Needle jammed completely under my skin - how dangerous is this?

[Anonymous]

I did this as a child (stepped on a broken sewing needle that went deep inside my foot). They simply removed it (in a minor surgical procedure). Otherwise, it can get deeper, become infected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a sewing needle (or perhaps a pin) in my bed and I just jammed it really hard into my leg. It's completely under my skin. I could feel the end of it some and tried to dig it out with a splinter remover/lance thingy but can't get it. It feels like it is digging in deeper now and I cannot get it out. Is this dangerous? Can I just wait and hope it will move closer to the surface later or do I have to go to urgent care or a doctor to get it out? I've dealt with splinters and such before but always there was something you could grab and pull it out. I'm worried it will just disappear into my fat or muscle and then move around my body and cause trouble elsewhere, or infection.

Wait what? You think a sewing needle is going to take a fantastic voyage all around your body?

Um... Yes... I have heard that needles or other foreign objects can in fact move around the body.

Like…when they’re swallowed. A needle stuck just under the top layer of your skin is not migrating anywhere.

My two cents: you did not get a needle embedded in your skin. You got poked with a needle and your health anxiety took the ball and ran with it.

"Anxiety" - DCUM standard term for "I have no idea what's going on but I want to insult a stranger."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please remove all sewing needles from your bed.

Noted!

[Anonymous]

Glad you went in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a sewing needle (or perhaps a pin) in my bed and I just jammed it really hard into my leg. It's completely under my skin. I could feel the end of it some and tried to dig it out with a splinter remover/lance thingy but can't get it. It feels like it is digging in deeper now and I cannot get it out. Is this dangerous? Can I just wait and hope it will move closer to the surface later or do I have to go to urgent care or a doctor to get it out? I've dealt with splinters and such before but always there was something you could grab and pull it out. I'm worried it will just disappear into my fat or muscle and then move around my body and cause trouble elsewhere, or infection.

I’m sorry you need to ask this but YES, you need to seek medical attention ASAP. This is a situation with ripe potential to develop into sepsis and/or you could develop tetanus and should get a booster (if you haven’t had one recently) when they remove the metal (rusty?) foreign object that is now inside your body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a sewing needle (or perhaps a pin) in my bed and I just jammed it really hard into my leg. It's completely under my skin. I could feel the end of it some and tried to dig it out with a splinter remover/lance thingy but can't get it. It feels like it is digging in deeper now and I cannot get it out. Is this dangerous? Can I just wait and hope it will move closer to the surface later or do I have to go to urgent care or a doctor to get it out? I've dealt with splinters and such before but always there was something you could grab and pull it out. I'm worried it will just disappear into my fat or muscle and then move around my body and cause trouble elsewhere, or infection.

Wait what? You think a sewing needle is going to take a fantastic voyage all around your body?

You seem fairly ignorant of the biology of foreign objects in a body. They do, in fact, often migrate.

When dogs for instance get a face full of porcupine quills, the smallest ones usually go all the way into the dog and can re-emerge years later or cause serious health issues depending on where they end up in the body.

When humans get foreign objects in their bodies in various ways (including medical malpractice) those objects depending on the material can migrate in the body and/or cause adhesions and all kinds of issues with risks to organs etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a sewing needle (or perhaps a pin) in my bed and I just jammed it really hard into my leg. It's completely under my skin. I could feel the end of it some and tried to dig it out with a splinter remover/lance thingy but can't get it. It feels like it is digging in deeper now and I cannot get it out. Is this dangerous? Can I just wait and hope it will move closer to the surface later or do I have to go to urgent care or a doctor to get it out? I've dealt with splinters and such before but always there was something you could grab and pull it out. I'm worried it will just disappear into my fat or muscle and then move around my body and cause trouble elsewhere, or infection.

I’m sorry you need to ask this but YES, you need to seek medical attention ASAP. This is a situation with ripe potential to develop into sepsis and/or you could develop tetanus and should get a booster (if you haven’t had one recently) when they remove the metal (rusty?) foreign object that is now inside your body.

So OP here, I did follow up with a surgeon, who said a) it isn't particularly dangerous but b) unfortunately I need actual surgery (with general anesthesia) because the needled is pretty lodged in there. Totally SUCKS and I'm really pissed at myself. I don't even sew!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a sewing needle (or perhaps a pin) in my bed and I just jammed it really hard into my leg. It's completely under my skin. I could feel the end of it some and tried to dig it out with a splinter remover/lance thingy but can't get it. It feels like it is digging in deeper now and I cannot get it out. Is this dangerous? Can I just wait and hope it will move closer to the surface later or do I have to go to urgent care or a doctor to get it out? I've dealt with splinters and such before but always there was something you could grab and pull it out. I'm worried it will just disappear into my fat or muscle and then move around my body and cause trouble elsewhere, or infection.

Wait what? You think a sewing needle is going to take a fantastic voyage all around your body?

Come along and ride on my fantastic voyage….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a sewing needle (or perhaps a pin) in my bed and I just jammed it really hard into my leg. It's completely under my skin. I could feel the end of it some and tried to dig it out with a splinter remover/lance thingy but can't get it. It feels like it is digging in deeper now and I cannot get it out. Is this dangerous? Can I just wait and hope it will move closer to the surface later or do I have to go to urgent care or a doctor to get it out? I've dealt with splinters and such before but always there was something you could grab and pull it out. I'm worried it will just disappear into my fat or muscle and then move around my body and cause trouble elsewhere, or infection.

