Stitches

Do you think removing my stitches would be painful?

I had surgery 6 days ago for a metacarpal fracture. I was put in a splint. How would they numb my hand while taking out the stitches? Is it true that when you have stitches in for a while that part of the body would be dry skin and it wouldn't be as painful? Sources?

Public Comments

1. Not really. I've had it done several times. At the most it's painful for a few seconds. Even my kids have had it done and didn't even flinch.
2. Well speaking as someone who has had multi ORIF's having your stitches taken out is not painful at all. I have to say that when I had the pins removed that hurt a lot... I even made them drug me and it still hurt more than anything I have experienced... When they take out the stitches they wont numb you up but if you have pins and they want to remove them I WOULD BEG for some pain meds... good luck and best wishes....
3. I take out stitches all the time at work and I've had them taken out of me, as well. At most, it feels like a few small scabs coming off. No numbing medication is used. The stitches are cut and pulled out of the skin with tweezers. The actual stitch being pulled from the skin can feel a bit weird and any pain comes from skin that has grown over the stitches that is pulled away with the stitch. If you are very sensitive to pain, take an over the counter analgesic before the procedure (i.e. Tylenol, Aleve... only according to the directions on the bottle) and let your doctor or nurse know that you did so. Otherwise, it's not that big of a deal! Good luck and good health!
4. no won't hurt i had stitches removed following carpal tunnel surgery i personally didnt feel a thing. good luck
5. I have had three sets of sutures, I didn't feel the first set because they were in my back, I just felt a weird little pull. However, the other two, which I could see, tickled rather than hurt.
6. it will not hurt:) i got mine removed a few weeks ago for sugrey on my ankel ..i was told it would hurt so much but it did not at all : )