Health Do it your self surgery

[Faroe]

I can hardly type. Was scooping shattered hay out of the goat feeder, and got a splinter under the nail. When I looked, I realized that I had two splinters; one under the ring finger nail, and another under the middle finger nail. The ring finger hurt so much I really couldn't feel the middle finger.

I *KNOW* not to scoop hay that way, because it has happened before, but both of these splinters were almost 9mm long! Yes, I got out a little ruler and measured them through the nail.

Two pairs of reading glasses - one over the other, and a hand held magnifying glass
Jewlery precision wire cutters
two sets of tweesers

Ouch.

After much cutting into the quick of the nail bed, I was able to pull each out without breaking the end off.

 

[Reborn]

Ewww, OUCH! It's a relief to get those out asap.

 

[BigFootsCousin]

Next time video tape it, put it on YouTube with 'Ads' allowed......sit back and make MONEY!

 

[summerthyme]

Your tetanus vaccination is up to date, right? Oddly, "slivers" and other small (and dirty) foreign objects probably cause more tetanus cases in unvaccinated horses, cattle and humans than the proverbial "rusty nail".

I make a soak with a handful of calendula flowers, a couple crushed cloves of garlic, strong salt water (1/2 cup salt to 2 cups water) and a few drops of essential oil of oregano. We use this to treat nasty skin infections or to help prevent them. This would be a good place for it.

Summerthyme

 

[Raggedyman]

Your tetanus vaccination is up to date, right? Oddly, "slivers" and other small (and dirty) foreign objects probably cause more tetanus cases in unvaccinated horses, cattle and humans than the proverbial "rusty nail".

I make a soak with a handful of calendula flowers, a couple crushed cloves of garlic, strong salt water (1/2 cup salt to 2 cups water) and a few drops of essential oil of oregano. We use this to treat nasty skin infections or to help prevent them. This would be a good place for it.

Summerthyme

Summer
many thanks for the excellent recipe -

 

[Faroe]

Summer
many thanks for the excellent recipe -

Yes. Thanks from me too. Was surprised to find this thread active again. Wounds healed - took a few days. About a week ago, I banged up the knuckle of the little finger on the left hand. Hurt more than it should have - and kept hurting. Never looked infected but was very stiff. Two nights ago, I noticed a scabby looking protrusion. Again, added the second pair of readers, and the jeweler's tweesers. Pokeing around, pulled out another near centimeter long splinter! No wonder the joint was stiff - it was literally splinted.

 

[FireDance]

Yes. Thanks from me too. Was surprised to find this thread active again. Wounds healed - took a few days. About a week ago, I banged up the knuckle of the little finger on the left hand. Hurt more than it should have - and kept hurting. Never looked infected but was very stiff. Two nights ago, I noticed a scabby looking protrusion. Again, added the second pair of readers, and the jeweler's tweesers. Pokeing around, pulled out another near centimeter long splinter! No wonder the joint was stiff - it was literally splinted.

Gosh. You need to come live here. It's definitely Injury Alley. Busted toes, burns, thumb almost removed by a jar someone fell on. So far no splinter injuries. (Your skills are needed!). Lol.

Thanks for the recipe ST!

 

[summerthyme]

Yeah, I didn't see that this was an older thread until just now.

On that soak... I invented it one long Memorial Day weekend when our daughter had a hangnail on her big toe get infected (why does it always happen on holiday weekends!? LOL!) By Sunday, the toe was shiny and dark blue, and I was carefully monitoring it for signs of blood poisoning. We were trying to get through the weekend so we could get her into her pediatrician, not go to the ER for something (relatively) minor.

But it was ugly, and it couldn't go much longer. So I mixed the soak up and had her soak it for 10-15 minutes at a time, probably three times that afternoon. Monday morning when she woke up, I honestly couldn't believe it! The swelling was gone, the skin was just slightly reddened, and while the whole toe was wrinkled and the skin was peeling in spots from the infection and fever, it was essentially "cured".

We've used it many times since, and it's very effective. If the affected part isn't draining at all, you can refrigerate the soak and re-use it for up to 48 hours. But if there is any drainage or pus, you've got to discard it every time. For places on the body that aren't easily fit into a bowl or bucket, soak a clean washcloth in the solution and use it as a compress.

It should be used as hot as you can stand and is safe- test it with your *healthy* body part first! Sometimes you can get some numbness with these infections, and you don't want to add 2nd degree burns to your troubles! But most times, you'll end up having to cool it down a bit, because the sensitivity can make it feel hotter than it is.

By the way, calendula is also known as pot marigold, but isn't related to the common "African" marigold in any way. They are a very easy to grow annual, and will self seed regularly. Pick them as soon as the blossoms are fully opened, and dry them for winter use. As long as you keep picking the flowers, the plants will keep producing them. I usually stop picking in late August so they'll set seed.

Summerthyme