I stepped on a long, dirty and rusty nail

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a participant who stepped on a long, dirty, and rusty nail, leading to concerns about pain, potential injury, and the need for medical attention. Participants explore the implications of the injury, including the possibility of broken toes, infection, and the importance of seeking professional medical help.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses significant pain and concern about potentially broken toes, questioning the effectiveness of home treatment.
  • Several participants strongly advise seeking immediate medical attention, citing risks of infection and the need for a tetanus booster shot.
  • Some participants highlight the importance of health over work-related concerns, suggesting that income should not take precedence over health.
  • There are mentions of personal experiences with similar injuries, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation and the potential for complications like blood poisoning.
  • One participant notes logistical challenges in getting to a hospital, including distance and family reluctance, while others stress that these should not deter seeking care.
  • Concerns are raised about the inadequacy of topical antiseptics for deep wounds, with suggestions that deeper cleaning and professional evaluation are necessary.
  • Some participants express frustration at the original poster's delay in seeking help, questioning their priorities in light of the injury.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is a strong consensus among participants that medical attention is necessary, although the original poster expresses hesitation and logistical concerns about going to the hospital. Disagreement exists regarding the urgency of the situation and the best course of action given the circumstances.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various symptoms and risks associated with untreated puncture wounds, including infection and the need for specific medical treatments. There is an acknowledgment of the potential for complications, but no consensus on the immediate next steps for the original poster.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals seeking insights into the importance of medical care for puncture wounds, the risks associated with neglecting such injuries, and the varying perspectives on health versus work-related priorities.

  • #61
or b) rebellious enough to think that he's invincible...
 
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  • #62
wolram said:
You must be a ghost, Evo is never wrong :rolleyes:
I was just pulling his leg. :-p
 
  • #63
Evo said:
I was just pulling his leg. :-p

 
  • #64
Pengwuino said:
or b) rebellious enough to think that he's invincible...
We're hoping that's NOT the case. :rolleyes:
 
  • #65
Moonbear said:
We're hoping that's NOT the case. :rolleyes:

Kids...

Should have told him "if someone shot you in the arm, would you walk it off?" :biggrin:
 
  • #66
Normally if it were just pain when he walked, I would say ehhh big deal. But since he said it felt as bad as a broken foot (which he had before), then it's not a small cut.
 
  • #67
cyrusabdollahi said:
Normally if it were just pain when he walked, I would say ehhh big deal. But since he said it felt as bad as a broken foot (which he had before), then it's not a small cut.
That's what worries me the most...the pain radiating to his toes. Could be nerve damage (though that would more likely be numbness than pain), or that he hit the bone with the nail, possibly even chipped the bone, but either way, it means it's a very deep wound, or that infection is already setting in for the inflammation to be spreading so far outward from the wound itself.

I really hope he's gone to get treatment. I'm going to worry about him all night now. :frown:
 
  • #68
He's a tough kid, I'm sure he will be fine and go to the hospital.

I can't say the same about Pengwuino though. I think he goes to the hospital every time he makes cheese sticks. :rolleyes:

I think they lock the doors when they see Pengwuino coming.
 
  • #69
Moonbear said:
That's what worries me the most...the pain radiating to his toes. Could be nerve damage (though that would more likely be numbness than pain), or that he hit the bone with the nail, possibly even chipped the bone, but either way, it means it's a very deep wound, or that infection is already setting in for the inflammation to be spreading so far outward from the wound itself.

I really hope he's gone to get treatment. I'm going to worry about him all night now. :frown:

Years after i did the very same thing i can still feel the sensation of the
wound.
 
  • #70
wolram said:
Years after i did the very same thing i can still feel the sensation of the
wound.
Yes, even if he doesn't need to amputate anything, I think a wound like that will leave some permanent weakness, at least.
 
  • #71
cyrusabdollahi said:
I think they lock the doors when they see Pengwuino coming.

And people wonder why the US doesn't have universal health care...
 
  • #72
Because people like you abuse the system. Mr. 'I will google a fake ID and scam the hospital system"
 
  • #73
arildno said:
Yes, even if he doesn't need to amputate anything, I think a wound like that will leave some permanent weakness, at least.

