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Broken Arm Survival Supplies

Home & Family

Hi, I’m Wendy. I did something really dumb and wound up snapping my ulna bone in two. The days between the break and surgery were painful and miserable. Post surgery was even harder as I learned to adapt my everyday life with barely functioning arm.

The upside to this situation is that I figured out the things you need should you find yourself in a similar situation. We’ve got you covered. Here’s all the broken arm survival supplies you need to get through the next few weeks.

This post has been updated for 2022.

Got a broken arm? We're sharing everything you need to help get through the next few weeks. I promise, these aren't things you even think you need until you do.
Did you break your arm? Or maybe someone in your family has and you need to know QUICKLY what you need to get by. Here’s a list of broken arm survival supplies that will get you through the next few weeks.

This post contains affiliate links.

List of everything a person needs if they have a broken arm.
A list of everything you need if you find yourself or someone in your home with a broken arm.

Things To Make Life Easier with a Broken Arm

First and foremost, you need a sling. The hospital will send you home with a terrible, itchy-scratcy sling that will make you miserable. You also need a pillow for support and elevation.

  • Think Ergo Arm Sling ($18.95) – practical, breathable and adjustable. Highly rated on Amazon.
  • Zelen Arm Elevation Pillow Support ($50) – made of soft form, for both left and right arms. Great for post surgery recovery.
  • Waterproof Arm Cast Cover ($15) – this is a MUST HAVE. You’ll need to shower and you can’t get anything wet. Megan says this is a far better alternative to the old days when we would wrap a plastic bread bag around a cast and hope it didn’t get wet!
  • Gel ice cold packs ($15) – boring but necessary, especially if you’re out of frozen peas.
This is my actual x-ray from the emergency room. The break was to the ulna bone which most often requires surgery to repair.

Broken Arm Supplies

The days between my emergency room visit and surgery were long and tough. It was a lot of laying around, a lot of pain medication and a lot of TV.

  • Comfortable pajamas ($25) – soft, button up, and short sleeve pajamas. Super easy to get in and out of for showers and to pull down for trips to the restroom.
  • Insulated tumbler with handle ($25) – a tumbler that keeps water cold bedside is a must, especially one with a handle for easy use.
  • Pill sorter ($15) – it’s a must to keep your pain medication organized. This one is especially great because it is sorted by the days of the week, four times a day.
  • Short sleeve, button down shirt ($24) – I love this shirt, I own this shirt. Pulls over head easily, nice wide short sleeves to accommodate a cast and is comfortable for lounging, wearing to the doctor’s office, or physical therapy.
Wendy with a broken arm, standing outside the emergency room.
Felt cute. Might delete later. Leaving the emergency room with nothing but a temporary cast and lots of pain medication.

Broken Arm Survival Items

  • Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer ($35) or a Hair Dryer Stand ($28) – The Revlon One-Step definitely lives up to its one-handed potential and gives a great blow-out. The hair dryer stand is totally hands-free using a suction cup to hold it stable.
  • Leave-in Conditioner Spray – the bed head is no joke.
  • Body wash, Lotion and Shampoo in a pump – pumps are necessary with one usable hand.
  • Floss Sticks – If you can’t do it one handed, it’s not happening. Enter these floss sticks.
  • Spray Deodorant – When one hand is basically useless, spray deodorant will allow you to get into both pits, although with somewhat less accuracy on one side than the other.

Watch Megan use the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer

While you’re homebound, might we suggest a binge-watch? I’m a fan of Downton Abbey, but not even days of bedrest will get Wendy to watch. We both love Gilmore Girls and have written out our ultimate guides to binge-watching these shows.

Supplies for a Broken Arm - If you've broken your arm and find yourself wondering how to do everything one-handed, we've got solutions from Amazon and Target that will make your life easier.

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