What are the potential risks and complications of a mechanical pencil injury?

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A user shared an experience of injuring their thigh with a mechanical pencil, leading to significant pain and difficulty walking. They speculated about possible infections or retained lead, rating the pain as unusually high for such a minor injury. Respondents urged immediate medical attention, expressing concern over the potential for infection and the risks of self-medication with leftover antibiotics. The discussion shifted to rabies vaccinations, with one user mentioning they had received shots after a bat encounter, while others shared their own medical experiences and humorous anecdotes. The conversation included light-hearted banter about medical procedures and the challenges of dealing with injuries, emphasizing the importance of seeking professional help rather than self-treatment. Ultimately, the injured user did visit a doctor, who confirmed the presence of pencil lead and an infection, leading to a humorous exchange about the incident.
  • #51
Moonbear said:
Hmm...do you think we can roll tribdog over without him getting away? :biggrin: o:)
I doubt it. They way you strapped him to that backboard was a pro job. We'll need to unstrap him to turn him. Maybe if we force-feed him another cookie or two... Well, hell. NAH. I'll just start a little IV on him and we can give him a real snow-job with some Vitamin H (Haldol). :smile: What do you want to do with him when he's turned over?? :biggrin:
 
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  • #52
Tsu said:
I doubt it. They way you strapped him to that backboard was a pro job. We'll need to unstrap him to turn him. Maybe if we force-feed him another cookie or two... Well, hell. NAH. I'll just start a little IV on him and we can give him a real snow-job with some Vitamin H (Haldol). :smile: What do you want to do with him when he's turned over?? :biggrin:

Well, I'm a little doubtful about how an enema tip of that size could fit anywhere, so I thought we should try it out on someone who has made sure they were properly "conditioned" before we started. :biggrin:
 
  • #53
Oh, it fits 'anywhere' just fine. You wait until it's in place before you blow up the balloon. The balloon just keeps the tip from slipping out at an unfortunate moment... :biggrin: However, since he's been 'conditioned', maybe I'd better get the X-rtra large sized tip and balloon... :devil: :biggrin:
 
  • #54
Tsu said:
Oh, it fits 'anywhere' just fine. You wait until it's in place before you blow up the balloon. The balloon just keeps the tip from slipping out at an unfortunate moment... :biggrin: However, since he's been 'conditioned', maybe I'd better get the X-rtra large sized tip and balloon... :devil: :biggrin:

You mean that soft-ball sized balloon wasn't the X-tra large! :eek: Well, let's go for it! We wouldn't want you to have to go practicing on patients when we have a perfectly...um...will..um...readily available...volun...um...subject...right here! :biggrin:
 
  • #55
Well, actually there's really only one size. :biggrin: We can just blow it up a little bit more than softball size if we need to and hope she doesn't blow! :smile: :smile: :smile:

Relax, trib. You're just dreaming. :devil:

OK. I'll give him a little more Vitamin H now :wink: *injects said 'vitamin' into IV tubing, adjusts drip* and we can unstrap him and roll him over. Ya ready, Moonbear? :biggrin:
 
  • #56
Tsu said:
Well, actually there's really only one size. :biggrin: We can just blow it up a little bit more than softball size if we need to and hope she doesn't blow! :smile: :smile: :smile:

Relax, trib. You're just dreaming. :devil:

OK. I'll give him a little more Vitamin H now :wink: *injects said 'vitamin' into IV tubing, adjusts drip* and we can unstrap him and roll him over. Ya ready, Moonbear? :biggrin:

:devil: Ready! On the count of three...one, two, three...ooomph! I think we've been feeding him too many cookies! Okay, straps are back in place.

This should get all those nasty toxins out of him that have been hampering his sense of humor.

:rolleyes: Did you remember any lubricant?
 
  • #57
Always a tube in my pocket! :approve: Here you go. I'll let you do the honors. Have you ever tipped a patient before? :biggrin:
 
  • #58
Tsu said:
Always a tube in my pocket! :approve: Here you go. I'll let you do the honors. Have you ever tipped a patient before? :biggrin:

Nope, but there's always a first time to learn! tribdog seems like a good one to learn on. It seems all he needed as a little vitamin H to relax and enjoy this. Look how peaceful he seems. :smile:
 
  • #59
Integral said:
shortly I noticed that there was a small scratch in the meat of my lower right thumb, and that my tiny drill bit was broken off.

How many thumbs do you have?!

------------------------------------------

tribdog,

I have no idea how you managed to accidentally give yourself such an injury with a mechanical pencil...quite a feat!
 
