If you've ever had glass stuck in your food, it's scary. Usually, a glass shard getting stuck in your foot happens when you're barefoot, inside or outside, but at times it can happen due to some kind of accident while wearing shoes. Either way, this happens, it's important to know how to handle the situation safely. This article will give you tips on dealing with a piece of glass being stuck in your foot, and what you should do if you can't get it out by yourself.
What To Do If You Have A Piece of Glass In Your Foot
First Steps To Take If You Just Got a Piece of Glass Stuck in Your Foot
1.Stay Calm and Look at Your Foot: Panicking can make the situation worse. Sit down and examine your foot carefully, to see if you can find the shard of glass in your foot. Sometimes, you will be able to see the piece of glass, while other times it may unfortunately be below the skin.
2. Clean the Area: Before trying to take out the glass, wash your hands with soap and water to lower the risk of infection. Clean the area around the wound with soap and water as well. This lowers the risk of introducing bacteria into the wound.
3. Clean Your Tweezers: If you decide to try and remove the glass yourself, be sure the tools you use are clean. Clean a pair of tweezers by wiping them with rubbing alcohol or boiling them for a few minutes. This step is crucial to also lower the risk of introducing germs into the wound.
How To Safely Remove Glass From Your Foot
1.Pull Out Gently: If you can see the glass sticking out of your skin, you can use tweezers to take it out. Grab the glass with the tweezers, and make sure you have a good grip. Be gentle but firm to avoid breaking the glass further.
2. Check for Other Pieces of Glass: After taking out the glass, look at the wound to be sure that no glass shards or pieces are left behind. Even tiny pieces of glass left in your foot can cause pain and infection.
What to do After Removing Glass From Your Foot
1.Clean the Wound Again: After getting out the glass, clean the wound again with soap and water.
2. Apply a Bandage: Cover the wound with a bandaid to keep it clean from it from dirt and bacteria. Change the bandaid daily.
3. Watch Out For Signs of Infection: Keep an eye on the wound daily for signs of infection, like increased redness, swelling, warmth, or pus. If you notice any of these signs, see a local doctor.
When to See a Doctor For Glass In Your Foot
Sometimes, it's best to seek professional help rather than trying to remove the glass yourself. Here are some scenarios where you should see a doctor:
1.You have Diabetes, Neuropathy, or Poor Circulation: If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, a type of nerve damage in your feet known as neuropathy, or PAD also known as Peripheral Arterial Disease, all of these conditions make it much harder for your body to heal any wound on your foot, and increase your risk of infection and amputation. If you fall into any of these groups, and notice a piece of glass in your foot, see your local foot doctor immediately. Any changes to the wound if you see a podiatrist right away have a better chance of healing without any complications.
2. The Glass Is Deep In Your Foot: If the glass is deep in your foot and not on the surface, or if you can't find it, trying to remove it yourself will cause more harm than good. This can lead to a chronic wound, infection nerve damage, scarring, or serious infection. See a foot doctor or podiatrist who has the tools, training, and education, to remove it safely, in a clean and sterile environment.
3. The Area Becomes Infected: If you notice signs of infection it's important to see your local foot doctor Infections can spread quickly and may require antibiotics.
4. Pain or Bleeding: If you're experiencing pain or if the wound is continuing to bleed, seek medical attention immediately. Heavy bleeding might mean that a blood vessel has been injured by the glass.
5. If You Don't Know Your Tetanus Status: If your tetanus shot is not up to date, or if you've never gotten one, and the glass was in a dirty environment, you might need a tetanus shot.
Key Takeaways
Always remember that your health and safety come first. It's better to get help from a foot doctor or podiatrist than to risk hurting yourself even more or causing infection by trying to handle the situation on your own.
Taking preventive measures, like wearing footwear in areas where shards of glass could be, and keeping your home safe, can help you avoid any more glass in your foot in the future.
Schedule Your Appointment at Direct Podiatry Arizona
Do you have a piece of glass in your foot and in need of a podiatrist in Phoenix? My name is Dr. Tarr, and I am the owner of Direct Podiatry Arizona in Tempe. To view my available appointment times, click here.