Hello Mamma's, Super early this morning (2:23am to be exact)my youngest son just HAD to have some water and I usually keep my cup next to the bed, just in case. But when I woke, it was gone, I assumed he had already taken it, my cup seems to be the "community" cup in our house. Anyway, as I walked into the kids room, to see if maybe he had already taken it in there, I stepped on something, thought it was a lego, there usually thrown everywhere. Turns out to be a tack. It wasn't rusty but really was stuck in my heel. Should I be concerned about anything? Any suggestions on special cleaning of this midnight wound?
If the tack doesn't appear rusty, I would just douse the wound with hydrogen peroxide and keep an eye on it for infection.
db
M.,
I wonder how many people recognize that tetnus shots are full of thimerosal and in most cases are not even necessary. Please read up on how common lock jaw is and if you do go in to get the shot, request one that is preservative free, which means a single dose. Do not use Tylenol if you are doing any vaccines as well. It puts the immune system on hold for up to two days.
The results of my son having the shot at 12 1/2 was devastating. It put the mercury overload in his brain (you can see the damage on a SPECT scan) over the edge and we have been dealing with and treating depression, anxiety, inability to focus and other things since then.
Hi M.,
I wasn't going to post until I saw Shauna's really BAD advice. This is the problem of asking for medical advice from people without a medical background.
If you haven't gotten a tetanus shot in the past 10 years or can't remember, go get a tetanus shot (especially if you're over 40, when immune response from the original series of shots and boosters really begins to wane). The vaccine absolutely IS protective after the fact, because it helps to reactivate the body's "remembered" immune response to the toxin produced by Clostridium tetani, the bacteria that causes tetanus. The reactivated response is much faster than the response would be while waiting for the bacteria to multiply to the levels that would otherwise be need, by which time the toxin can have already already risen to levels that cause neurological damage, resulting in Tetanus, commonly known as lock jaw.
The vaccine will not "give you more tetanus." It is not made from the live bacteria. It's produced using inactivated toxoid from the bacteria, so it's completely safe. The alternative, on the other hand, is deadly.
Clostridium normally lives in the soil and the human gut, but it usually only becomes dangerous if it enters through broken skin or in people who are immunesuppressed (e.g., HIV patients, cancer patients, people taking anti-rejection medication after a transplant) so there's always risk of infection any time you have a wound -- especially a puncture wound. Don't be freaked out, though. A clean tack is not likely to carry C. tetani on it's surface, although it can be lying around in your carpet from surface dirt that's been carried into the house. Also, tetanus actually results in only about 1 out of every 50,000 cases, so your risk is pretty low. Even so, be safe -- get the shot if your doctor recommends it.
Aieee. I've done that soooo many times. It's amazing how high our eyebrows can go with the adrenalin coupled with trying not to swear at the top of our lungs. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
Unless you're around horses, as long as you've had a tetnus shot in the past 10 you should be fine. (If you're around hoses get one at least every 7) It'll probably pick up a mild infection, but it's rare that it would get worse. Neosporin and a bandaid can keep it to a mild infection (redness, mild pain). If it stats swelling, you notice red lines crawling up your foot/leg, or you develop a fever call you doc. Any of these symptoms are super rare, but good to know to look out for. Otw....neosporin and band-aids that keep falling off and sticking to your socks...and you won't even know exactly where you stepped on it in 2 days.
If you're not up to date on your tetnus, you might want to go get that shot just in case...Not a bad thing to keep current on anyway. They last for ten years if you remember the last time you got one.
-M
I have stepped on so many things and I don't vaccinate... not my son and not myself. CLEAN it out just like the other mothers said, but to get a vaccine after the fact is not only pointless but foolish. You're adding more of the tetanus to your system if it was on there. However, you said it wasn't rusty so you will be just fine.
Get some extra vitamin C in your system and if you can find it I would suggest taking some immuplex by standard process (only available through a healthcare professional)
I would clean it out really well and then just watch it to make sure it doesn't become infected. A tetanus shot after the fact really won't help, if you got tetanus it's already there and a vaccine just will add more. It will probably get more tender for a day or two-if it continues to get redder or more tender after that get with your doctor. If you take care and don't get it dirty you should be just fine.
I can't think of the number of times I have stepped on such things (my mother was a seamstress so now I unconsciously do the sewing pin shuffle through all carpeted areas) Never had any problems as long as I was careful to keep it clean after wards.
Good Luck
ouch... take the advice the two other mom's just posted and then go to sleep! call your doctor in the morning if you haven't had your tetnus shot recently. i checked out the webmd web site regarding tetnus for you, it can wait a few hours till morning. for now, wash with soap and water, hydrogen peroxide, and neosporin.
Sanitize with alcohol and/or hydrogen peroxide then put antibiotic ointment on it. Make sure you are current on your tetnus shot. If not you should get one. Watch for redness or lines radiating out from the wound. These are signs of an infection and you should see a dr.
unless you live on the farm or come in contact with farm animals your tack is harmless. you can use homeopathic Ledum if the wounded place responds well to cold applications. you can also use homeopathic Hypericum if the place is tingling with pain. use the link below for more info on tetanus:
http://www.whale.to/vaccines/tetanus.html
Good Luck
V.
If it's been more than 10 years since you've had a tetanis shot, you should probably get one. Check with your dr. Clean with peroxide or alchohol.
I would get a Tetanus shot, because you are probably overdue for one anyway...
You got plenty of good advice already (Shauna, et al), but here are my two cents to add:
It is probably going to be just fine. The key is to keep it from getting infected or inflamed. So, treat it (*), then keep off it or pad it well. Keep it clean and keep checking it.
* Treatment I would recommend would be to really get peroxide into the puncture, and let it clean it out. Also, SOAK your heel in the Hydrogen Peroxide. Do a few treatments of this, but let it get air and stay dry other than that.
You can also soak in Epson salts, but that will probably hurt at first. Do this later as a secondary treatment to make sure everything is OK
If it gets or even looks infected after a few days, go see a Doctor.
