# I just swallowed a bone... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 2, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-swallowed-a-bone/165893 "2003-04-02T04:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bo989](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@bo989](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bo989)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-swallowed-a-bone/165893/1 "2003-04-02T04:39:42Z")
Hey guys. I just swallowed a chicken bone… slightly less than 2 inches long. Is this going to hurt as it works my way through my digestive system? Anyone had this happen before? I want to brace myself for any possible pain 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-swallowed-a-bone/165893/2 "2003-04-02T05:25:37Z")
You really should at least call your local emergency department or your regular physician’s on-call service to get their opinion. A 2-inch bone might pass OK, but there’s a fair chance it will get “sideways” somewhere and at a minimum, it’s gonna hurt. The worst-case scenario is it pokes its way out of your intestine - you’re then the proud owner of an intestinal perforation, which will definitely change your plans for the rest of the month. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-swallowed-a-bone/165893/3 "2003-04-02T13:47:01Z")
No, the worst case scenario for bones is getting stuck in your throat and causing you to choke. More than 90% of swallowed foreign bodies get excreted after passing the stomach. I’d be checking my stool pretty carefully, and would not hesitate to go to the ER if anything is out of the ordinary.