Ouch! Tiny piece of glass in my foot, how do I get it out?

[jjones]

I think amputation is called for.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: Kyteland
If you want the serious but absolutely disgusting method of removing it, use a bread and milk poultice.

Get a bit of bread (the cheap kind works great) and get it soaked with milk. Place over the entry point and cover so it doesn't leak (like with a plastic bag and athletic tape). This will remove anything: splinters, glass, boils, infections, anything. The only downside is that is is the nastiest feeling thing and you have to leave it on for a number of hours for it to work.

My mom made me use one when I was little on a very infected ingrown toenail and it cleared it right up. I still shudder every time I think about it.

So why exactly does that work? I'm sure there's a logical explanation but I'm having trouble making the connection here.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: Encryptic

Originally posted by: Kyteland
If you want the serious but absolutely disgusting method of removing it, use a bread and milk poultice.

Get a bit of bread (the cheap kind works great) and get it soaked with milk. Place over the entry point and cover so it doesn't leak (like with a plastic bag and athletic tape). This will remove anything: splinters, glass, boils, infections, anything. The only downside is that is is the nastiest feeling thing and you have to leave it on for a number of hours for it to work.

My mom made me use one when I was little on a very infected ingrown toenail and it cleared it right up. I still shudder every time I think about it.

So why exactly does that work? I'm sure there's a logical explanation but I'm having trouble making the connection here.

Maybe it's like in Gladiator when that Ethiopian dude put maggots on Maximus' wound to clean out the infection. :disgust:

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Kyteland
If you want the serious but absolutely disgusting method of removing it, use a bread and milk poultice.

Get a bit of bread (the cheap kind works great) and get it soaked with milk. Place over the entry point and cover so it doesn't leak (like with a plastic bag and athletic tape). This will remove anything: splinters, glass, boils, infections, anything. The only downside is that is is the nastiest feeling thing and you have to leave it on for a number of hours for it to work.

My mom made me use one when I was little on a very infected ingrown toenail and it cleared it right up. I still shudder every time I think about it.

Do magic pink hippos do the mamba in the background?

 

[imported_Tomato]

Okay, I'm back... my coworker had a pin, two small knives, and a very dull pair of tweezers. He put some rubbing alcohol on my foot, dug around, and had to cut a flap of skin off with the knife. It hurt like HELL. After digging and carving around for awhile, he finally pulled out a TINY sliver of glass... now my foot is bandaged and sore, but the sharp piercing pain is gone when I walk. I'm going to go home and vacuum my kitchen floor, I'm afraid there may be many more of those little slivers lying around... last night after the plate broke, I just wiped up the big pieces with a piece of paper towel.

Thanks to all for the suggestions, I'll be sure to keep them in mind should this ever again (but hopefully, it won't).

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: Encryptic

Originally posted by: Kyteland
If you want the serious but absolutely disgusting method of removing it, use a bread and milk poultice.

Get a bit of bread (the cheap kind works great) and get it soaked with milk. Place over the entry point and cover so it doesn't leak (like with a plastic bag and athletic tape). This will remove anything: splinters, glass, boils, infections, anything. The only downside is that is is the nastiest feeling thing and you have to leave it on for a number of hours for it to work.

My mom made me use one when I was little on a very infected ingrown toenail and it cleared it right up. I still shudder every time I think about it.

So why exactly does that work? I'm sure there's a logical explanation but I'm having trouble making the connection here.

I don't know exactly how it works, but I'm sure google will enlighten me in just a bit.

And to you mumbo-jumbo people, don't knock it til you try it. Just because it sounds a little weird doesn't mean it won't work. My mom (an RN for 20 years) swears by it.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: Encryptic

Originally posted by: Kyteland
If you want the serious but absolutely disgusting method of removing it, use a bread and milk poultice.

Get a bit of bread (the cheap kind works great) and get it soaked with milk. Place over the entry point and cover so it doesn't leak (like with a plastic bag and athletic tape). This will remove anything: splinters, glass, boils, infections, anything. The only downside is that is is the nastiest feeling thing and you have to leave it on for a number of hours for it to work.

