My husband works at a mill and got a splinter in his leg about 1/2 inch long and about as thick as a pencil. This happened 2-3 months ago. It never came out and never caused him any pain. Today he said that he can feel it, but that it had broken up because he can only feel a little piece left of it. My mom said that it could be dangerous and get in his blood stream and could kill him. Does anyone know the answer to this? I can't get him to go see a doctor.
It could cause severe infection, that could make him very sick if it gets into his bloodstream. That is a huge splinter, I can’t believe it doesn’t bother him more.
It can get infected and a lot depends on what the splinter is. You don’t mention if it is metal, wood, or other. If it is metal, is it rusted, if it is wood, what was the wood treated with.
I watch a lot of ER and they always say they leave the bullets in the body if someone is shot.
The body can push foreign objects out, but it doesn’t always happen.
Yes. Yikes, Is something that size referred to as a splinter or an impaled foreign object? My friend’s teenage daughter stepped on a toothpick, and it broke off in her foot straight up and down. They didn’t get all out. I don’t remember all the details beyond the crazy infection, iv antibiotics, time in hospital, and super high powered antibiotics for a month afterwards hoping to clear the infection. She was very sick for a long time, and it was quite serious.
I think that anything foriegn left in the body is a danger to the body, hopefully this site gives you some knowledge and info. Honestly, I would call your Dr. and talk to the nurse about it as well.
To answer the question, yes, but it’s highly unlikely. Your body rejects foreign objects or absorbs them as they break down. Chances are, since it was so long ago, the chances of infection now are pretty low, but yeah, it’s obviously going to cause discomfort as long as it’s in there. Kind of like driving with a rock in your tire, yeah, eventually it could blow that tire out, or it could just stay stuck there making an obnoxious noise every time you drive. Pretty silly to not have seen a doc yet, but men are stubborn animals 
My husband stepped on a thorn when he was younger and it broke off in his foot. Within days he had a red streak going all the way up the leg and into his torso. His parents finally took him to the doctor after my husband kept complaining of not feeling well. His body was indeed infected, and the doctor said that had the red streak (infection, I guess) reached his heart, my husband could have died!
Perhaps all is well with your husband since it was months ago, but I’d rather be safe than sorry and get him to the doctor. Good luck with that. Men can be so stubborn about going to the doctor. : /
If it gets infected yes, especially if he has blood flow issues or diabetes.
So far as getting in the blood stream that sounds like my mom telling me be careful with the sewing needle if it gets in your blood stream it will go to your heart and kill you. As if a needle could make it to your heart without being embedded somewhere along the way or even make it into a vein in the first place! Moms!!
Since it doesn’t sound infected and probably won’t get infected his body will continue to break it down and eventually it will be gone.
Yes, it could kill him. A splinter is a very dirty item germ wise.
I would insist he see a doctor. While it may not be deadly yet, I feel the key term is yet. If he refuses to go to a doctor, I’d buy a large term insurance policy on him. At least then you will be taken care of after he is gone. And I’d let him hear me calling an insurance agent about his life insurance.
Good luck to you and yours.
The splinter itself will not “get in his bloodstream”, but an infection can and yes, it could be very serious.
However if the splinter has been there for months and he hasn’t had an infection - chances are he is fine.
I would still get it taken out by a doctor. That is a big piece of wood stuck in him and his body will either try to encapsulate it or break it down. Both are inflammatory responses and can have nasty long term effects… or none at all.
Personally I would want it taken care of, but if he refuses he should carefully monitor the site and go in if he has any signs of infection: pain, redness, heat, flu like symptoms…
It was that big and he didn’t go to the doctor to have it removed?
OMG!
Our bodies have a way of rejecting foreign objects. I can see the splinter working it’s way out as opposed to it “breaking up”. He certainly CAN get a very serious infection, and if he gets staph, he’ll be in a world of hurt.
My son got a blood infection and was on two days of I.V. antibiotics and oral antibiotics for a week after that. There wasn’t a scratch on him, but when I saw a red streak running up his arm, I raced him to the ER and they slapped his butt in the hospital. They couldn’t even find a place where his skin had been broken and still he got an infection that started in his thumb. He complained that it was sore and I couldn’t see anything. I just thought he jammed it playing catch with his football.
Your husband really should be seen by the doctor and since this happened at work, he should have reported it to the safety officer. Worker’s Comp should have covered the injury.
Just my opinion.