  • #60
Integral said:
Good to hear that you are unleaded.

This reminds me of a story.

A few years back my job involved a lot of machining, one common task was to drill a small (.02") hole on center in a small piece. This required that I put a .02" carbide drill bit in the tail stock of the lathe, after doing that, while I checking alignment of the piece in the chuck, I some how brushed past the drill bit with my right hand, shortly I noticed that there was a small scratch in the meat of my lower right thumb, and that my tiny drill bit was broken off. I didn't think much of it at the time, it was Friday afternoon and I was heading home shortly. Friday evening, I began to feel tenderness in that scratch. I soon became pretty sure that there was something in there. By Saturday morning I was positive there was something there. So I headed off to the ER to have it looked at. When I told the lady at the check in desk that I thought I had a drill bit in my hand, she looked at me like I was nuts. Evidently she had never seen or even heard of a bit that small. They xrayed, and as I am sure Tsu will know, carbide shows up very nicely. The doc was able to extract it, it was about 3/8" long. My hand felt much better with that out!


What a coincidence !

I'm currently building a capacitive level sensor for a cryostat, and it involves 14 holes that are 1/64" diameter. I've been using a 0.02" (actually 0.016", but surely that's what you used too) drill bit for this. But it's a steel bit (don't need carbide for drilling in plastic) and I've stuck a little piece of masking tape on the shaft to make it easier to handle...so if I find it broken off, I know where I'll be looking first ! :biggrin:
 
  • #61
Moonbear said:
Nope, but there's always a first time to learn! tribdog seems like a good one to learn on. It seems all he needed as a little vitamin H to relax and enjoy this. Look how peaceful he seems. :smile:
Very good. Let's get the straps off and turn him onto his left side. Push that right leg forward. Here are a couple of tube clamps. OK. Carry on, Moonbear. Let me know when you're done. Use lots of that KY. :biggrin:

You know, he really does seem peaceful... In fact, I've been wondering why he's had that smile on his face for so long. I'm pretty sure he can hear what we're saying, and it looks like he's really enjoying this. :smile: :smile:

BTW. What do you plan on hooking up to that tip once you get it in there? AHA! Hadn't thought of that one, right? :smile: :smile:
 
  • #62
Moonbear said:
Nope, but there's always a first time to learn! tribdog seems like a good one to learn on. It seems all he needed as a little vitamin H to relax and enjoy this. Look how peaceful he seems. :smile:
What are y'all planning on "flushing him out" with? I've heard black coffee is popular.. or wheat grass juice, maybe..
 
  • #63
how about plaster of paris? Let it set, pop it out, and trib will have a lovely plaster cast of his colon for a souvenir of this event. He could even bronze it! :smile:
 
  • #64
Well, you know... I don't know... plaster of paris would require surgical removal and I'm getting kind of tired... :zzz: How 'bout I just give him a little Narcan to bring him out of his Haldol Haze and we'll take him out for a pizza? :biggrin: Then we can all tuck him into bed, Moonbear can kiss his forehead and we'll each get him a glass of water. o:) He really IS too cute to REALLY get experimental on... :smile: We'll just tell him nightmares are the result of doing those BAD drugs the doctors give you. :smile: I really think he could use a little TLC now. He's had a pretty bad week+, :wink:

Serious, now. Trib! How's your leg doing? Is it less painful and swollen and red?

Don't be angry with us! OK! You know we love you but you also know how we love to tease you! (Only because you so richly deserve it, tho... :biggrin:)
 
  • #65
Tsu said:
Well, you know... I don't know... plaster of paris would require surgical removal and I'm getting kind of tired... :zzz: How 'bout I just give him a little Narcan to bring him out of his Haldol Haze and we'll take him out for a pizza? :biggrin: Then we can all tuck him into bed, Moonbear can kiss his forehead and we'll each get him a glass of water. o:) He really IS too cute to REALLY get experimental on... :smile: We'll just tell him nightmares are the result of doing those BAD drugs the doctors give you. :smile: I really think he could use a little TLC now. He's had a pretty bad week+, :wink:

Serious, now. Trib! How's your leg doing? Is it less painful and swollen and red?

