Had a rather large mesquite thorn jam through the side of my boot today and punctured pretty deep.

I think we got all of the tip out but wanted to know what I can do to ease the pain besides good whiskey. Besides the pain I'd like to avoid any kind of serious infection.

It hurts like a mofo.

Thanks in advance.

After soaking it I'd flush it out with Hydrogen Peroxide couple times a day and use some good antibiotic cream.

Ibuprofen for pain

cuz-i-can said:

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BCO07 said:

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Bourbon for pain

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FIFY

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Obvious first choice, but OP asked for alternatives

B-1 83 said:

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BCO07 said:

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cuz-i-can said:

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BCO07 said:

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Bourbon for pain

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FIFY

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Obvious first choice, but OP asked for alternatives

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Well, I guess there's tequila and vodka.....

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Nah. Go with scotch.

But seriously do the epsom salt in warm water after you make sure to dig out ALL of the splinters,dirt, etc. Then rinse with some type of antibacterial.

BigCountryAg,

Been there -- I was clearing some brush and had one catch me right above the boot line. I laughed it off and powered through.

BIG DAMN MISTAKE.

I rarely, if ever, get infections, so I went about my business. When it still hadn't healed in (6) weeks I got some anti-biotics from the doctor, but even those didn't do the trick.

Bottom line -- for the next (4) months I went to a wound care doctor every other week so the guy could scrape it down and put iodine putty on it. Don't ask what that cost me.

So, if you don't notice it healing in a week or so, go see a doctor, even if (like me) that's the last damn thing you want to do.

I don't know what hangs around on mesquite needles, but man, it must be wicked, cause I've had other guys share similar stories with me.

BTW, I sure do love killing and clearing mesquites, along with the honey locust!

Put some black salve on it to.

Put some Turpintine on it.

I've had a huge one in my finger for abt 2 weeks. Tried to dig it out a few times but couldn't get it. It's now pussed up and pushing itself out. Looks like it should come out in a few days. I'll let you know if my finger falls off.

ATX_AG_08 said:

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I've had a huge one in my finger for abt 2 weeks. Tried to dig it out a few times but couldn't get it. It's now pussed up and pushing itself out. Looks like it should come out in a few days. I'll let you know if my finger falls off.

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I had this happen on the outside of my right heel once. I was wearing some flipflops and walked through some taller grass, stepped on a fallen mesquite branch just right, it rolled under my foot and smacked me in the heel.

I dug around for a while and couldn't get it out. Tried to get my grandma to get it out and she couldn't either, so I finally just left it. It got nasty and festered up with pus after a few weeks, so I squeezed on it one day. The damn thing shot out of my foot like a rocket and it automatically felt a million times better. It was really gross looking too, the thorn had turned white. I just cleaned it out with triple antibiotic ointment periodically and it healed up in a few days.

also, you should have a pretty light trigger on the decision to go see your doctor if it all seems infected in the next few days. As mentioned above, you risk weeks of antibiotics (possibly iv) and surgery if you sit on it.

Watkins salve or other gel with carbolic acid was what my grandpa swore by. (Regular vasoline probably works just as well to keep your skin soft enough that the thorn works it's way out)

took a mesquite thorn to the eyeball about 2 years ago......i had thought i removed the whole thing but was incorrect. long story short 8 days later they were cutting my eye open to remove the rest of the thorn and i ended up with 9 eye ball stitched that could only be removed 1-2 at a time over a period of a month and a half.

lesson learned - dont go to a 24 hour ER place with eye issues. they just prescribed some deadening drops to help with pain and that is why i ended up waiting 8 days before going to a real dr. as soon as i ran out of those drops i was in terrible pain. cant really blame the 24 hour place though....they just dont have the same type of equipment needed for viewing eyes.

good luck.....if you can tolerate the pain maybe you will get lucky and it will fester up and remove itself.

Windex!

-Gus Portokalos

After my first experience I will never go to a doc in a box ever again.

They have their place if you just need stitched up or some other urgent procedure and are better than those telemed apps. Similar to those apps, however, their business model is often contra to good medicine

Rub some dirt in it and quit ***chin!

Neosporin on a bandage for a couple days will do wonders to a small infection area like that.

Clean with diluted betadine to prevent infection. Soak it in the Epsom salts for the swelling. If your still worried add neosporin on top of all that and you'll be fine. My bad ones have always formed because of neglect

BigCountryAg said:

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Had a rather large mesquite thorn jam through the side of my boot today and punctured pretty deep.

I think we got all of the tip out but wanted to know what I can do to ease the pain besides good whiskey. Besides the pain I'd like to avoid any kind of serious infection.

It hurts like a mofo.

Thanks in advance.

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Had one go into my right foot when I was almost 18 years old. Two weeks later had my foot amputated. Everyone knows on TexAgs knows I am a member of the one legged society. It is a true story.



I think you will be fine in your case!

I had similar results to those listed above (minus the amputation). Took one to the kneecap riding on the side rail of a truck. Thought nothing of it at the time until I couldn't sleep that night due to the throbbing pain. Around the 3 week mark is when the thorn made its way out and the pressure/infection started going down. Bottom line, if it isn't getting better after 2-3 days, go to the doctor.

BCO07 said:

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also, you should have a pretty light trigger on the decision to go see your doctor if it all seems infected in the next few days. As mentioned above, you risk weeks of antibiotics (possibly iv) and surgery if you sit on it.

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Speaking of sitting on it.....

I was the lucky one that was first back to deer camp when a friend walks in and says "I need your help"

He proceeds to tell me that he sat on a mesquite thorn, tried to get it out on his own and couldn't.



That was 9 years ago and until right this very minute, not a single word has ever been said about it!!

........at least he let me use HIS pocket knife!!!

A few months back we had just shredded and filled feeders. Finally relaxing and running cameras a few inches of a broken mesquite limb laying there with 1 thorn straight up went straight through my crocs into the ball of my foot. Wiped it clean with wet paper towel but didn't put any meds on it. I couldn't put pressure on it the next morning. Luckily, or at least I assume, nothing was left in foot as it was manageable after a few days and completely healed after about a week. Reading some of these stories I'm glad it didn't get infected with me not treating it better.