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.
Related: Broken ankle survival supplies
The upside to this situation is that I figured out the things you need should you find yourself in a similar situation with a broken bone. We’ve got you covered. Here’s all the broken arm survival supplies you need to get through the next few weeks.
You Broke Your Arm. Now What?
First of all you should know the signs of a broken arm. Pain, swelling and bruising are some obvious signs, in addition to not being able to use your arm as usual. All of these warrant medical care.
- Visit your healthcare provider so they can determine next steps. You will need a physical exam and an x-ray to determine the type of fracture and the course of treatment.
- You can choose to see your primary care provider or to visit an urgent care.
- If you have an open fracture, you should obviously go straight to the emergency room.
- While you wait on doctor appointments, x-rays, casts, surgery, etc. do your best to keep the injured area immobile to avoid further injury.
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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, especially when combined with fiberglass casts. 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, which you may need depending on the type of fracture you have.
- 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 packs ($15) – boring but necessary, especially if you’re out of frozen peas. Helps with pain relief!

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. The good news is that you the healing process more comfortable by having these supplies on hand:
- 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.

Broken Arm Survival Items
Bone fractures hurt! Let’s make getting ready a little less painful with these helpful tools.
- 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
Looking for something to watch while you’re home bound? Check out our guides to binge-watching some of our favorite shows!

More Great Ideas from Megan and Wendy!
- Avoid Summer Errands by Stocking Up on These Items
- Freezer and Pantry Staples
- Broken Ankle Survival Supplies
We’re Your New Best Friends
Hi, we’re Megan and Wendy your midlife besties! Join us on Patreon every Monday where we’re talking everyday life, pop culture, and more!
You can also find us on “Girls Gone Hallmark” on Tuesdays and Thursdays where we review new and fan-favorite Hallmark movies and ask the question: Did you see that?
