What to do with a splinter in your foot!?

Over the summer, my daughter stepped on something (which was a small splinter or piece of wood). This reminded me that it would be a perfect topic for my blog. What should you do if you step on a splinter? If you can easily see the splinter and remove it, you should do so and apply antibiotic ointment and a band aid. However, it is important to see a foot doctor if you have stepped on a splinter and cannot remove it, are in severe pain, or it looks infected (red, hot, swollen pustular drainage). The sooner you schedule an appointment, the better, as the small piece can move deeper into the foot or cause an infection (as it is a foreign object). If the condition is severe and you are unable to get an appointment with a podiatrist, you should go to the emergency room. Additionally, patients with poor circulation, diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, or any form of disease with decreased immunity, should schedule a podiatry visit to have the area assessed. These patients are more susceptible to infection and may heal slower. Some patients may require x-rays, MRIs, or CT scans if the splinter has traveled further into the foot, and some patients need the splinter surgically removed if it is deeper in the foot and/or infected. If your foot hurts, give us a call! 708-763-0580