My mom made me use one when I was little on a very infected ingrown toenail and it cleared it right up. I still shudder every time I think about it.

So why exactly does that work? I'm sure there's a logical explanation but I'm having trouble making the connection here.

Maybe it's like in Gladiator when that Ethiopian dude put maggots on Maximus' wound to clean out the infection. :disgust:

Admittedly, it's been a while since I watched Gladiator. However, I thought he put something he was chewing on Maximus' wound to help heal the infection, as opposed to putting maggots on there. Too bad I'm not at home or I'd put it on and check.

For what it's worth, "maggot therapy" has been proven to be a viable method of removing necrotic tissue from certain types of infections or wounds, as gross as it may sound.

 

[dman]

I try reversing them, but, normally have to cut 'em out (slivers, glass, whatever), ends up making the 'wound' worse but the shrapnel is gone. Sounds like it's happened a lot, but, not really

The Bread and milk thing seems like it would just infect you... and maybe that's why it works because the body is trying to fight it off and forcing stuff out, etc? Gross but if it works and is safe... I'd consider it the next time.

linkage.

 

[Megatomic]

I think that was to cover up the wound/maggots, like a sealant. But I don't remember exactly either, it's been a long time since I've seen the movie, also.

 

[kage69]

OUCH!!!!!!!! That sounds REALLY painful... what kind of blade did you use? A shaving razor? I hope I don't have to resort to that

I did originally try a razor, but it wouldn't bite enough. I ended up resorting to my 10" yanagiba slicer, which I had just touched up with a diamond stone a few days prior. Yep, it hurt, but I got the little bastard! It must have been next to a nerve or something, because when I would walk with it still in, not only did it hurt like hell, but it would send a little jolt up my leg. You can only ignore that for so long I guess... glad to hear you got it out!

 

[RaDragon]

I stepped on a sewing needle once, and had to pull it out by myself because my sisters were squeamish and couldn't even look at it...

Good to know you're ok!

 

[MrChad]

I accidentally kicked a sea urchin while swimming off the beach in Capri. Spent the rest of the afternoon digging spines out of my foot with a Swiss Army knife.

 

[Megatomic]

Hey Tomato, I avoid slivers and such in my feet by keeping my shoes on until just before bed. My wife and kids are all accident prone and much glass is broken in my house.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Kyteland
I don't know exactly how it works, but I'm sure google will enlighten me in just a bit.

And to you mumbo-jumbo people, don't knock it til you try it. Just because it sounds a little weird doesn't mean it won't work. My mom (an RN for 20 years) swears by it.

Heat can help stop the spread of infection, but mind telling me how milk and bread "draw out infection." Find some medical data on that one, because all of my books have me laughing at you.

 

[HonkeyDonk]

similar thing happened to me before. But it was with a toothpick. There was a toothpick that was sort of sticking up from the carpet. I didn't see it and stepped on it and it literally stabbed the bottom of my heel.

Hurt like a bitch and I pulled it out. However, few days later, I coudln't walk on the foot b/c about 1/4" of the tip of the toothpick was stuck in my foot. I had to cut open my skin like you did and squeeze the little fscker out. Pain.

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: dman
I try reversing them, but, normally have to cut 'em out (slivers, glass, whatever), ends up making the 'wound' worse but the shrapnel is gone. Sounds like it's happened a lot, but, not really

The Bread and milk thing seems like it would just infect you... and maybe that's why it works because the body is trying to fight it off and forcing stuff out, etc? Gross but if it works and is safe... I'd consider it the next time.

linkage.

I don't think that's why it works. It is very effective at making boils come to a head, and will cause a lot of drainage from a wound. So far google hasn't yeilded anything concrete. This may be a good question to ask The Straight Dope. They can answer anything.