Don't be angry with us! OK! You know we love you but you also know how we love to tease you! (Only because you so richly deserve it, tho... :biggrin:)

See that trib, saved by the sibling rivalry. Tsu gets all upset whenever MIH has a good idea like giving you a plaster cast of your colon! :smile:

Alright, I don't want him waking me up screaming in his sleep for years to come, so I guess we've had enough fun with him for this weekend. But you know how much he loves attention. :biggrin:
 
  • #66
you know, this isn't a joke, my butt hurts a little bit.
My leg is a lot less painful, but it looks like..um. Have you ever seen the first Poltergeist movie? The scene where the guy goes into the kitchen late at night? He throws a steak on the counter and it sort of explodes, that's what my leg looks like. Exactly.
what does gangrene look like?
 
  • #67
tribdog said:
you know, this isn't a joke, my butt hurts a little bit.
My leg is a lot less painful, but it looks like..um. Have you ever seen the first Poltergeist movie? The scene where the guy goes into the kitchen late at night? He throws a steak on the counter and it sort of explodes, that's what my leg looks like. Exactly.
what does gangrene look like?

Well, the pain in your butt should help take your mind off the pain in your leg.

Don't even joke about gangrene. I was going to post a few images, but then thought better of it in deference to those with weak stomachs. Do a google search on it if you're curious (and anyone who has a weak stomach should definitely NOT do a google search for images).
 
  • #68
Good Lord, tribdog! I hope you are kidding around!11 When's your next visit to the vet scheduled?
 
  • #69
Math Is Hard said:
Good Lord, tribdog! I hope you are kidding around!11 When's your next visit to the vet scheduled?
if I went to the vet I'm pretty sure he'd put me to sleep.
 
  • #70
tribdog said:
if I went to the vet I'm pretty sure he'd put me to sleep.

I hope you realize that I'm sitting here trying to decide between reaching through the monitor and strangling you and grabbing you by the ear and dragging you to the doctor! You're just lucky I'm not sitting there with you, or I'd be poking you in the leg until you got up and headed for the doctor's.
 
  • #71
Just exactly where did you have the tip of that pencil before you stabbed yourself with it? :bugeye:
 
  • #72
Evo said:
Just exactly where did you have the tip of that pencil before you stabbed yourself with it? :bugeye:
I think I found the pencil on the ground.
I'm going to lay down now and go to sleep. If I can walk tomorrow I'll go to the doctor
 
  • #73
tribdog said:
I think I found the pencil on the ground.
I'm going to lay down now and go to sleep. If I can walk tomorrow I'll go to the doctor

:mad: :mad: Go NOW! Keep worrying me about you and your leg and I really am going to show up and cut the darned thing off! :mad: :mad:
 
  • #74
That's one way to get you to show up.
I'm okay, my leg hurts and I probably need some stronger antibiotics, but I've been taking care of the wound with lots of hydrogen peroxide and neosporin and an antibiotic creme.
I'm sure the fainting and nausea and high fever have nothing to do with my leg. jk.
I'll be okay I'm a tough guy and I'm very difficult to kill. If I don't see some real improvement tomorrow I'll go to the doctor. thanks for caring though, I'm glad that my final memories on this Earth will be pleasant ones, knowing you care.
 
  • #75
I accidentally stabbed myself with a pencil in the thigh once. It didn't get infected or anything like Tribdog. The pencil "lead" has been in my leg for over ten years and you can still see it!
 
  • #76
ek said:
I accidentally stabbed myself with a pencil in the thigh once. It didn't get infected or anything like Tribdog. The pencil "lead" has been in my leg for over ten years and you can still see it!
how deep is it?Mine is so deep I actually stabbed myself in the other leg.
 
  • #77
tribdog said:
That's one way to get you to show up.
I'm okay, my leg hurts and I probably need some stronger antibiotics, but I've been taking care of the wound with lots of hydrogen peroxide and neosporin and an antibiotic creme.
I'm sure the fainting and nausea and high fever have nothing to do with my leg. jk.
I'll be okay I'm a tough guy and I'm very difficult to kill. If I don't see some real improvement tomorrow I'll go to the doctor. thanks for caring though, I'm glad that my final memories on this Earth will be pleasant ones, knowing you care.

Trust me, you don't want me to show up mad and with a bone-saw in my hands!

Okay, if mad doesn't work...

:cry: :cry: :cry: Go see a doctor! :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
  • #78
I guess it could have been worse, you could have been playing with a nail gun.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/16/nailgun.accident.ap/?section=cnn_topstories

I'm still boggled how this guy could have NOT realized he shot himself with a nail through the roof of his mouth! OUCH!
 
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  • #79
I've been thinking about getting a nail gun
 
  • #80
tribdog said:
I've been thinking about getting a nail gun

No! No! NO! If you buy a nail gun, I'm breaking up with you...I couldn't take the stress of worrying about you owning a nail gun!
 
