Stitches in the sea!

[dojo]

I had some stitches in my leg last Sunday.
The nurse said to come back in 10-14days to get them removed.

Online it says once a wound is healed and stitches are out you should beable to swim in the sea.
I'm off to Devon tomorrow for 5 days, in theory I can take them out on Wednesday but they'll be in to the weekend... But surely I'll be OK to go surfing as they could have been removed?

Any thoughts?

[The_Doc]

Surfing is hard core.

If you fell onto the wound it would burst open at anything under about 30 days.

Age/location of wound/your health/method of closure all unstated and will affect

"Swim in sea" means gentle paddle

Or do you mean surf with stitches in, either way I wouldn't

[r159]

Only thing if you’re desperate to get out would be to tape it up, I used to do that when playing rugby. You do need to be careful when taking the tape off though. You could put some steri strips across the wound and leave them on for a while.

I am not a medical professional though so take this advice at your own risk....

[joshleb]

Wrap it up, put your wetsuit on, sorted.

What's the worst that could happen? Potentially more risky in Australia or South Africa...!

[witko999]

Depends where it is but a wetsuit rubbing over a scabby wound will do a good job of opening it up, as will the flexing movements of surfing. If it's a tiny wound with one or two stitches i'd probably go for it. If it's a gaping axe wound probably best to give it a miss.

[popeyewhite]

The_Doc said:

Surfing is hard core.

Because the sea is so cold presumably.

[dojo]

The_Doc said:

Surfing is hard core.

If you fell onto the wound it would burst open at anything under about 30 days.

Age/location of wound/your health/method of closure all unstated and will affect

"Swim in sea" means gentle paddle

Or do you mean surf with stitches in, either way I wouldn't

Ah OK.
41, stitches on knee (lower left side) health is good, stitches done with blue fishing wire type material, although one is loose and the knot has come undone!

Definitely mean surfing not a gentle paddle... I'll probably give it a miss.

Slightly disappointed about how weak you say it will be as was hoping to mountain bike at weekend?? If I was wearing kneepads and it fell on it again do you think it would open up??

[fillhope02218]

Maybe you should wait a little while doing sports in the water. Because in the event of an unfavorable outcome in the form of seam divergence or wound infection, you will have to go through the path of rehabilitation again. Not sure if it's worth it