Stepped on a nail

[twentytinytoes]

OKay I stepped on a nail yesterday. Not a big huge deck nail but one of those nails you use to nail trim in. We took all the trim off downstairs so we could pain and stupid me stepped on it. Anyways It hurts really bad today, do you think its okay and just wait it out or should i get it checked out? I think I got a tetnus shot about 5 -7 years ago?

[Paula]

I would soak it in epson salt water in order to clean it. Also, putting Neosporin on it would also reduce inflammation and infection. I would also call the doctor and ask about the tetanus shot. Usually, those are good up to ten years though.

[meems]

ouch. i would ask about the tetanus just to be sure. is it getting red/hot/swollen/tender?

[ZaCola3]

I would probably have it looked at but only because I had a bad experience with Zak stepping on a toothpick-he got staph infection in it!

[marnie4two]

If the redness doesn't go away after doing what Paula suggested, I would def get it checked. I hope it heals quickly!

[lauren grier]

ouch!! I would get it checked.. my dzadiek nearly had to have his foot amputated after stepping on a nail once (LOL not that that is going to happen to you :D :D :D but you know.. better safe than sorry, you never know what sort of infection you could get).

[scrappychic]

Ouch! I'd get it checked just in case. Don't take chances with infection - and this comes from someone who hates going to the doctor!

[Stacey42]

Personally, I'd give the Neosporin 24 hours or so before I got it checked, assuming it didn't get any worse or change appearance. But that's just my reluctance to go to the ER or doctor. I stepped on a decking nail about 12 years ago, went right through my sneaker into my foot. Hurt like you would not believe for a day or so and then healed up fine.

If you do go get it checked odds are good they will give you a tetnus shot, so you won't have to worry about that developing.

[kscwgirl]

Ouch.. sounds painful hon. Hope it gets better!!!

[MamaK]

one of the household here manages to step on the nail trim once a day, ugg I'm sick of it. those lttle suckers hurt!

[ditzyscrap]

Owie!! I would go get a Tetanus shot, though. I think it's to prevent it from happening NEXT time, not this time. I think. :)

[pbumbaca]

I would definitely call the doc and see if you need a tetanus shot, nails are nothing to mess with!

LA, what is a dzadiek?

[iJenny]

Personally, I would wait it out a day or so. I mean, its going to hurt a little bit because, well, you stepped on a nail (and those carpet tacks hurt like crazy). The pain is probably related to the actual injury rather than an infection or whatever. Now, if a few days go by and its still really painful and looking swollen or red or whatever, THEN I'd call the doc. And as far as tetanus goes, you really do only need to get on every 10 years unless you have a MAJOR injury.
Its your call, but the doc will probably just send you home with some neosporin and a band-aid.

[lauren grier]

LA, what is a dzadiek?


well.. it's a typo, and LOL polish for grandpa. It should say dziadek lol.

[iJenny]

well.. it's a typo, and LOL polish for grandpa. It should say dziadek lol.

yeah. you're weird.

lol j/k

[lauren grier]

lol my dad's side of the family is 100% polish.. some of them are FROM poland lol (well some are still there too )

[rh_scrapbooker]

At least it didn't go all the way in....I stepped on a sewing needle when I was 6, and it's STILL in my foot. It broke into two pieces, one is in my big toe, and the other longer piece actually had the bone develop around it as I grew up (so I think the last time they checked the needle was inside the bone or cemented into the top of the bone).

If a trail of red starts moving up your foot, go to the ER immediately. That means infection has set in and it could get into the bloodstream.

Rachel

[newfiemountiewife]

Ow! I ditto the others, if it gets red/hot/swollen go see the doc!

[twentytinytoes]

Thanks girls! I was def hesitant to go because its nothing compared to the last time i stepped on a nail. It was a big old rusty nail that went right through my foot. It happened about 8 at night and by the next morning my foot was over doubled its normal size so it got infection, BAD. THis is nothing compared LOL but it does hurt like a (*&%^%&** I called and they said tetnus is good for 11 years so unless it starts looking infected Im not wasting my time! LOL