bristle worms

[Jim]

YES, I know, I should have been wearing gloves, but I wasnt so now what?

I was moving some rock and afterwards, I felt something like fiberglass pieces in my finger. Of course, I trudged forward with my project.

Didnt think much of it ubut this morning, my finger is a bit swolen. I cannot SEE anything in my finger. But, I put antibiotic gel on it, ran hotwater over it, tried the tape trick (to pull any barbs out), took benedrill, and ibeprophen.

Anything else I should do? For those of you that have had this happen, how long before it goes away.

(I think this is from a bristle worm cause it is all I saw (but it was a big one) on the rock I was handling.

thanks for you help.

(PS: Isnt someone in the club a doctor? When do I go to the Dr. to get antibiootics?)

 

[Ashlar]

Every time I get hit, I fill a medicine cup with vinegar and stick my finger in it for 5 minutes.. dissolves them like they were never there.

 

[DaveJ]

I've done the same as you, though you shouldn't use hot water. Hot water opens up pores, which encourages the spines to go deeper. Next time it happens, do the vinegar soak, then wash your hands in cold water with anti-septic soap. Anit-biotic gel will help, assuming you don't get a bad infection. If the swelling does not go down by tomorrow, go see a doctor as you may need a more potent oral variety.

 

[Jim]

Thanks for the advice. Still swollen today - if not better by tomorrow I will go get oral antibiotics.

When it happened, I didnt feel anything except something like a little splinter. Now it is swollen and is warm. Did know about the vinegar trick.

Hopefully it is better by tomorrow

 

[DaveJ]

@theturk wrote:

If its swollen and warm, sounds like an infection.