst removal last July because that is a previous condition that they can not do anything about until I have been on this insurance for 9 months. But they were itching to try me out on a new medication and I was jumping up and down because my Lenten food practice has cleared the 10# weight loss mark ( I have also lost 2 inches in height the last 4 years – yikes)
I did ask every nurse, medical assistant, and even the Lab tech about what to do about the incredible itching in the cyst area…all 6 I asked replied, ” OH that means it is healing!” so I am taking that as good news and it does makes it kinda sorta itch less.
My Naturopathic Physician says try a spoonful of dark honey orally – it will speed up the healing and it tastes warming and sweet…
but then you are so kind and sweet, it might prove to be overload?
Patricia – Thank you for the dark honey tip. I’ll give it a try. And since your itchy spot isn’t in a cast, you might want to try dabbing it cotton ball soaked in witch hazel 🙂
I have been taping a cotton pad onto the curved side of my big salad serving spoon – it works well….it is just so constant! I am itching to have it heal!
I’m sorry to hear about your leg. It’s so easy to slip on the ice. I hope that you are as good as new very soon.
Sheryl – Thank you for the well wishes. Considering your blog that’s dedicated to 100 Years Ago Today, I wonder what the heck they used for “casts” back then. I don’t know if they had “plaster” back then or not. And today, they’re made out of a fiberglass material (that comes in all sorts of funky colors as evidenced by mine)…
Oh no, Laurie. Take care and sending you good healing vibes that you don’t have itches and heal ASAP. 🙂 Paulette
Paulette – I welcome all healing vibes, thank you!
Sorry to hear you are hurt, but that is one snazzy cast! I used knitting needles and long metal skewers to scratch my arm cast, when I broke my wrist. Some people say blowing cool air into the cast, from a blow dryer can help. The tapping the cast thing to create a vibration to stop the itch is a crock! Feel better soon!
MyDailyMineField – Thank you so much for the well wishes 🙂
Sorry to hear about your fall. I had a spiral fracture of my left humerus a few years back. It has to be the worst kind of break, so you are doing so well to remain so positive and amusing. Bless you, dear friend.
LizzieJoy – Now YOU’RE break — spiral fracture, left humerus — was a HUGE deal! Mine is absolutely nothing compared to that. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Ouch! Poor you honey 😦
Love it, no climbing trees,
like you’d be able to!!!!
Awwwww, get well soon honey and
make sure everyone spoils you!
Xx
Vikki – I assure you that I’m being spoiled to within an inch of my life 🙂
Glad to hear it 🙂
Xx
So sorry to hear of your recent accident! Hope you leg heals SOON! I’m very impressed with your upbeat spirits and hot-pink cast!!! Very chic, madam! 🙂 Keep smiling!
Deb – If you’ve gotta wear a cast, HOT PINK definitely lifts the spirit 🙂
Laurie, I’m so sorry for your mishap and subsequent circumstances. I had a full leg cast for 12 weeks when I was five and still remember the itching! They were really heavy then too! I love that you have maintained a sense of humor, it sure can help keep things in perspective! Being forced to slow down may just offer you many new insights and opportunities. I will watch for updates. You are in my thoughts!
Dorothy – Like you, when I was a child my right arm was in one of those heavy plaster casts, but only for 6 weeks. Holy Cow – you had a FULL leg cast for 12 weeks! I can’t even begin to image that.
Oh my. Not fun. I think the chopstick idea is better than knitting needles. Take care 🙂
Winsomebella – Yes! I’m afraid I’d skewer myself with knitting needles 🙂
Love the snazzy cast, Laurie, and wishing you some relief from the itching! I hope I never break a bone… I’m itching to get outside and do some gardening, if only the wind would stop blowing long enough to enjoy the sunshine…
Barbara R. – I’m itching right along with you to get outside. Let’s hope spring makes a here-to-stay comeback in the near future 🙂
Oh dear! I do hope you have NOT been climbing trees or using your cast as a weapon! Yes…I’m sure that itch must be driving you mad but weapons must be kept under control ok?!! lol 😉 That includes the chopsticks as well as the cast 😀 You know it’ll hurt if you use it as a weapon of mass destruction anyway lol…no 😉 no you didn’t mention the “of mass destruction” but I just thought I’d add it in for you for good measure 😀 Be good now!!
