Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to minor injuries with this stupid problem?

34 replies

LaughableMonarchy · 03/05/2023 07:33

Last week I felt like the underside of my foot was a bit sore, nothing too bad so I didn’t even look to see if there was anything there as the pain was so slight.
Then on Sunday I was walking around the house and suddenly felt an intense sharp pain in my foot … I looked to see if there was anything there and I realised I had what looked like a dog hair stuck in my skin. This happens to me all the time as dog has short needle type hair - normally I feel the pain, find the hair and pull it out - job done.

So I tried to pull this out but it’s gone undetected for too long and the skin has healed over it! I tried to pick it out with my nails but I couldn’t get to it. I gave up in the end.

Next day the pain is getting worse but it’s not a constant pain, just every now and again I get that sharp stab. I got some tweezers and tried to dig it out … can’t reach it … I even tried to scrape some skin away but it’s so deep I just can’t reach it.

Yesterday the pain was more regular and today it’s constant, hurting everytime I put pressure on that foot.

I have two options …

  1. Go to minor injuries today for what seems like a ridiculous problem (but I’m worried it will get infected and it obviously can’t stay there!)
  1. wait until I’m at work tomorrow, get a scalpel (I work in healthcare) and perform a minor operation on myself tomorrow. With no pain relief 😭

Will MI even give me pain relief??! Will they do anything about it anyway? It’s getting difficult to walk

OP posts:
Gtsr443 · 03/05/2023 07:36
  1. wait until I’m at work tomorrow, get a scalpel (I work in healthcare) and perform a minor operation on myself tomorrow. With no pain relief 😭

This. Ice foot to numb it. Whack a lot of antiseptic on it before and after. Dress it well. Take some ibuprofen.

Tempone · 03/05/2023 07:42

Isn't this the exact kind of thing minor injuries is for. I wouldn't be performing minor surgery! Get a professional to do it.

doverper · 03/05/2023 07:44

Sorry you're in pain OP. Would something like drawing ointment from a pharmacy help?

Nursemumma92 · 03/05/2023 07:45

No don't do it yourself, this is very much a minor injuries problem. Unsure on pain relief as local anaesthetic doesn't work so well in infected tissue but the staff will be able to advise you on your options. Hope you can get it sorted!

Nursemumma92 · 03/05/2023 07:46

Sorry having reread the OP I am not sure I where I got that it was infected from! I'll blame sleep deprivation but hopefully they'll put some local in and remove it that way.

User17865 · 03/05/2023 07:48

Surely they could use some cold spray? That what they used to remove a tick head from my DC. I’d definitely get them to do it. They’ll be able to see better etc than trying to do it yourself.

TomeTome · 03/05/2023 07:52

I’d soak it in hot water and then put a corn plaster (the ones that are like a circle with the centre cut out) and see if it pops out.

Cakeorchocolate · 03/05/2023 07:59

Unless you're used to using scalpels in your role at work, don't do it yourself with one.

Are you sure you can't get at it with a combination of needle and tweezers.

With similar situation I've managed to gently make a route with a pin (sewing pin) until I can get at it with tweezers.

SchoolShenanigans · 03/05/2023 08:01

I work in healthcare. We care there to help. Much better to seek treatment now than to wait until you have a full-blown infection.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/05/2023 08:02

Well technically you could get sacked for using medical equipment on yourself. But we've all done it!

Toddlerteaplease · 03/05/2023 08:03

If its really painful get it seen today.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 03/05/2023 08:04

I would have thought minor injuries would love to have a go at this. Either that or have a go yourself, wait till that gets really painful/infected/unsuccessful then go to minor injuries and ‘fess up. They’ll really enjoy that too. Your choice.

Original poster
LaughableMonarchy · 03/05/2023 08:37

I’m in minor injuries now - feel so stupid when there are people here with broken limbs etc 😬

OP posts:
TallulahBetty · 03/05/2023 08:39

LaughableMonarchy · 03/05/2023 08:37

I’m in minor injuries now - feel so stupid when there are people here with broken limbs etc 😬

You're in the right place. Not sure a broken limb is a minor injury..

Calmdown14 · 03/05/2023 08:40

You could try magnesium sulphate paste on it first. My husband works with metal and I use it often for drawing out metal splinters. It's often enough to get the tweezers in.

The problem is it's on your foot so hard not to use it!

BodyKeepingScore · 03/05/2023 09:25

This is something a podiatrist can treat without you going to the emergency department or minor injuries.

MyrrAgain · 03/05/2023 09:29

Go to the walk in - I had this but in my hand - maybe a splinter but I wasn't sure. Thought I'd got it out but it continued to hurt and then I didn't want to try myself as was too long since it first got under the skin and very difficult to remove for me at home. Was a few hours but they got it and had a very small bandage and all good in the end. I apologised a lot to the nurse but it was probably better to be done with sterile equipment and someone with steady hand etc.

Changeling78 · 03/05/2023 09:30

We need a photo, and then a full video of it getting removed. Thanks in advance 😂

MyrrAgain · 03/05/2023 09:31

.... I mean I had to wait around for a few hours at the unit. Not that it took hours to do the procedure! That bit was quick

Wishiwasatailor · 03/05/2023 09:33

Ex MIU/ED nurse….I loved this kind of thing very satisfying! I personally would be taking a scalpel to get it out but I’ve had lots of practice and know what I’m doing (and know when to stop!)

Also to @TallulahBetty broken limbs….completely appropriate for MIU

Original poster
LaughableMonarchy · 03/05/2023 10:50

I’m home, she couldn’t get it out … not even sure if there is something there! It looks like a tiny black speck but she made a hole in my foot and still couldn’t get it out 😭 offered to send me god ultrasound scan but I’ve declined, really can’t be doing with sitting in hospital all day for a tiny thing in my foot.

I’ve got inadine on it now and just hoping it will come out by itself 😬 I’ll try and rest it / keep off it today and see if that helps. Poor dogs won’t be happy they’re not getting walked

OP posts:
Original poster
LaughableMonarchy · 03/05/2023 10:51

RE. Broken limbs … this MIU has an X-ray machine which is why they all go there trying to avoid A&E

OP posts:
Wishiwasatailor · 03/05/2023 10:58

you can buy magnesium sulphate over the counter in most pharmacies might help draw it out.

Soubriquet · 03/05/2023 11:01

LaughableMonarchy · 03/05/2023 10:51

RE. Broken limbs … this MIU has an X-ray machine which is why they all go there trying to avoid A&E

Our MIU has an x-ray machine too. Broken limbs are encouraged to go to MIU unless it’s for children. They won’t x-ray children

Xiaoxiong · 03/05/2023 11:14

Off topic but quite curious to know what kind of dog you have with needle sharp hair!

My mum has a tiny piece of glass in the heel of her hand, and has been putting hydrogen peroxide on it (with seemingly little success). I'm going to tell her to go to her local MIU to see if they can get it out.