Shit I just stood on a nail

[lizzlebizzle33]

Just stood on a dirty nail in the garden, it went through my shoe and into my foot.
I haven't had a tetanus shot for years and years, do you think I need one? It's not a big wound, it's stopped bleeding and doesn't hurt. And the nail wasn't rusty.

Anyone have any advice? I'm also still breastfeeding my 8 months old and not sure if I can if I get a shot, feeling concerned.....

You might need tetanus. Can you phone 111 and ask what you should do?

You need a tetanus. Phone gp in the morning

You'd be best to phone your own GP 's out of hours number. They're more likely to have your medical records and be able to tell if you need a jab.

Have you had many tetanus injections? I queried at the gp and was told I'd had enough that I shouldn't ever need one again thanks to ky clumsiness.

Best suggestion is to make up a bowl of salt water and soak your foot in it to make sure the wound is completely clean. Then put a clean dry dressing on it. If the wound is open and wide then see a chemist tomorrow and ask if they would recommend steri strips to close it or to leave it or see the nurse at your GP surgery.

I wouldn't think there is anything to worry about as long as it hasn't hit the bone in your foot or ruptured an artery. Just keep it clean.

As above, warm salty water to clean out and ring GO for advice tomorrow re tetanus jab - make sure u do ring as it can be fatal

Clean wound well and call GP in the morning for advice. Hope it doesn't hurt too much

Tetanus jab tomorrow!

I did the same when i was breastfeeding my dd. I went to GP and because i had had the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy i did not need another tetanus booster (the whooping cough booster has tetanus, polio amd diptheria boosters in it too). GP should be able to tell you when your last one was and if you need another (not sure if everyone has the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy or if its regional)

I stood on a nail last year. It only went into my foot a tiny bit. You need to get a tetanus jab within 48 hours and they don't hurt or leave a nasty hard lump like they used too, as I have learned! Make sure the wound is very clean as I ended up with it going septic as a tiny bit of dirt was left in. I cleaned it really well too.

Thank you all, soaking it in salt water now, I will phone my GP in the morning and see what they say. Fucks sake! It doesn't can hurt and is a tiny hole not bleeding but I'm super worried.
@frippit did you get a shot and it still went septic?

I cut the skin on my shin on the metal door frame, they made me have the jab!

I did the exact same thing a few years ago. It bloody hurt & pulling the nail out was grim... I did get a tetanus jab.

The tetanus shot won't stop a wound becoming infected. The new vaccine lasts for 10 years, so your GP will know if you are covered or not.

I did this maybe 5 yrs ago. I phoned surgery. Only dealt with them over the phone at the time. I told them I could remember having 3 tetanus jabs in my life, last time about 16 yrs earlier.

"You don't need a tetanus jab, you're all up to date." They insisted.
For various reasons a few years later I asked for my vaccination records that they held.
They were adamant: they had no records whatsoever about my vaccinations. Ever.
I now wouldn't expect a GP to have any records about me at all in anyway, tbh!!

You need to show them the wound so they can make a decision, is my best advice. My guess is you don't need it, tbh, but they will go on the look of the wound.

I've since read it takes 3-5 jabs to get lifelong immunity.

Hi, yes the jab only protects you from tetanus. Nail only just broke the surface of the skin and I thought a good wash and it would be fine.

Tetnus jab needed as soon as you can manage. You can get tetnus from most sharp garden things even a rose thorn. Dont leave it.

I did this last week, cleaned it well and put clean socks on tbh I didnt even think about tetanus jabs.
Did it just break the surface or actually go into your foot?

My DH did this - went to A&E- they said the bugs in the trainer that have been pushed into your foot are what you need to worry about- i kid you not. I thought they might be pulling his leg- but they did put him on antibiotics. I've googled...
bottomlineinc.com/health/fungal/sneaker-foot-the-infection-thats-a-greater-risk-than-tetanus

Thank you all for your replies, I did go and get a jab yesterday so hopefully it should be fine 😁 ironically my arm hurts more from the jab than my foot does from the nail.

@B00dyM4ry that's interesting and good to hear as I was bare foot when I stood on a nail.

My DD is a student paramedic. One of her first placement shifts was a call to a house where a teenage girl in flip flops had stood on a fence nail. It had gone right through her foot and out the top. DD said the nail was still attached to a fence panel so they had to get the fire brigade to come and cut the panel down enough to get her into the ambulance! One of the fire fighters took one look at the foot (clearly seeing bone and flesh and blood) and threw up everywhere so DD ended up looking after him while the two paramedics looked after the girl.

In total with the mum, 5 other kids, full fire crew, 3 paramedics and half the neighbours round there were about 30 people in the garden!

She said it was quite comical and the girl was fine, just had to have some minor surgery on her foot.