Damn rusty nail

[AbeLinkedIn]

So just a moment ago I had come home from church and since it was dark out, I had stepped on a rusty nail that went through my shoe and hit my left foot between the pinky toe and the one beside it. It bled a little but stopped and I dressed it with Neosporin and a bandaid. Now I'm worried about tetanus and read up on Google the signs to look out for. I didn't hit bone thank God but it feels like a decent wound. Not deep, but it took a bit of skin off.

How screwed am I?

 

[triceps]

I don't think you're screwed at all. I've unfortunately stepped on a number of nails over the years, living on a farm, and am confident my tetanus shots aren't up to date. I'm talking deep puncture wounds as I always wear sneakers and remember klomping a couple of steps with the board still on my foot at least once. I'd check with the doctor to see when you had your last shot or get some advice if your shots are out of date.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

I remember getting one in high school which was within the 10 year range, but these symptoms sound scary and I don't have a way to get to the hospital as my car's in the shop and my bro can't take off work to take me. Like I said, it mainly got skin but it still bled some and I'm freaking out. I already have some jaw pain from an unrelated matter and Google says it's one of the first signs of trouble

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

I inspected the site again, it looks like a deeper puncture than I thought but I don't think enough to hit bone or muscle. I haven't had any pain at the site since I first got hurt but IDK if that's good or bad. I'm afraid to go to sleep, I need to keep monitoring

 

[triceps]

If you did have a shot within 10 years you have nothing to worry about. Also, the symptoms don't show up for 7-10 days. So any symptoms that crop up shortly are just anxiety induced. It's a bacteria so keep the area lathered up with the Neosporin or some other triple antibiotic.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

That's just it, I'm not totally confident if I did get a booster or not and I'm in no position to get it ASAP. All the research I keep doing is making me more and more anxious and even though the likelihood of dying from this is very slim, I'm in full blown panic mode. I need to get my last will and testament in order over a god blessed rusty nail

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Question: Just how common is tetanus anyway? I keep seeing only about 30 cases in the US every year out of billions which seem like great odds but in my state of panic I want to disregard that and think it's more common than that if they have to keep talking about it

 

[bin_tenn]

Question: Just how common is tetanus anyway? I keep seeing only about 30 cases in the US every year out of billions which seem like great odds but in my state of panic I want to disregard that and think it's more common than that if they have to keep talking about it

Doesn't matter, you don't have it...

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Even with a decent rusty nail wound?

 

[bin_tenn]

Tetanus is classified as "extremely rare" across all age groups.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Where are you reading this?

 

[bin_tenn]

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Didn't show up when I searched it. I'm keeping my eye on this

 

[mia23]

I remember i shaved with a slightly rusted razor and i freaked out thinking i would get tetanus. Its not quite the same as yours, but I'm sure youll be fine. I definitely understand the panic and worry though I'm sorrry

 

[bin_tenn]

You'll be just fine.

 

[matisworried]

i'm sure you're fine. if you're really concerned, call your doctor's office and ask when your last tetanus shot was. if you're not up to date, just get one the next time you go in.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Update: Starting to have a little pain in the area and I think it bled some on my bandaid overnight. I dressed it again with more Neosporin and a fresh bandaid. I read that soil is what contains the bacterium for tetanus but I have what looks like dirt or sand in my yard unless there's soil in grass. I'm doing everything I can to rationalize that I'm okay

 

[matisworried]

Update: Starting to have a little pain in the area and I think it bled some on my bandaid overnight. I dressed it again with more Neosporin and a fresh bandaid. I read that soil is what contains the bacterium for tetanus but I have what looks like dirt or sand in my yard unless there's soil in grass. I'm doing everything I can to rationalize that I'm okay

well... you DID step on a nail so I'd say it's pretty expected to be experiencing pain. it's also expected to have a little bleeding and maybe even a little discharge. hush keep it clean and dressed and you're good. I'd highly suggest not doing anymore "research" on tetanus as well. it's just going to cause anxiety.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

But I can't remember when was the last time I had an immunization. I know it was sometime in high school but I entered as a freshman in 2007. It's the fact it was a rusted nail from a pallet and the depth of the wound is what's driving me mad, and my backyard is where my dog uses the bathroom and some of his waste might have gotten absorbed in the dirt/grass. The fact symptoms don't start showing up until days later and me waiting is making my anxiety ramp up too.

The biggest disappointment is that I failed to beat my HA again because of this. The only solace I have is that I've had worse wounds and didn't get tetanus

 

[matisworried]

But I can't remember when was the last time I had an immunization. I know it was sometime in high school but I entered as a freshman in 2007. It's the fact it was a rusted nail from a pallet and the depth of the wound is what's driving me mad, and my backyard is where my dog uses the bathroom and some of his waste might have gotten absorbed in the dirt/grass. The fact symptoms don't start showing up until days later and me waiting is making my anxiety ramp up too.

The biggest disappointment is that I failed to beat my HA again because of this. The only solace I have is that I've had worse wounds and didn't get tetanus

you can likely call your doctor or use the online patient portal to send an email (if you have that) and ask. you're likely up to date if you're younger. it's us old people that usually are out of date because we don't have things like school forcing us to stay up-to-date on our vaccinations.

you're obviously anxious and your mind is weaving a narrative to try and convince you that you are in danger. YOU ARE NOT. you need to keep the area clean, take ibuprofen for pain and try to stay off of it for a little while and that's about it. oh... STOP RESEARCHING TETANUS, TOO! THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO! being anxious and worrying will literally do you zero good. the outcome will be the same whether you worry or not SO WHY BOTHER?!? if you were to go to the doctor, they very likely wouldn't do anything other than tell you to do exactly what you're already doing. they might give you a booster while you're there... IF YOU NEEDED ONE... and not even out of genuine concern.