Hawthorn in the thumb joint

[chilli]

Sorry to de-rail but this made me think of when, on holiday in Cyprus, I slipped off a rock & my left foot went down onto a sea urchin. Beautiful pattern of embedded spikes in the sole & instep.

The locals prescribed vinegar & brandy. The former in a washing up bowl for my foot & the latter down my throat.

It was 7 months before the last of the spikes came out.

[Tree Man Tom]

Had a black thorn a few weeks back, but after 2 days in hospital waiting rooms(as it was low priority) I dug it out with my knife. Seems to have healed ok now.

 

Usually what i do, by the time ive sat in the doctors or hospital i could of dug it out with a knife or needle. Poor on abit of TCP once it come out, jobs a good'n

[mdvaden]

Been having some trouble with my left thumb lately, rally painfull in the cold, and limited movement after doing some work on an over grown hawthorn hedge,thorn tip popped out today with loads of green mess and cursing from me, why do these little blighters cause so much trouble ?? hoping in a few days the pain will die down a bit and get some movement back in my thumb.

any similar experiences?

 

 

Yeah ... I remember one from years ago, where the thorn broke off sideways under the skin over my index finger joint. I slit the skin slightly and pulled it with small vice grips.

 

Fire thorn / Pyracantha or hawthorn occassionally get me by just puncture and cause some discomfort.

 

Ever see the photo of Michael Fay's foot?

 

LINK - Big sliver of wood embedded in foot photo

 

He's the guy who did the near-300 day redwoods transect.

[Big-Al]

I've currently got a thumping knuckle from hawthorn, bloody horrid stuff. Usually pops out a few days later with me and it's fine after that, does get quite sore though!

[Knapp]

It's awkward getting a thorn out with a needle and at the same time trying to hold a hand lens.

 

What I do to leave both hands free is to wear my reading glasses, then put my spare pair over them and sometimes even my wifes glasses, to make 3 pair! It looks odd but it's amazing how close you can focus on the thorn and extraction is much easier when you can see what you're doing.

[Taupotreeman]

Something I find helps locating the thorn and getting it out; try using a pumice stone and pumice off all the hard skin. It also takes off the top layer of skin around the thorn which makes it easier to dig out.

[chaffey]

I usually dig them out with a knife blade!! What i really like is when they go a little septic and pop out in a stream of gunk. Weird i know but kind of satisfying:001_huh:. Anyway i went to my doctors with a thorn that i needed removing and he couldn't get it out but he told me not to worry as it would either come to the surface or if it stays in your body long enough it will just be broken down by your body:thumbup:.

[John Russell]

I suggest before using a knife or needle, run it through a candle, blow lamp, cigarette lighter or a gas ring flame a few times. It will totally sterilise the implement. I know you will get away without doing this nine times out of ten but on occasions you could end up with something nasty (do you know where that knife has been?).

 

It's a trick my dad taught me that he learnt during the 2nd World War in the Royal Engineers (North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Yugoslavia + 3 years afterwards taking up minefields). He saw a lot of injuries and saved a few lives -- and it wasn't thorns he was digging out of men's limbs! Sorry -- I'm not trying to belittle thorns -- they bloody hurt!

[MarkG]

I usually dig them out with a knife blade!! What i really like is when they go a little septic and pop out in a stream of gunk. Weird i know but kind of satisfying:001_huh:. Anyway i went to my doctors with a thorn that i needed removing and he couldn't get it out but he told me not to worry as it would either come to the surface or if it stays in your body long enough it will just be broken down by your body:thumbup:.

 

Know what you mean about satisfying.

We plant hedgerows, (When it's not too frosty), and get loads of thorns every week. Would be at the docs more than planting, and besides the missus loves getting the needle out and having a good prodle! Bit sadistic. Pyrancanthas are fierce but REALLY satisfying to get out, the long thorn squeezes out lovely. Weird I know

[chaffey]

Know what you mean about satisfying.

We plant hedgerows, (When it's not too frosty), and get loads of thorns every week. Would be at the docs more than planting, and besides the missus loves getting the needle out and having a good prodle! Bit sadistic. Pyrancanthas are fierce but REALLY satisfying to get out, the long thorn squeezes out lovely. Weird I know

 

Ha ha ha weirdo!!:lol:.