Expert: Greg Simpson - 8/11/2007

Question
My friend encountered a cactus cholla while visiting her sister.Long story short,she is still picking needles out of her skin 8 months later.Is this normal?She has tried many things to get them to come to the surface quickly but nothing has helped.She described the needles like hitting a nerve.Some seem to come out at an angle.She has tried the usual and unusual approach.

Answer
Bonnie,

Yes that is normal. My son fell into a saguaro cactus with the same result. The doctor pulled out what he could, but we were removing spines for almost a year. I would recommend though, that if your friend has not had a tetanus shot lately, that they should consider it as a precaution.

Sincerely,

Greg