Europasicewolf – Your comment put a face-splitting grin on my face. Thank you 😀
You’re welcome! 😀 And I hope you make a speedy recovery…and the itch doesn’t cause you to reach for the nearest coat hanger… or the chopsticks lol 😉 Get well soon!
Geesh, sorry about that, but if anyone can heal up properly, it’s you 😉
SageDoyle – Great to see you here, thank you for stopping by 🙂
I read all your Tuesday posts, sometimes a little late 😉 And I tried to read back whenever I can. I love your blog, and I appreciate your readership as well. How are you feeling?
SageDoyle – I’m glad my posts resonate with you, thank you for letting me know. The current non-weight-bearing fiberglass cast gets cut off on April 9 and I’ll transition into an air-boot-cast. Whoohoo!
Awesome! You’ll heal up quickly I’m sure 🙂
Oh, I’m so sorry to see you’re injured, Laurie! (But a mighty fine pink cast cover, if I do say so myself!) I can also vouch for the effectiveness of chopsticks to do the scratching 😉
Anne – No worries. I’m at the intersection of Zen (peace) and Genki (happy).
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Be well soon!
Bert – Thank you for your well wishes. I assure you that I’m in rapid recovery mode 🙂
great to hear!
Shall I send you my set of cooking chop sticks? They are extra long. Heal well! xo S
Suzi – Thank you for your kind offer 🙂 So far I’ve been able to get at an itch from either the top end (just below my knee) or from the bottom end (right where my toes start).
I’m so sorry to hear this. I sincerely hope you are resting up and resisting the urge to climb trees and trying your hand err foot at kick boxing. 🙂
Take care this weekend and please be well!
CultFit – And while I’m not climbing (yet), I am zipping around the house on my wheeled office chair (much faster and easier than crutches)…
hehe couldn’t help but giggle. 🙂
Kara – Great to see you here. Thank you for leaving a comment 🙂
P.S. Laurie, I am so amazed at your blog hits! Look~~you’ve past the 300,00 mark! What did you and Len do to celebrate about THIS?
Kathy – We popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and had spicy Thai food 🙂
Man, that sounds like JUST the celebration. You rock, girl!
I’m rockin’ it the best I can with this cast. It gets sawed off at 4pm on April 9, then I transition into a boot-cast that I can remove for showering – whoohoo!
Oh you poor thing. I hope it doesn’t itch too bad, Laurie. We’ll be coming home from FL on the day you get it sawed off.
Ow, you poor thing. I hope it heals quickly and perfectly and I’m glad you found the chopsticks.
Long Life Cats and Dogs – My doctor said it’s coming along beautifully 🙂
lol
Well, get well soon 😉
Britton – I sure will. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
My pleasure 🙂
Very clever post Laurie! Sorry to hear about the slip on the ice, ouch! Glad you found a ‘zen’ approach to it all! 🙂
HelpWithYourLife – Great to see you here. Thank you for the well wishes!
Hope it heals quickly – my youngest son encountered the same problem – he used a flexi ruler! 🙂
Worldly Winds – A flexi ruler? Brilliant!
Oh my goodness! That really sucks! I recently burned myself a 12 X 12 patch on my stomach – 3rd degree burn, and so have been much slower than normal (and have a sudden affinity for loose sweatpants! Ha – 🙂 So sorry to hear about your leg. Thanks for all the Twitter mentions. You are so kind. Keep up the good work and posts.
AirportsMadeSimple – A 12 x 12 patch on your stomach with third-degree burns? Oh my goodness. I just ZIPPED YOU IN A POD! (follow link): https://tuesdayswithlaurie.com/2011/03/03/zipped-in-the-pod/
Oh – a hanger wrapped in thin gauze?
AirportsMadeSimple – Well, well. It’s definitely worth a shot!
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