+simplysup Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I'm a digger-outer. Whilst sometimes painful, ahh, the relief when you finally dig the critter out, that might have been bugging you for days. Quote Link to comment
+prot1 Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 i agree they have to be taken out. mainly because the thorns i seem to get are usualy about an inch long Quote Link to comment
+MartyBartfast Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Dig 'em out. Quote Link to comment
+eusty Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I've one in my palm I can't get out...then it went septic The doc didnt really want to know apart from antibiotics so I've just got to wait till it works itself out.... Quote Link to comment
+MartyBartfast Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I've one in my palm I can't get out...then it went septic The doc didnt really want to know apart from antibiotics so I've just got to wait till it works itself out.... My dad (86) has got one in his hand about half an inch long that he got when he was a nipper, the doc didn't want to remove it 'cos it was near the nerves & tendons for his fingers and they didn't want to risk damaging anything, so if he's anything to go by you could be in for a long wait Quote Link to comment
+Graculus Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 2pm Saturday afternoon, out caching with a crowd (Oxford event last September...). Put my hand into a hawthorn bush to get a cache out and got a thorn in the knuckle of my thumb. Hurt a lot, swore a bit and sucked the thumb for a bit..... Couldn't see anything apart from a miniscule red mark. 4pm thumb is a bit sore and red. 5pm thumb is really sore and redder 6pm hand is red and sore so decided to go to the A&E. Doc x-rays it and says nothing in there but it's either an allergic reaction or infection so onto anti-bios. 11pm hand still really sore and red up to the wrist. Got back to hotel just as the party was winding up. Everyone says, "where did you go?" So, dig it out or not. Definitely yes! But in my case it left something behind Chris Graculus Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com UK Geocaching Information & Resources website www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk Geocaching.com Knowledge Books Quote Link to comment
+drsolly Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 1. Don't get medical advice from internet forums. 2. Near me at Mount Vernon Hospital, they have a thing called the "Small injuries unit". I went there recently for my dog bite, and I went there recently for a thorn under a fingernail (ouch!). They dealt with each of those quickly and effectively, although I did need to lend the nurse my needle-nose tweezers for the thorn. There's probably a "Small injuries unit" near you. Quote Link to comment
+eusty Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 My dad (86) has got one in his hand about half an inch long that he got when he was a nipper, the doc didn't want to remove it 'cos it was near the nerves & tendons for his fingers and they didn't want to risk damaging anything, so if he's anything to go by you could be in for a long wait Didn't think it would take that long! I had a bit of glass in may hand as a youngster and that took several years to come out. Quote Link to comment
+eusty Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I went there recently for a thorn under a fingernail (ouch!). They dealt with each of those quickly and effectively, although I did need to lend the nurse my needle-nose tweezers for the thorn. There's probably a "Small injuries unit" near you. Done that as a kid too...ouch!! Quote Link to comment
+Fianccetto Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Wait until I'm home, wash hands, sterilise a needle over a flame & wipe with alcohol & dig it out, then use a swab. Quote Link to comment
+Dave's Piglings Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 there's stuff you can get from a pharmacy over the counter - magnesium sulphate paste that can be dabbed on and left to draw out things that need to come out. The paste won't make anything hurt anymore than it does already and saves the need for poking and prodding. Might need to be on overnight under a plaster for full effect Quote Link to comment
+Stoka Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Another +1 for Magnesium Sulphate here, i've used it before and it works like a charm. Quote Link to comment
+The QCs Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I had a similar reaction to Graculus in that I had a very bad reaction to a hawthorn thorn, I got caught on the shoulder though and it left me unable to move my arm for a few days. Right now I have 2 large thorns in the buggy wheels...so 2 punctures to mend this evening! Quote Link to comment
+simplysup Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 Thanks for the info on magnesium sulphate, a solution I may try next time I have the opportunity. I have a pot already, use it for the whitlows I usually get plagued with in the winter months. Quote Link to comment
+CnJnA Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Magnesium sulphate as suggested before is also known as "drawing ointment" by some of the older generation, and some of the not so old ones who forget what its proper name is.... Quote Link to comment
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