Dangers of a lead sliver?

[Snowdog]

Under strange and complex circumstances involving backsplash from a .22LR, I have a tiny piece of lead imbedded just below the skin on the knuckle of my thumb. Being relatively close to the surface, I figured I'd give it some time to work it's way out, but that's a no-go. It's been there for about 4 months now.
It's roughly the size of your typical small wood sliver, and I wonder if I should just take a knife to it and dig it out, or if the lead is harmless enough to simply leave it.

Any advice (that doesn't include doctors and their exorbitant fees and inquiries)?

 

[Art Eatman]

Probably won't hurt anything, but if it was for me to do, I'd dig it out. Just general principles. My luck, I'd bang my hand on something and then get grumpy about extra pain.

, Art

 

[Standing Wolf]

1. Lots of hydrogen peroxide.

2. Xacto knife with new blade sterilized with hydrogen peroxide.

3. More hydrogen peroxide.

If the sliver is embedded in your dominant hand thumb, you may find it easier to hold the knife still in your other hand and move your thumb.

 

[Doc]

Wolf:

No offense but,
how about a doctor...?

1. Lots of hydrogen peroxide.

2. Xacto knife with new blade sterilized with hydrogen peroxide.

3. More hydrogen peroxide.

If the sliver is embedded...

how about a doctor now??

I would use some Methyl Chloride or cetacaine for anesthetic
then an 18ga needle to open the callus and pull it out

 

[Mike Irwin]

Doctors, BAH!

I'd use a chain saw and a drill press!

 

[Wildalaska]

Use a blowtorch and melt it out!

Wilddrkildarealaska

 

[C.R.Sam]

Like Art...I just root em out.
Peroxide decent sterilizer but a bit rough on tissue.

Sam

 

[C.R.Sam]

Re Mike's drill press.

Used press and dull twist drill to go through thumbnail to relieve pressure from hammer smash. Dull drill = more pressure required....suddenly went through and into bone. Me ok but wife, who was watchin, fainted and had to take her to doc to get couple stitches in head.

Moral....dull drills , like wives, can be expensive.

Sam

 

[Kobun]

Moral....dull drills , like wives, can be expensive.

LOL!
That made my morning!

Just pry it out with a needle or knife.
Just suck the blood off if it gets too bad.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. (To a certain degree).

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Had some small pieces of lead in my finger (.22LR, revolver, finger in wrong place...) that all came out on its own in a month or so.

If not a knife, I was going to use some sort of abrasive, like sandpaper to slowly get down to that level. But for one sliver, x-acto sounds good, or the doctor.

 

[Art Eatman]

Between hunting, ranch work and playing mechanic, I've sorta gotten used to "rough surgery" for mesquite and cactus thorns, splinters, stray bits of metal...

I bought one of these magnifying-glass hood dealies that you wear, for hands-free work. The magnification, plus needles and tweezers--and a self-taught higher pain threshold , all combine to make life better.

Art

 

[Iain]

Sam - I believe the correct technique for what you were trying to achieve is to heat a needle up and push that through the nail.

 

[C.R.Sam]

St Johns....tried both a few times.
Sharp twist drill, controlled feed, faster and less pain.

Sam....n e e d m o r e cubic inches.

 

[Matt1911]

Uh,...with all the horrors i've grown up hearing about lead,vapors causing cancer,kids eating one sliver of paint growing 3 heads,ect....,wouldn't one wanna get that out right away?
Are the dangers of lead posioning blown out of proportion?Is it only certain kinds of lead?

 

[olazul]

Actually, lead imbeded in your body does not cause any type of lead poisoning.

The studies have been done with lead bullets. Patients with retained bullets have had their lead levels tested over time and they do not rise. It appears your body's immune system "walls off" imbeded foreign bodies and so lead is not a problem. The two exceptions to this are lead fragments in your eyes (vitreous) and in joints.

In fact, bullets are not removed the vast majority of time because it would cause more grief(to the patient) to remove them than to just leave em'. There is no medical reason to take them out unless they get infected, which is rare.

If the fragment is bothering you then go see an orthopedist. They will need to use the fluoroscope (xray that takes "real time" images), and even then depending on how deep it is may be a real challenge.

Regards,

Olazul

 

[Snowdog]

Thanks for the replies.

The sliver isn't bothering me in the least except for the concern of lead in the body. I seriously doubt this sliver will shed off any residue that will get into the blood, but then again, I don't know a whole heck of a lot about the effects of lead on the body.

The sliver looks kinda neat. Actually, I initially showed it to a couple friends that also thought it was interesting... a 3mm long piece of dull silver just under the skin, but then they ask how it happened and I quickly find myself having to skirt the issue.

If it doesn't pose a risk, I'll just leave it alone.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I'd take it out. Lead belongs in the body only when one deliberately puts it there - as in shooting a BG. See a village shamen and then dig it out. Wash thoroughly.

 

[hso]

If the lead is not in a joint it should either surface or become encapsulated and no longer be a risk. If it is in contact with synovial fluid it may result in chronic lead poisoning.

If you decide to remove the lead "splinter" use betadine on the area and tools first and during.

 

[DF357]

check with an old WWII vet...

you'll probably find most of them are walking around with some form of shrapnel (steel or lead) in them. My Dad still has stuff working it's way out of his body after 60 years. He was shot through the face and complains the stuff that comes out is still chewing up his electric shavers. He's almost 80 and the lead hasn't killed him yet. In fact he's hardly ever been sick !

 

[mattd]

Some people like the feeling of pain or cutting themselves, so maybe you should try it and you might learn something about yourself. And how did it get in there? A rusty knife will work just fine.

 

[seeker_two]

Be a man....

Drink a fifth of Jack...

Then gnaw it out...













(seriously, let a doctor do the removal...)

 

[cordex]

I'm in the "grab a sharp object and something to kill the creeping nasties and go to work" camp. That's how I always took care of things like that.

No big deal.

 

[Dave R]

If its just under the skin...no big deal. Take it out with a sterilized needle, just like any other splinter.

 

[Camel]

Just a word of advice. If you decide to take it out yourself do your best to avoid the pad of your thumb. A cut there hurts bad and bleeds like crazy. Mine still hurts 3 years later.

 

[Snowdog]

Ok, I guess there's some need for clarification here.

I have no problems with taking out my Benchmade right now and prying the sucker out. If you'd seen some of the self surgery I've done, you'd certainly come to that conclusion as well.
I've never had a problem with handling pain... however, I do have a problem with the prospect of chronic illness.

Just to reiterate my concern:

I would like to keep the sucker in there since its rather interesting to look at to say the least. However, if lead lodged in the skin can lead to lead poisoning, the knife is coming out (and I prefer to use rubbing alcohol, not hydrogen peroxide... the sting leaves me believing it's doing something).

Thanks