Probably don't do what I did and keep lifting with the cast. I used machines that I could just push or pull against instead of having to hold the weight in my hand. I don't really know if I hurt my recovery or not, I was in a cast for 6-8 weeks, don't remember exact time. The doc wanted to take me out of it after the second cast at 6 weeks, but take it easy for another 2. I told her to go ahead and put another cast back on or I would definitely overdo it without one on my hand. Been out of cast since June or so, took about 4 more weeks of light duty at work, and been back since end of July or so. It gets a little tender now and then, but nothing has really sidelined my lifting since, i am just very conscious of it and if something twinges or feels funny, I back off.