This thing is about the size of a tic-tac, maybe a bit longer, and every bit of it is under the skin on my forearm. I tried extricating it with tweezers, but I couldn’t find the end of it.
I know this might be construed as medical advice, but it’s just a splinter. I it can be taken care of without having to pay ridiculous copays, I’d rather just suck it up and do it.
I have heard that applying a drop o Elmer’s glue on the splinter, letting it dry, and then peeling it off will remove it. I haven’t had a splinter since I read this bit of information.
Sounds like a good idea, except there’s nothing sticking out of the little hole in my arm.
This is pretty gross, but the last one I had I couldn’t get out with tweezers. After a day or two, when it started to get infected, I just gave it a squeeze and it popped right out.
Try needle-nose pliers.
This is not to be construed as medical advice, but most foreign bodies near the skin’s surface eventually get ejected by the defense mechanisms, as they encapsulate the FB with inflammatory cells, and the pus pressure builds.
IF local infection doesn’t set in first, leading to cellulitis, generalized sepsis, and a long stay in the ICU before dying expensively occurs, that is.
If in doubt, at least talk to your doc’s nurse on the phone.
QtM, MD
I usually wait a day, so that fluid builds up around the splinter and loosens it in the puncture, then cut and/or scrape through the outer layers of skin and pry it out.
Obviously, I’m not saying that anyone does this or that there is no risk of complications, but I do this and haven’t had any problems. YMMV.
“I am not a Doctor by I’ve played one…”.
Anyway, years back when I was surveying, we’d get this ALOT. We would take a sharp blade (razor or Exacto type) and cut the skin very shallow along the length of the splinter. Having had some that felt like a telephone pole, I know how well, and quickly, this works.
Of course, clean the surface of the site and the blade well before hand. And, believe it or not, it doesn’t hurt at all.
Let me know if this or something else works.
This could easily be handled by someone who is not a medical professional who know what they are doing like me. Who do you know?
As we repeatedly tell you guys-----PLEASE DON’T ASK FOR MEDICAL ADVICE HERE.
Anecdotal stories which assure you that it has been done by another person and nothing bad happened-----------are just that, anecdotal stories. The guy who got an infection and died ain’t around to tell you his story!
If you can’t afford a co-pay(which is usually $10-20 or so), then you need to go to a free health clinic or sumptin’. Borrow the money from a relative or a friend.
But don’t ask for medical advice here.
This one is closed.