 

[Megatomic]

HonkeyDonk, your story reminded me of when I was chopping wood and jabbed myself in the calf with some kind of weed a lot like bamboo (in Upstate NY though). It broke off and I pulled a little bit out and thought that was it. A week later it swelled up and formed a green head. I treated it with peroxide and bandages but that did nothing. After another week it started to leak and it stank. I then squeezed it like a zit (only much harder) and out popped a big chunk of decomposing weed and "stuff". :shocked: :Q

OMFG I was so grossed out. I still have a scar there 19 years later.

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: Kyteland
I don't know exactly how it works, but I'm sure google will enlighten me in just a bit.

And to you mumbo-jumbo people, don't knock it til you try it. Just because it sounds a little weird doesn't mean it won't work. My mom (an RN for 20 years) swears by it.

Heat can help stop the spread of infection, but mind telling me how milk and bread "draw out infection." Find some medical data on that one, because all of my books have me laughing at you.

I don't think it is so much as drawing out an infection as it causes a lot of drainage. In the case of boils it will bring them to a head and draw out the puss. This would be similar to lancing it and squeezing. It works similarly for splinters or glass. The drainage will pull the shard with it. It does nothing to fight infection other than a lot of the bacteria ends up in the poultice and then you clean it up and throw it away.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: Kyteland
I don't think it is so much as drawing out an infection as it causes a lot of drainage. In the case of boils it will bring them to a head and draw out the puss. This would be similar to lancing it and squeezing. It works similarly for splinters or glass. The drainage will pull the shard with it. It does nothing to fight infection other than a lot of the bacteria ends up in the poultice and then you clean it up and throw it away.

I understand how it works with abscesses and boils and splinters, etc. I fail to see how it would clear up cellulitis, and that is the only thing that would require the magic pink hippos.

Basically, you're saying that the poultice does the same thing as lancing and draining pus, and then bandaging it. The body heals the infection. Unfortunately this won't work for severe cellulitis.

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: Kyteland
I don't think it is so much as drawing out an infection as it causes a lot of drainage. In the case of boils it will bring them to a head and draw out the puss. This would be similar to lancing it and squeezing. It works similarly for splinters or glass. The drainage will pull the shard with it. It does nothing to fight infection other than a lot of the bacteria ends up in the poultice and then you clean it up and throw it away.

I understand how it works with abscesses and boils and splinters, etc. I fail to see how it would clear up cellulitis, and that is the only thing that would require the magic pink hippos.

Basically, you're saying that the poultice does the same thing as lancing and draining pus, and then bandaging it. The body heals the infection. Unfortunately this won't work for severe cellulitis.

If you say so. I have no idea how or why it works. I've only ever used it on an ingrown toenail when I was ~10 and it drained it and it healed right up after it had been lingering for weeks.

 

[Adul]

i have had a similiar issue happen to me, except it was on the side of my foot. I lived with the pain for a couple of weeks before i dug around and pulled out a sliver of glass. what a relief that was.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
HonkeyDonk, your story reminded me of when I was chopping wood and jabbed myself in the calf with some kind of weed a lot like bamboo (in Upstate NY though). It broke off and I pulled a little bit out and thought that was it. A week later it swelled up and formed a green head. I treated it with peroxide and bandages but that did nothing. After another week it started to leak and it stank. I then squeezed it like a zit (only much harder) and out popped a big chunk of decomposing weed and "stuff". :shocked: :Q

OMFG I was so grossed out. I still have a scar there 19 years later.

:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q

 

[Megatomic]

Yeah, sorry Tomato. It was a pretty gross story.

 

[Squisher]

Metal slivers are a way of life for me.

At work I have a full assortment scalpels and dental picks that I've sharpened to points.

I also have a jewelers eyepiece (jewelers loupe) on hand.

In 27 years on the job I've had 3 or 4 in my eyes (one hot one stuck to my pupil that was so big I could see it looking out).



I've often told my wife that one day be prepared to have to pull one out of my butt if an errant one falls on a toilet seat. She always said I'd have to take it my mother or an emergency room.:roll:

 

[TechnoKid]

Its all about lexan plates. I have a small set of a lexan plate, cup and fork, spoon and knife.