I’m sorry you need to ask this but YES, you need to seek medical attention ASAP. This is a situation with ripe potential to develop into sepsis and/or you could develop tetanus and should get a booster (if you haven’t had one recently) when they remove the metal (rusty?) foreign object that is now inside your body.

So OP here, I did follow up with a surgeon, who said a) it isn't particularly dangerous but b) unfortunately I need actual surgery (with general anesthesia) because the needled is pretty lodged in there. Totally SUCKS and I'm really pissed at myself. I don't even sew!

I asked for a regional block. General, wtf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a sewing needle (or perhaps a pin) in my bed and I just jammed it really hard into my leg. It's completely under my skin. I could feel the end of it some and tried to dig it out with a splinter remover/lance thingy but can't get it. It feels like it is digging in deeper now and I cannot get it out. Is this dangerous? Can I just wait and hope it will move closer to the surface later or do I have to go to urgent care or a doctor to get it out? I've dealt with splinters and such before but always there was something you could grab and pull it out. I'm worried it will just disappear into my fat or muscle and then move around my body and cause trouble elsewhere, or infection.

I’m sorry you need to ask this but YES, you need to seek medical attention ASAP. This is a situation with ripe potential to develop into sepsis and/or you could develop tetanus and should get a booster (if you haven’t had one recently) when they remove the metal (rusty?) foreign object that is now inside your body.

So OP here, I did follow up with a surgeon, who said a) it isn't particularly dangerous but b) unfortunately I need actual surgery (with general anesthesia) because the needled is pretty lodged in there. Totally SUCKS and I'm really pissed at myself. I don't even sew!

That sucks, but honestly surgery is probably prudent. My cousin stepped on a needle and pulled it out herself. Years later, she had to have surgery because of chronic foot pain. Turned out the tip of the needle was still in there!

[Anonymous]

How did you jam a needle all the way into your muscle? Did you do it on purpose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did you jam a needle all the way into your muscle? Did you do it on purpose?

Completely accidental. No, it isn't in my muscle, I don't think? I think I would feel that. It seems to be in the fatty portion of my thigh.

I've certainly stuck myself with errant sewing needles or pins before, here and there over the years, but they never went that far in. This is a pretty small sewing needle and very sharp I guess. I rolled over it; it was on my bedspread because I was sewing while sitting on the bed. I suppose the same thing could have happened if you lost a needle while sitting on the sofa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a sewing needle (or perhaps a pin) in my bed and I just jammed it really hard into my leg. It's completely under my skin. I could feel the end of it some and tried to dig it out with a splinter remover/lance thingy but can't get it. It feels like it is digging in deeper now and I cannot get it out. Is this dangerous? Can I just wait and hope it will move closer to the surface later or do I have to go to urgent care or a doctor to get it out? I've dealt with splinters and such before but always there was something you could grab and pull it out. I'm worried it will just disappear into my fat or muscle and then move around my body and cause trouble elsewhere, or infection.

I’m sorry you need to ask this but YES, you need to seek medical attention ASAP. This is a situation with ripe potential to develop into sepsis and/or you could develop tetanus and should get a booster (if you haven’t had one recently) when they remove the metal (rusty?) foreign object that is now inside your body.

So OP here, I did follow up with a surgeon, who said a) it isn't particularly dangerous but b) unfortunately I need actual surgery (with general anesthesia) because the needled is pretty lodged in there. Totally SUCKS and I'm really pissed at myself. I don't even sew!

I asked for a regional block. General, wtf?

I never had surgery before (since adulthood). When dod you ask for a regional block? What kind of surgery was it? I'd far prefer that to general anesthesia for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a sewing needle (or perhaps a pin) in my bed and I just jammed it really hard into my leg. It's completely under my skin. I could feel the end of it some and tried to dig it out with a splinter remover/lance thingy but can't get it. It feels like it is digging in deeper now and I cannot get it out. Is this dangerous? Can I just wait and hope it will move closer to the surface later or do I have to go to urgent care or a doctor to get it out? I've dealt with splinters and such before but always there was something you could grab and pull it out. I'm worried it will just disappear into my fat or muscle and then move around my body and cause trouble elsewhere, or infection.

I’m sorry you need to ask this but YES, you need to seek medical attention ASAP. This is a situation with ripe potential to develop into sepsis and/or you could develop tetanus and should get a booster (if you haven’t had one recently) when they remove the metal (rusty?) foreign object that is now inside your body.

So OP here, I did follow up with a surgeon, who said a) it isn't particularly dangerous but b) unfortunately I need actual surgery (with general anesthesia) because the needled is pretty lodged in there. Totally SUCKS and I'm really pissed at myself. I don't even sew!

I asked for a regional block. General, wtf?

I never had surgery before (since adulthood). When dod you ask for a regional block? What kind of surgery was it? I'd far prefer that to general anesthesia for sure.

Ask the surgeon and you need to have a discussion with the anesthetist.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to send some sympathy and well wishes. That sucks, OP! I’m a sewer and going to me more careful now. Best of luck with surgery. Please update us.