How do they amputate a limb whithout the patient bleeding to death? i mean it must take ages to saw through the bone, then they would have to seal every thing up some how.
 
  • #74
pinch the leg above the cut. Stops the flow of blood past that point.
 
  • #75
wolram said:
How do they amputate a limb whithout the patient bleeding to death? i mean it must take ages to saw through the bone, then they would have to seal every thing up some how.
Napoleon's field surgeon could saw through a man's thigh in the course of 10 minutes, I believe. I think that was a record of sorts.
 
  • #76
arildno said:
Napoleon's field surgeon could saw through a man's thigh in the course of 10 minutes, I believe. I think that was a record of sorts.

How careful were they?
 
  • #77
arildno said:
Napoleon's field surgeon could saw through a man's thigh in the course of 10 minutes, I believe. I think that was a record of sorts.

I remember reading that, but 10 mins is still a bloody long time.
 
  • #78
I agree, a long time. Bloodily so, I imagine.
 
  • #79
Pengwuino said:
How careful were they?
Oh pretty careful. After four to six weeks of healing, they could wear a bikini and there wouldn't even be a visible incision line.
 
  • #80
DaveC426913 said:
Oh pretty careful. After four to six weeks of healing, they could wear a bikini and there wouldn't even be a visible incision line.

All in a battlefield eh? That Napolean...
 
  • #81
I read that ships surgeons were quite nifty with saw as well, about the same period.
 
  • #82
a katana could do it in less than a second =) they should have hired some "medical" samurai
 
  • #83
slugcountry said:
a katana could do it in less than a second =) they should have hired some "medical" samurai

That would make sence, but can one of those things cut through a leg with one hit?
 
  • #84
edit - just realized that story was irrelevant, anyhow for sure they can slice clean through a human torso from the shoulder to the opposing hip - don't know if a leg would be different though.
 
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  • #85
Thank you all for good words. I waited entire night and tried to meditate and pain has decreased and I can move my two little toes again. Let me check the look of a foot right now. BRB

Ok, the foot looks alright, as far no signs of any symptoms mentioned by arildno. Again thanks for listing them. The only place where it hurts me is the punctured wound. When I push my finger onto it, it hurts, and when I walk, it also hurts me when I tauten the tendons in right foot, so I must assume that they're a little domagad. Hopefully everything will go fine.
 
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  • #86
heartless said:
Thank you all for good words. I waited entire night and tried to meditate and pain has decreased and I can move my two little toes again. Let me check the look of a foot right now. BRB
It seems you have been damned lucky.
However, you need to see a doctor today.
 
  • #87
Ibuprofen would be appropriate for the pain and inflamation, and aspirin might work, although it tends to affect coagulation of the blood.

Do keep the wound site clean.

Also, these days, I use a triple antibiotic like Neosporin (Neomycin sulfate, Bacitracin zinc, Polymyxin B Sulfate) on such wounds. Equate's "triple antibiotic ointment" is the same. http://www.neosporin.com/firstaid/neosporin.asp?sec=4&page=12

Benzoyl peroxide (anti-acne) topical ointment is also good near the wound site. It is bacteriostatic and I prefer to use it rather than antibiotics.
 
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  • #88
Heartless, why don't you see a doctor.
Just to put it across clearly

GO SEE A DOCTOR[/color]

My mom's a doctor, and when I grew up, I've heard enough warnings on rusty nails, tetanus and DEATH.

Why don't you go see a doctor and take a booster shot. I don't think you've still understood how serious this is! Your life is at risk!
 
  • #89
Astronuc said:
Also, these days, I use a triple antibiotic like Neosporin (Neomycin sulfate, Bacitracin zinc, Polymyxin B Sulfate) on such wounds. Equates "triple antibiotic ointment" is the same.

I doubt that will help him much - the label says quite clearly "In case of deep or puncture wounds... consult a doctor." Which is what everyone's been telling him since yesterday.
 
  • #90
Go to see a DOCTOR!

How can you be so ignorant of your health? Today 1 of my coworkers' 11 year old daughter passed away because of that sort of ignorance that some people have towards their health and their children's! It might seem fine now but how can you be sure that it wouldn't cause some problem for you in the future?
 

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