Thorn in my thumb

[Jay22]

I have been struggling to remove a throw from the tip of my thumb this morning and wondered what your top tips are for doing so!

Have to say it's blooming painful and I still haven't gotten the blighter out!

[Bigmallly]

For spells & splinters, I use the point of a needle. Just scraping away at the skin till it comes out. It make work for thorns, if you think it sounds too painful, put some ice on it first as an anaesthetic. Over time, your body should naturally eject this foreign object but may take some time.

[veggiechicken]

First find out which direction it went in
Then scrape at it with your nail in the OUT direction.
Soaking your thumb in warm water, or putting on one of those airtight plasters helps soften the skin if its stubborn..

Next time, wear gloves

[Jay22]

I did have gloves on but the blooming thing went right through. It has also gone in straight down not the usual sideways...the needle trick is not working. Will try the plaster tip next...thanks guys!

[veggiechicken]

Try pushing tweezers down into your thumb, either side of the thorn, trying to make it pop up out of the skin................then grab it

[Elfeda]

How to Remove a Splinter with Baking Soda: 8 Steps

let me know if this works

[WendyC]

Magnesium sulphate paste can help draw out a thorn too. Cheap from the chemist.

[Jungle Jane]

Have you got any germolene/antiseptic cream put a dab on before the plaster?

[muddled]

Magnesium sulphate every time here,
all that digging about can push infection further in!

[roitelet]

If you can get it Yellow Basilicon ointment will get blood out of a stone.

[greenishfing]

My husband got "something" in the sole of his foot a few weeks ago. Of course he didn't mention it for a few days until he could barely hobble. He couldn't see it and at the time I was pretty much immobile with a back problem but couldn't see anything. I called in at our local surgery and asked if one of the nurses could have a look. One of the nurses did look and dug out a lump of glass. She told him to call back in a couple of days and got some more out. She checked it again a couple of days later but by then he was back to normal. So if you are really struggling follow his example

[mothhawk]

Another vote for magnesium sulphate - Epsom salts, mixed to a paste with glycerine, spread on a piece of cling film and wrapped around the area. Use a bit of sticking plaster to hold it on, and in a couple of hours it will have gently drawn out the offending thorn/splinter.

[Nannysally99]

It it still there Jay22?

[Jay22]

Yes it is NS. Will try the poultice ideas tomorrow if the plaster doesn't draw it out and see if that works.

[Nicos]

Ouch ouch ouch ouch

Did I say ouch?

I do the scraping/ picking with a pin towards the entry point.

Just managed to get one out which has been there for a couple of weeks.
Needed to use a 10x magnifying mirror to see it properly....tiny wee thistle spike.

Ouch!