I've have glass in my foot for about 6 weeks. Don't know where to turn.

[Anonymous]

I know it is glass, because I dropped a wine glass and I was wearing very open crocs at the time, and the glass was in my shoe. I tried to get it out, and then sort of left it. It has been hurting on and off, and is really bugging me now. I dug at it a few weeks ago, and then again last night, and think I'm getting close.....but don't see anything. But there is a spot that bleeds alot wheniver i get to it, and it feels,like the spot where the glass is. I've even used a magnifying glass and a very bright close up light. I have neosporin on it with a bandaid.

I've tried soaking it regularly, and no luck. I think it's time to get professional help. What type of doctor should I go to? I don't think my primary care doc is the answer? I'm terrified that its really deep and going to be a big deal. I had major abdominal surgery this summer, and am just finally feeling back to myself, and loathe the thought of having to deal with this.
And I've just started a new job, so will be hard to take ANY time off.
Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try urgent care? But call ahead to make sure they will be able to help you. Also, make sure UC is covered under your insurance. If it's cheaper to go to your primary doctor, do that instead. Call your doc's office and tell them about your situation to see if they can fit you in soon.

[Anonymous]

Go to your primary or to an urgent care! My son managed to step on a toothpick which I had to pry out of his foot a few weeks ago. The ped advised to soak the foot but to come in if there was sustained redness or discomfort since that can be a sign of infection. A google search turned up lots of cases of kids/adults who'd done this and wound up needing surgery! Don't mess around with the wound unless you're a trained surgeon or medical professional.

[Anonymous]

Urgent care should be able to handle this.

[Anonymous]

I went to the ER, but that was before urgent care was common. I'd try urgent care too.

[Anonymous]

Call a podiatrist in the morning. They should be able to tell you if they can handle it or you need the ER.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks for the advice. I was wondering more about what type of specialist I should see - podiatrist sounds like a good idea. I certainly don't think I need urgent care - but was wondering about whether to see a general surgeon vs. podiatrist , etc.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

A podiatrist. I just went to the best podiatrist (for grit that got jammed into my heel while running--same as you, left it for too long)…Dr. Damaneon Smith in Arlington, right on Lee Hwy, cross street is George Mason.

BTW the one thing I learned from visiting him is that if you get some cut on your foot or something jammed in your heel, you can easily get a plantar's wart (which is an HPV virus but not the same strain as oral or genital). It get in through cracks in the heel. So if you get an abrasion, always wear a band aid to protect the opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the advice. I was wondering more about what type of specialist I should see - podiatrist sounds like a good idea. I certainly don't think I need urgent care - but was wondering about whether to see a general surgeon vs. podiatrist , etc.

Thanks!

I go to UC for everything. It's faster than seeing your PCP, and not like the ER where your minor issue might be taking attention away from a serious one.

[Anonymous]

Go to your PCP. They can likely take care of it. No need to jump immediately to a podiatrist or go to urgent care.

[Anonymous]

Your biggest problem is that you wear Crocs.

WTF?

I can't even stand them on preschoolers.

[Anonymous]

I went to Patient First for a piece of glass in my toe. They took it out for me - a quick cut to open the wound back up, then some poking around until he found it. In and out in an hour.

[Anonymous]

OP let us know what happened!

[Anonymous]

Another vote for urgent care. Some of the pros: no appointment necessary, you can walk in whenever convenient for you or walk in less busy times and get seen pretty quickly. The last time my wife needed to go, I dropped her off and she was already in triage before I got into the car to go run an errand. Second, they are always set up for any situations. They have the surgical tools to cut the glass out, they can give you the tetanus shot if yours is out of date, they can give you an antibiotic for the cut if needed, and if it was still really deep, they can give you a painkiller. For meds, they can fill the order right there before you leave without another stop at a pharmacy to drop off a prescription, wait for it to be filled, etc. All on one copay One stop shopping, in and out, no waiting for office hours and scheduling an appointment. Much easier than waiting until morning to call your PCP or find a podiatrist and call them and try to schedule, then have to wait for the appointment time to roll around. If you went to the urgent care center last night, you probably would have been done and home before half of these responses came in and well before you could call your PCP or a podiatrist this morning to even schedule the appointment, let alone wait for said appointment.