Ouch! I stepped on something! What do I do?

You accidently stepped on something while walking barefoot. It is bleeding and sore. What do you do? It is important to see a podiatrist to get the condition checked out. A foreign object (splinter, glass, pebble, needle etc.) in the foot can become a serious condition, as the object can travel deeper into the foot the more you walk on it. Additionally, the foot can become infected very easily after a foreign object enters. It is important to see a podiatrist as soon as possible to get the object removed and to get the area assessed for infection. Anesthesia may or may not be needed for removal of the object, and occasionally, advanced tests like MRIs or surgery may be needed for objects that have moved deeper into the foot. Dr. Bender, 708-763-0580