What happens if you staple your thumb

But did I need to go to the hospital? Answer: Probably not. You may lose the fingernail, but it will grow back, and as long as you keep it disinfected and bandaged, you should be fine. A trip to the emergency room will only expose you to fatal skin rashes and rare cases of blood fungi. Many such injuries are deceptive in their severity, and if a trip to the ER seems to be in the works, we should always find ways to avoid it.

After all, though a mishandled cleaver into the foot demands a visit from the EMTs, a simple puncture wound—say, a compass tip into the meat of your palm—will heal itself up nicely; maybe, though, with the aid of a rolled-up piece of toilet paper and a circular band-aid.

Here are some common household injuries, and ways you can tend to them at home—no ambulance required. Or rather, it was, two months ago. Receipt here, pay stub there, shuffle shuffle shuffle, staple together and…uh oh. Interestingly, when you staple yourself, the staple goes in rather cleanly. The first thing you must do is remove the staple from your finger.

This will be painful. Perhaps you can learn to live with it stuck in you. Think of it like having stitches, without having to learn how to sew. Crisis averted. If, however, you successfully yank out the staple, and blood begins squirting from your mangled finger, re-staple it! It will probably be necessary to use heavier gauge staples the second go-round. Seek help. You walked barefoot past that hidden part of the bed frame again and, sure enough, wrapped your pinky toe around it.

After writhing in hysterics and moaning with your face pressed on the bedside table, you regain composure and prepare to examine your hoof for damage. If the wound is bleeding, let it do so for about five minutes, as this can help remove infection-causing materials from the injury site. Use an antibiotic. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment or cream, such as Neosporin, to the wound.

If you develop a rash, stop using the ointment. Consider the use of a bandage. Most puncture wounds will heal nicely without the use of a bandage; however, use a bandage if your wound is still bleeding or has a visible opening. The bandage will protect the wound from becoming dirty and irritated.

Change the bandage at least once a day or whenever it becomes wet or dirty. Keep it elevated. If you experience pain, use a pillow to keep the injury elevated above at or above the level of your heart anytime you are standing or sitting down.

This will help reduce swelling. Use pain medicine if necessary. Take an over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin to also relieve the pain.

Do not take more than the recommended dosage. For acetaminophen the dosage is mg every four to six hours max daily dose: 3, mg daily. Do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 19 unless you have permission from a doctor, as it may cause a serious condition known as Reye's syndrome.

Make sure that you do not take them for a prolonged time period. Method 3. Examine the wound and the surrounding area. You need to first determine if the staple is still embedded in the wound and if any blood vessels, nerves or tendons were damaged by the staple. A tetanus shot might be needed if you received your last tetanus shot over 10 years ago, or if the staple was dirty or possibly dirty and you received your last tetanus shot over five years ago.

Call and apply steady pressure if you are bleeding severely. If the bleeding is severe, you will notice any of the following: blood is pumping from the wound, or the bleeding does not stop or slow down when applying pressure. You may also be bleeding so profusely that the blood is soaking through one bandage after another. Call your doctor or seek prompt medical treatment for moderate bleeding.

Be sure to seek medical treatment within an hour. With moderate bleeding, the bleeding slows or stops with pressure but starts again once pressure is no longer applied. The blood might also soak through a few bandages, but the bleeding isn't fast or out of control. Seek medical treatment for mild bleeding accompanied with severe pain. You should seek medical treatment within one hour.

With mild bleeding, the bleeding either stops by itself or when you apply pressure. The bleeding may also stop or slow down to an ooze or trickle after applying pressure for 15 minutes. Get medical care immediately if you are experiencing severe pain. Chances are that your injury will only get worse, so you need to contact your doctor or seek medical treatment within one hour.

If the pain makes it unsafe for you or someone else to drive, call an ambulance. Determine the urgency of moderate pain. Know that mild pain can be serious as well. To protect the wound, you can put a bandage around it or wrap it in gauze and an ACE bandage. Home treatment may be all that is needed for puncture wounds from clean needles.

Check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor. Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:. You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home. Symptoms of infection may include:. It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:. With severe bleeding , any of these may be true:. With moderate bleeding , any of these may be true:. With mild bleeding , any of these may be true:. You may need a tetanus shot depending on how dirty the wound is and how long it has been since your last shot.

Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example:. Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The problem probably will not get better without medical care.

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care. Based on your answers, you need emergency care. Call or other emergency services now. Sometimes people don't want to call They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call for medical transport to the hospital.

Minor puncture wounds can be treated effectively at home. If you do not have an increased risk of infection, you do not have other injuries, and you do not need a tetanus shot or treatment by a doctor, you can treat a puncture wound at home. Home treatment can prevent infection and promote healing.

It is recommended that everyone use blood and body fluid precautions with first aid treatment. After you have stopped the bleeding, check your symptoms to determine if and when you need to see your doctor. Clean the wound as soon as possible to reduce the chance of infection, scarring, and tattooing of the skin from dirt left in the wound.

If dirt or other debris is not removed from a puncture wound, the new skin will heal over it. The dirt can then be seen through the skin and may look like a tattoo. Most puncture wounds heal well and don't need a bandage. You may need to protect the puncture wound from dirt and irritation. Be sure to clean the wound thoroughly before bandaging it to reduce the risk of infection occurring under the bandage.

Puncture wounds are less likely than cuts to need stitches, staples or skin adhesives. Elevate the injured area on pillows anytime you are sitting or lying down. Try to keep the area at or above the level of your heart to reduce swelling. Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

When you switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine. Call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:. To prevent puncture wounds, be sure to practice safety when using blunt or sharp objects. Be sure to have a tetanus shot every 10 years. To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment. You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:.

Blahd Jr. Gabica MD - Family Medicine. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

Topic Overview Causes of puncture wounds A puncture wound is a forceful injury caused by a sharp, pointed object that penetrates the skin. What to do if you get a puncture wound? When you have a puncture wound: Determine if any part of the object that caused the wound is still in the wound, such as a splinter or lead graphite from a pencil. A pencil lead puncture wound is less worrisome, so it is not necessary to check blood levels for lead or worry about lead toxicity or poisoning.

Determine if underlying tissues, such as blood vessels, nerves, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints, or internal organs, have been injured by the object. Clean the wound and remove any dirt or debris to prevent infections, both bacterial skin infections and tetanus "lockjaw". Determine whether you need a tetanus shot. Check Your Symptoms Do you have a puncture wound? This is a wound caused by a sharp, pointed object going through the skin.

Puncture wounds are deeper and narrower than cuts. How old are you? Less than 12 years. Are you male or female? Why do we ask this question? The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have. If you are transgender or non-binary, choose the sex that matches the body parts such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina you now have in the area where you are having symptoms. If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice once as "male" and once as "female".

This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you. Do you have an eye injury? Do you have an injury caused by a fish hook? Is the wound bleeding? Would you describe the bleeding as severe, moderate, or mild?