A man from Tampa, Florida was stunned to discover that a long-standing pain in his forearm was down to a thorn that had been lodged in it for four years.
Alex Maglione, 45, had been trying to avoid paying for surgery and so put up with the pain, assuming he might've broken a tendon in his arm.
However, after noticing a small puncture wound that had become infected, he was left no choice but to go to the doctor's, where the shocking discovery was made.
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Not only was there a thorn in his forearm, but it had been edging closer to a main artery, only missing it by millimetres.
Alex said: "For the last four years, I thought I had broken a tendon on my left forearm.
"I'd put off seeing the doctor as the pain had started out being tolerable and I'd had injuries before."
Alex, who is active and keeps himself fit by going out with his dog Maggie and jet skiing, swimming, kayaking and mountain biking, joked: "I never thought my most painful injury would be thanks to a tree.
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"Yet when I went riding, the pain was worse than ever, truly horrific."
A sonogram revealed the thorn and Alex says he knew exactly where it had come from. He explained: "My ex-wife used to asked me to tend to the trees at the front of our house, and they grew the exact same ones - but it had been four years since I'd last done it."
Given that the wound on his arm had become infected, he unfortunately had no choice but to go in for surgery, given that there was the threat of developing sepsis.
When they managed to get the thorn, though, it took him aback.
He said: "I was amazed at the size of the thing. It must have shot into my arm like a needle.
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"Dr John D. Hand was amazing, the best surgeon I've ever had.
"I just couldn't believe it had been in there so long, without causing more damage."
To operate, surgeons held the skin open with forceps while the thorn was carefully removed in one piece, so that no remaining splinters could cause issues. Alex needed six stitches to help the wound heal.
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He said: "There had been no entry point, no intrusion on the skin that looked like a puncture wound.
"It had just been sore, with the pain becoming gradually worse over the years.
"It had become horrific, the worst pain I'd ever felt - so when the doctor had to make an incision, it was like a scratch."
Not quite The Boy With The Thorn In His Side, as The Smiths once sang then; but Alex will be looking forward to singing a different tune after an uncomfortable four years.
Featured Image Credit: Caters