Can splinters stay in skin as long as 4 months?

Sounds like a metal splinter. I expect that a wood splinter would have degraded or even rotted out by now, but a metal splinter driven straight into the skin can hold on for awhile. It can also be difficult to see, especially in a location such as you describe where you may not be able to get a good look at it. (I know that I haven’t been able to get a ‘good’ look at the bottoms of my feet in a long time.)

Have someone else look, with oblique lighting and magnification – and an excellent set of tweezers.

A friend of mine stepped on a toothpick, while barefoot. Six months later, his heel developed osteomylitis. He had the same symptoms as you. Minor surgery cured his problem.

It can be a splinter no problem, specially if it is made of something like stainless steel or glass, it is unlikely it would be wood.

Be careful, don’t dig around too much, I once thought I had one on the tip of my thumb, as I started to try and remove it I discovered it was a small vain or nerve or thing that was actually part of me, pulling it out caused a fair bit of blood to come out.

OMG @poisonedantidote I just shouted “oh god!” really loud when I read that. What the neighbors must think!

It could be anything that’s already been mentioned, and I would guess glass first off since you can’t see it.

Soak your foot in very warm water with Epsom Salts disolved in the water. It will help draw out the splinter and ease the pain regardless of what is in your toe.

Splinters can remain in the body for long periods of time. Depending on the material, your body may react to the foreign material with white blood cells (pus) or it may wall it off with scar tissue. But what you describe (being able to feel it) would mean that the splinter is very superficial, and you shed layers of epidermis constantly, so anything that shallow should have been shed along with the skin cells. Unless it is something very long and thin (like very fine wire) that is anchored more deeply?

I wonder if it could be some sort of minor neuralgia?

Hey @syz it’s interesting you mention neuralgia as my sister has just been diagnosed with it….
I’m going to to the doctor in two days so will find out then… I’ve soaked it -I’ve put a plaster on it, I’ve even put bacon on it – I’ve tried everything I can but nothing works!