  • #81
no nail gun.
I'm going to the doctor now, talk to you later.
 
  • #82
tribdog said:
no nail gun.
I'm going to the doctor now, talk to you later.

:smile: Thank you...on both accounts. See you later!
 
  • #83
tribdog, I am so glad you are going to the doctor. Please let us know how you are when you get back.

p.s. you need a nail gun like you need a .. er .. hole in the head!
 
  • #84
Math Is Hard said:
p.s. you need a nail gun like you need a .. er .. hole in the head!

Don't start giving him any ideas. :smile:
 
  • #85
I think Greg needs a separate server and a forum tab for your spamruns
 
  • #86
cronxeh said:
I think Greg needs a separate server and a forum tab for your spamruns
What are you talking about? What spam?

Trib - thanks for going to the doctor. I've been very worried about your leg. Are you back yet? What did he/she say? If he doesn't answer, do we get to assume that he gets to be a guest at the Inn for the night (for IV antibiotics)? Hope it doesn't come to that... :bugeye:
 
  • #87
Don't forget you've got your private nurses Moonbear, Tsu, and MIH on call if you need special attention!
 
  • #88
Tsu said:
Trib - thanks for going to the doctor. I've been very worried about your leg. Are you back yet? What did he/she say? If he doesn't answer, do we get to assume that he gets to be a guest at the Inn for the night (for IV antibiotics)? Hope it doesn't come to that... :bugeye:

Tsu, I don't know. He might have gotten home and just decided to head to bed, but then again, I was hoping he'd report back when he returned. From what he was describing to me last night, I'm a bit concerned you may have guessed right about them keeping him as a guest at the inn. :frown: But hopefully that will fix him right up and get him back on his feet again.
 
  • #89
Math Is Hard said:
Don't forget you've got your private nurses Moonbear, Tsu, and MIH on call if you need special attention!

Just remember, I'm the one who gives him the sponge baths! :biggrin:
 
  • #90
tribdog hasn't been back on here since he said he was going to the doctor last night...do you think they decided to keep him? Do they know how dangerous keeping a tribdog at the hospital can be, what with all those oxygen tanks around and his propensity for starting fires? If anyone hears about a hospital exploding in AZ, let me know!
 
  • #91
Alright, someone here needs to get his phone number and address. That way we can call him to see if he's OK and if we doesn't answer, we can send the cops to his address to make sure he hasn't gotten himself into some predicament from which he needs to be extricated (or extracted)! :smile: :smile:
 
  • #92
Tsu said:
Alright, someone here needs to get his phone number and address. That way we can call him to see if he's OK and if we doesn't answer, we can send the cops to his address to make sure he hasn't gotten himself into some predicament from which he needs to be extricated (or extracted)! :smile: :smile:

I have his address, but that doesn't help much without a phone number, does it? :rolleyes: I don't think he needs cops at his address since most of his predicaments require the fire department and/or rescue squad, and cops around only seem to worsen his predicaments. In this case, I don't think calling would help much anyway...he's either cooling his heels in a hospital bed getting an IV drip of the good stuff, or he's off at work limping around cactus plants with electrical tape on his eyebrow. :biggrin:
 
  • #93
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
 
  • #94
tribdog said:
I've been thinking about getting a nail gun
I got one for Christmas this year. I'm also thinking of getting a ramset. (.22cal fired nailgun for nailing into concrete.) I'm sure we could have lots of fun with that one.:rolleyes:
Mike
 
  • #95
I just thought of something, Now all three of us (Trib, myself, and the middle brother, Dan) have had pencils stuck in us.
Trib- self-inflicted.
Mine- self-inflicted.
Dan- Mike-inflicted.
Mike
 
  • #96
mjwhip2 said:
I got one for Christmas this year. I'm also thinking of getting a ramset. (.22cal fired nailgun for nailing into concrete.) I'm sure we could have lots of fun with that one.:rolleyes:
Mike

Mike, forget whatever your mother taught you, sharing with your brother is bad, very bad, don't do it! Or, at least wait until tribdog lists me as beneficiary on his life insurance. :wink: :biggrin:
 
  • #97
mjwhip2 said:
I just thought of something, Now all three of us (Trib, myself, and the middle brother, Dan) have had pencils stuck in us.
Trib- self-inflicted.
Mine- self-inflicted.
Dan- Mike-inflicted.
Mike

So this runs in the family? :eek:
 

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