ILiveInFlipFlops Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 (edited) I just walked across oldest DD's room to switch off her light and stepped on a sewing needle she had sticking out of her carpet (from an uncleaned-up project). It was a needle big enough to handle embroidery floss, and it drove into my heel a good half-inch, eye-side up (I think, it's kind of a blur after the pain). I felt it hit bone *faints* Anyway, it's not bleeding much, but it hurts like he!!. I had a tetanus shot less than a year ago. Do I need to go to a doctor about this right away, or is it something I just address if signs of infection appear? Thanks :( ETA: OK, does the answer change now that we know the eye portion of the needle is broken off and probably still deep in my heel? I think I'm going to be sick. Edited September 15, 2012 by Sweet Morning Air Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Since your tetanus is current, I'd just limp about. Ouch! That had to hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Umm, yes, that does change my answer! I'd say since it is Saturday, I'd head to the ER. You could wait until Monday to have it looked at. There shouldn't be a risk of infection from a needle, but I would want that thing out of me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 Thank you both. I got in touch with my GP and she says to go to the ER as well :crying::crying::crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Yikes! I'd want to get the metal out, too! :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Oh man. Yeah. I'd go in too. I bet they give you some really good medication so you won't feel a thing!! Or, if you do, you won't care. I'll be thinking about you tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Thank you both. I got in touch with my GP and she says to go to the ER as well :crying::crying::crying: :grouphug:They'll numb it up really well. It will feel so much better with it out. There is no way you would be able to walk while the metal is still in there. The sooner it goes the better! I hope they are able to get you in and out quickly.:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted September 15, 2012 Author Share Posted September 15, 2012 :grouphug:They'll numb it up really well. It will feel so much better with it out. There is no way you would be able to walk while the metal is still in there. The sooner it goes the better! I hope they are able to get you in and out quickly.:grouphug: Well, that's the weird thing. None of it hurts anymore, and I'm able to walk pretty much fine :confused: I can't imagine where the broken eye portion is if not right up against my heel bone, but I suppose there's a tiny chance it's not actually in there. While I'm there, I should have them give me another CT scan to see if I passed my dang kidney stone *sigh* I'm getting very sick of this ER this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Well, that's the weird thing. None of it hurts anymore, and I'm able to walk pretty much fine :confused: I can't imagine where the broken eye portion is if not right up against my heel bone, but I suppose there's a tiny chance it's not actually in there. While I'm there, I should have them give me another CT scan to see if I passed my dang kidney stone *sigh* I'm getting very sick of this ER this year. I had an aunt do this exact same thing when she was younger. Different part of the foot though. She didn't notice it until it started hurting a YEAR later! It did start moving a little. She had it removed at that point at it was fine. So, it could still be in there, even if it doesn't hurt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 I did something very similar when I was a kid. I stepped on a needle and it went deep into my heel. Thank goodness there was still thread attached. My grandmother took me to the doctor and they were able to pull it out. But when it came out the needle was broken in half. At that point I had to have an X-ray to see if the other half was in my heel. It wasn't and I only had to have a tetanus shot. Hope your poor foot feels better! Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Did they get it out? Did you survive? :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted September 16, 2012 Author Share Posted September 16, 2012 Did they get it out? Did you survive? :bigear: :lol: Thanks for asking. I've spent the day buried in lesson planning for our first day tomorrow, so I haven't been on here at all. I forgot an update was in order! So I went to the ER, and they took x-rays. The eye portion is in there, and it's deep--pretty much exactly where I thought it would be, right against my heel bone *shudder* It was too deep for them to do anything about it, so they gave me antibiotics and told me to see an orthopedist this week. The physician's assistant who saw me said an ortho may want to dig it out, but it's more likely that they'll just leave it alone. It will eventually migrate toward the surface, and it can be removed more easily then. If it starts to cause me problems/pain in the meantime, I should go the ER again, or the ortho if I don't seem to have an infection. Then they'll remove it no matter where it is. My heel feels bruised today, but I'm in very little pain, believe it or not! Given the pain I was in yesterday, I really thought today would be bad, but it's not, thank goodness! Thanks for the advice and for checking in on me, I appreciate it. I was really kinda panicked last night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 This happened to me when I was a child, except the entire needle was embedded. They removed it under fluoroscopy (basically a live or real time x-ray). I was awake, but they numbed my entire foot. I honestly do not remember being in any pain during the procedure. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 :lol: Thanks for asking. I've spent the day buried in lesson planning for our first day tomorrow, so I haven't been on here at all. I forgot an update was in order! So I went to the ER, and they took x-rays. The eye portion is in there, and it's deep--pretty much exactly where I thought it would be, right against my heel bone *shudder* It was too deep for them to do anything about it, so they gave me antibiotics and told me to see an orthopedist this week. The physician's assistant who saw me said an ortho may want to dig it out, but it's more likely that they'll just leave it alone. It will eventually migrate toward the surface, and it can be removed more easily then. If it starts to cause me problems/pain in the meantime, I should go the ER again, or the ortho if I don't seem to have an infection. Then they'll remove it no matter where it is. My heel feels bruised today, but I'm in very little pain, believe it or not! Given the pain I was in yesterday, I really thought today would be bad, but it's not, thank goodness! Thanks for the advice and for checking in on me, I appreciate it. I was really kinda panicked last night! Glad to hear that you're doing a little better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 This happened to me when I was a child, except the entire needle was embedded. They removed it under fluoroscopy (basically a live or real time x-ray). I was awake, but they numbed my entire foot. I honestly do not remember being in any pain during the procedure. :grouphug: :svengo: OMW, I cannot imagine having the needle in my foot for that long. It was the worst pain I've ever felt, and I was able to get it out fairly quickly (though I needed one of the kids to run and find me tweezers to grip it). My fear is not so much pain during the procedure--it's the recovery time afterward. They'd be cutting through the muscle of my heel all the way up to the bone *shudder* I can't imagine recovery from that being any fun at all. Do you have any memory of your recovery? (I'm also afraid of the lidocaine injections. I recently watched a friend get a finger sewed up, and she said the injections hurt more than her recovery did. She was shrieking [quietly!] in pain :() Thankfully, it doesn't hurt at all today. I've actually been walking normally all morning because I forgot to limp to protect the bruised heel! I'm glad for that at least. DH is worried that the fragment could start migrating in my body and kill me, but the PA at the hospital assured me it can't. I hope she's right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 Glad to hear that you're doing a little better. Thanks Lynne, I appreciate that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnificent_baby Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 :svengo: OMW, I cannot imagine having the needle in my foot for that long. It was the worst pain I've ever felt, and I was able to get it out fairly quickly (though I needed one of the kids to run and find me tweezers to grip it). My fear is not so much pain during the procedure--it's the recovery time afterward. They'd be cutting through the muscle of my heel all the way up to the bone *shudder* I can't imagine recovery from that being any fun at all. Do you have any memory of your recovery? (I'm also afraid of the lidocaine injections. I recently watched a friend get a finger sewed up, and she said the injections hurt more than her recovery did. She was shrieking [quietly!] in pain :() Thankfully, it doesn't hurt at all today. I've actually been walking normally all morning because I forgot to limp to protect the bruised heel! I'm glad for that at least. DH is worried that the fragment could start migrating in my body and kill me, but the PA at the hospital assured me it can't. I hope she's right! I really don't remember the recovery at all, but I can guarantee it felt better than walking around with a needle in my heel for a few days! :lol: My Mom felt terrible, since we couldn't see anything, she ignored my complaining until I bugged her enough. We were all shocked at the xray! I don't even recall stepping on anything at the time. I do not have any scars at all. I am hoping for an easy recovery for you once you have it removed!! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I am cringing. I am sad for you, this is awful! :grouphug: I hope you can get it taken care of soon. That sounds just painful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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