Shrapnel Removal
Author
Discussion

944fan

Original Poster:

4,962 posts

214 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
About two years ago I was cutting the grass and when using the strimmer it caught hold a piece of thick metal wire and whacked me in the leg with it. It made a small cut, healed and left a small scar.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago and I was starching my leg in that area an I noticed that there was something hard beneath the skin. I tried squeezing it out like a spot but it is beneath a few layers of skin.

Its quite small, only a few mm across and as its been there for a while with no impact I guess the sensible thing to do is just leave it alone.

However the PH'er in me thinks I should convert the garage into a temporary operating theatre and then remove it with a knife and document then entire process in pictures on here.

Anyone got any thoughts either way?

SHutchinson

2,363 posts

213 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Cut it out. It's the only way. If you don't you'll live the rest of your life wanting to anyway.

WinstonWolf

72,863 posts

268 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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It'll probably find it's own way out in time.

Juggsy1

73 posts

138 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Well the sensible thing to do,apart from obviously leaving it alone, is to go to the doctor and see what he can do.

But.....who wants sensible. Bearing in mind it's not my leg and I would probably bottle it and take the option above, i suggest you throw caution to the wind and go digging for it. Nice clean Stanley blade, bit of dettol, film it and post it on here. smile

didelydoo

5,533 posts

239 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Cutting it out would be the fun thing to do, possibly not the sensible option, but it's what I'd do!

MacW

1,351 posts

205 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Juggsy1 said:
Well the sensible thing to do,apart from obviously leaving it alone, is to go to the doctor and see what he can do.

But.....who wants sensible. Bearing in mind it's not my leg and I would probably bottle it and take the option above, i suggest you throw caution to the wind and go digging for it. Nice clean Stanley blade, bit of dettol, film it and post it on here. smile
Rubbish!

It went in with the strimmer, it should be taken out with the same tool.

HarryFlatters

4,203 posts

241 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
MacW said:
Rubbish!

It went in with the strimmer, it should be taken out with the same tool.
Or for a more elaborate method, get yourself booked in for an MRI hehe

soad

34,632 posts

205 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Pics? wink

Self-surgery (like a Terminator), surely? "I require a cutting tool." hehe

Cyder

7,186 posts

249 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Another vote for the home operation.

I've done plenty over the years so feel suitably qualified to say it'll be OK. Probably. Maybe. Don't sue me if you die please.

944fan

Original Poster:

4,962 posts

214 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
soad said:
Pics? wink

Self-surgery (like a Terminator), surely? "I require a cutting tool." hehe
Nice. If my leg falls off I am blaming all of you though.


Moulder

1,648 posts

241 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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MacW said:
Rubbish!

It went in with the strimmer, it should be taken out with the same tool.
An approach I had not thought of but the more thought you give it the more sense it makes.

OP, if you choose to go a different path there is an excellent instructional video on this called Ronin. The home surgery section is about 90 minutes in, but this will give you time for a few sharpeners before tackling the procedure.



Charlie1986

2,105 posts

164 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
it will do no harm. Your body will in time help it on its way. Or just see the nurse who can make a slit in the skin or do it your self

I have lots of shrapnel in my body and enough pins and rods its caused me no harm over the years, Even thou most came from a sandy desert .

Juggsy1

73 posts

138 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
quotequote all
MacW said:
Juggsy1 said:
Well the sensible thing to do,apart from obviously leaving it alone, is to go to the doctor and see what he can do.

But.....who wants sensible. Bearing in mind it's not my leg and I would probably bottle it and take the option above, i suggest you throw caution to the wind and go digging for it. Nice clean Stanley blade, bit of dettol, film it and post it on here. smile
Rubbish!

It went in with the strimmer, it should be taken out with the same tool.
You are of course totally correct. Strimmer is the only way really. I was too hasty to post and hadn't thought through all the removal options.
But, what if the original strimmer is no longer around, would any old strimmer do ??

Hereward

5,092 posts

259 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Dogwatch

6,381 posts

251 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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944fan said:
Nice. If my leg falls off I am blaming all of you though.
After that I will have nothing against your other leg.............but neither will you

[/Pete 'n Dud]

wink

soad

34,632 posts

205 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Hereward said:
Just a flesh wound scratch!

numtumfutunch

5,172 posts

167 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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This thread takes me back to the time I had a verrucca which was impervious to everything that Boots and Google could throw at it

After a year or so I called enough and attacked it with a Stanley knife - which hurt - a lot

Step 2 was to induce anesthesia with more Scotch than was remotely sensible

I woke up the next morning with total amnesia and noticed I was wearing 3 pairs of ski socks with a wodge of kitchen roll inside the first pair
All sock layers and my sheets were caked in blood

The verrucca died though smile

So go for it, and definitely blog it on here

Cheers, or rather good luck