“A glass pricked my foot and even after a month the spot hurts. What should I do?”
I was walking on the grass the other day and a glass piece pricked me on my foot. I immediately went to the doctor who removed the glass piece and treated the small cut. However, it is still hurting me after a month. I can walk fine but there is still a small sharp twinge of pain. Should I undergo any tests?
21 Answers
Need to consult nearest podiatrist ASAP. Likely there’s firing body in the area or poorly healed.
Absolutely, YES!!! You need to see a doctor ASAP since you say it still feels like something is in there.
The first thing to do is to examine if there's any mark on the skin where you have the pain. An area that still has any fragments will cause the tissues to leave a mark or opening on the surface. If the pain persists, an X-ray is recommended to see if and fragments remain even though all glass is nor seen on an X-ray, but it would be a starting point. But I'm sure your podiatrist will lead you in the right direction.
Thank you for asking. It is possible that you still have a shard of glass in the area of irritation and that it should be assessed by x-ray and then an evaluation to see if anything should be removed.
I bet there is a small fragment still embedded in the skin....needs to be removed.
Hello,
If the glass was removed, you should not have to undergo tests. The pain is likely from the scar on the bottom of your foot. I would try rubbing vitamin E oil or use the silicone scar gel to soften it.
Dr. Patel
If the glass was removed, you should not have to undergo tests. The pain is likely from the scar on the bottom of your foot. I would try rubbing vitamin E oil or use the silicone scar gel to soften it.
Dr. Patel
I might be infected, or you have a small piece of the glass inside and that might be the cause. In any case, I think you should visit a specialist.
It is possible that you may still have a small piece of glass present in the wound. Glass does not normally show up on radiographs, but an ultrasound will show the piece. So, I would go to a podiatrist who has the capability of doing an ultrasound exam of your foot.
Dr. Kathleen Neuhoff
Dr. Kathleen Neuhoff
My recommendation is to have a follow up visit with your doctor for further evaluation, to ensure that there are no remaining splinters.
Yes! You should have an MRI or ultrasound of the foot to rule out any piece of glass left behind.
You might have injured the nerve, which can take a long time to heal. Make sure there are no remaining shards of glass in the foot.
I recommend you follow up with a podiatrist. Glass doesn’t normally show up on X-ray unless it has lead in it. But in any case, you may need an X-ray of your foot and for the doctor to numb your foot for a thorough evaluation. Even a tiny sliver of glass left in the foot can be painful. If you have any medical conditions such as diabetes or poor circulation, I recommend seeing a podiatrist as soon as possible.
Dr. Barbara Norvell
Dr. Barbara Norvell
There is a small chance that a piece of glass is still present. Also, sometimes after a small puncture wound, you could possibly develop an epidermal inclusion cyst. An MRI could be useful. You can also start with an X-ray.
Jonathan M. Kletz, D.P.M.
Jonathan M. Kletz, D.P.M.
Get an X-ray to make sure there is no foreign body.
Benjamin D. Overley
Podiatrist (Foot and Ankle Specialist)
If it’s glass, it may not show on a standard X-ray unless it’s leaded glass, which really is barely used anymore. I’d have your family doc order an ultrasound to make sure it was removed completely.
You may need an MRI
Glass doesn’t show on an X-ray unless it is leaded glass. There is obviously some glass or a foreign body reaction still there. See a podiatrist who can remove it in the office under local or in an OR.
Penetrating injuries to the bottom of the foot are not an uncommon presentation and can cause some lingering issues both with potential for retained material as well as the local trauma to the soft tissue. Frequently, a retained foreign body will present with residual local inflammation of the soft tissue, the occasional build-up of callus tissue,
local purulent or clear drainage, and focal tenderness. The inflammatory process is the body's response to the foreign substance in its effort to eliminate the material. It is not unheard of to see gradual elimination of foreign substance over time as a "splitting" or expression through an opening of the skin if it remains superficial. Deeper retained objects can encapsulate and remain benignly present, but if they produce pain or dysfunction, they will require surgical excision. Many times, the retained objected is removed at the time of injury, but the persistent pain is a result of the local penetrating trauma to the tissue. This should improve within a few weeks from time of injury. Signs that suggest a follow-up evaluation include persistent redness to the area, drainage, pain that does not trend in an improved or resolved fashion, visualization of a persistent wound, and even identification of the retained foreign object. If there remains a concern for a retained foreign object, X-rays and even an ultrasound can be performed to help identify its presence.
local purulent or clear drainage, and focal tenderness. The inflammatory process is the body's response to the foreign substance in its effort to eliminate the material. It is not unheard of to see gradual elimination of foreign substance over time as a "splitting" or expression through an opening of the skin if it remains superficial. Deeper retained objects can encapsulate and remain benignly present, but if they produce pain or dysfunction, they will require surgical excision. Many times, the retained objected is removed at the time of injury, but the persistent pain is a result of the local penetrating trauma to the tissue. This should improve within a few weeks from time of injury. Signs that suggest a follow-up evaluation include persistent redness to the area, drainage, pain that does not trend in an improved or resolved fashion, visualization of a persistent wound, and even identification of the retained foreign object. If there remains a concern for a retained foreign object, X-rays and even an ultrasound can be performed to help identify its presence.
If the glass wasn't leaded, the X-ray may be unable to detect it. An MRI can tell you if anything is left.
Glass shards are difficult to see on xrays if it is a very small piece. MRI can be a more useful tool when dealing with foreign body reactions. Thanks for your question and I wish you well. If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to call the office, thanks.
There are multiple possibilities, I would follow up with your podiatrist. Sometimes the area can be sore and take several weeks to resolve, in your case it would need to be looked at due to the time frame it's been.
