Cactus spine/needle removal

[pencak]

I saw briefly on another posting about using a small square piece of panty hose to remove needles and nair hair remover for the small ones.

How does this work and what's the best "spine/needle removal" tools to include in my Arizona first aid kit?

[chumley]

I don't know how this photo hasn't managed to get cross-posted in this thread. It deserves to be here.

Original thread: http://www.hikearizona.com/dex2/viewtop ... f=1&t=4883

[pencak]

I think the rule book says he should get an extra stroke for that.

[pencak]

O.K. bart01, what are you holding up in the picture? I can't make it out.

[sneakySASQUATCH]

pencak
I am holding my pup Muesli's favorite frisbee. His jaws just happened to be attached to it at the time. I didn't think he would hang on when I picked it up, but I was wrong.

[Sola602]

For the little splinters Elmer's Plain white school glue cover with gauze wait 30 minutes the rip it off it worked great 4 my two teen boys

[PatrickL]

A knife/by hand, or tweezers if you want to get fancy.

[kingsnake]

Don't know about cactus removal, but some guys in the Army would wear pantyhose on their legs as they helped retain heat in a cold environment.

[chumley]

Heading down from the Picacho pair last night, after it got dark I managed to kick a cholla or two in my mesh boots. It seems that there are now two barbs lodged below the skin on my left foot causing some impressive discomfort. Sometimes I can't even put pressure on my foot, other times I can't feel any pain. I may try the wax/elmers/duct tape remedies tonight, but I think that being below the surface of the skin I may be SOL. I might have to go to my standby for removing splinters ... just pull out the X-Acto knife and slice it open a little ...
:stretch:

[big_load]

I might have to go to my standby for removing splinters ... just pull out the X-Acto knife and slice it open a little ...

The X-Acto is my tool of choice. I'll get out whatever I can on the trail, but I use the knife on whatever is left when I get home.

[beterarcher]

yup, just go mining for them, it's the only way. just don't cut anything important..........use quite a bit of liquid anesthesia too ;)


I just noticed the pic at the top of this thread. Golf and Cholla just don't mix! :stretch:

[PatrickL]

:stretch:

I took a shindagger to the leg when it was still light out. Sounds like it was a good idea for me to leave early.

[Hippy]

just pull out the X-Acto knife and slice it open a little ...

oh dear goodness don't do that, how about sandpaper the barbs down at the skin level unti lthe rest of them come out on their own? that's how my grandpa use to do it back in the day.

[chumley]

If there was anything above skin level, it could be easily removed using any of the methods previously mentioned. It's the stuff below the skin that is irritating and needs a way out.

[Hippy]

@chumley okay cut it all out then, but we want step by step photos!

[paulhubbard]

I plowed my right shin into a hidden barrel cactus on Stewart Mountain back in Feb 2011 http://hikearizona.com/photoset.php?ID=14263, and I still have two pretty large (3/4" long) spines just under the skin below my knee. No pain, but when I push on one end I can feel the other end move. A little too deep to go digging, maybe someday they'll work their way out?

[big_load]

A little too deep to go digging, maybe someday they'll work their way out?

Sometimes they do, sometimes not. I don't like giving them a chance to migrate around. Also, the smaller ones make me itch when they start working their way out.

[tibber]

but when I push on one end I can feel the other end move.

[outdoor_lover]

paulhubbard wrote:
but when I push on one end I can feel the other end move.

tibber X 2... I think I'd rather amputate than have something moving around in my leg like that. It would drive me nuts! :bdh:

[kevinweitzel75]

I stuck a mesquite thorn in the end of my thumb one time. Couldn't get it out, except 4 days later when my thumb was twice the size. I just squeezed my thumb and the end poped up. Out it came. Now mind, I wasn't feeling to well and I thought my thumb was going to explode. Wished I would have used the sharp blade idea. Probably would have hurt less.
Note to self: Watch where you put your hands.