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Doctors in the house, Polite Psycho.......

Cubslover
I went on a fishing trip the end of last week. On my last day(night actually), I got spined by a Channel Catfish, about 1.5-2lbs. I was holding him with my left hand, his back to my palm. I was tossing him up on the bank, he spined me with a pectoral spine in the right side of my first knuckle(large knuckle) on my left index finger. He actually got me so good that he flipped(used the spine as leverage) back over my shoulder and into the water.

As typical the pain was intense along with a good amount of bleeding. It was dark and I didn't get a chance to clean it out real good for about 6-8hrs. The pain went away after an hour or so. The wound really never looked that bad, almost looked as though I got scraped.

Now I have about a 1/2-3/4" x 1/8" line from the side of my knuckle, back over the top of my finger angling back to my hand. It(the line, obviously the path the stinger took, looks like scar tissue), is swelling and has been very itchy. It's not really painful unless I dig into it with a fingernail or something. It's not really red at all, lightly pink. Like I said, it looks like scar tissue.

I've read about the stingers/spines of catfish being jagged and being left in the victim causing dermonecrotisis(sp?), basically the same thing a brown recluse does to flesh. I've also read that they cause edemas, manifestations with hemodynamic compromise, and gangrene. Ultimately leading to amputation.

Any idea, advice(aside from heading to the hospital), or ideas of what the case may be? I'll try to get some pictures up when I get home.

_________________

I forgot to mention, this happened about 1am Sunday the 20th. Within a day and a half. It was completely gone. Stayed away until I noticed it Saturday(the 26th) night.
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Comments

21 comments

Date Votes
  • OJMayo
    was president lincon okay ?
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  • Jorge
    Problems with my DSL.

    Contact me privately.

    Dr. D.

    [:)][:)][:)]
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  • sarge_3ad
    Cubbie ought to be a doctor himself. Hell he's got half the terminology down pat already![:D]
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  • zipperzap
    .... other than heading for the hospital, nope.[8D]
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  • tomahawk
    boil it out with peroxide then soak it in cider[:D]
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  • D1
    Hey Tomahawk! That there's a southern thang. I don't think they get it.
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  • tomahawk
    think i should type slower?[:D]
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  • Marc1301
    That would be "dermonecrosis", from the Latin,.......derma, or dermo, for the skin,........necrosis, for death.
    Close though![;)]
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  • JustC
    clean it and use neosporin,..you'll be fine. Been throwin catfish overborad all my life and never had a spine cause me a problem. A blue crab point accompanied by swelling,..yes,...a catfish, no. MHO
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  • Colt Super
    After you see an MD about it, go get your head examined.

    You are asking for medical advice on an INTERNET GUN FORUM !!

    You need skull help.

    Good luck.

    Doug
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  • Marc1301
    quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
    After you see an MD about it, go get your head examined.

    You are asking for medical advice on an INTERNET GUN FORUM !!

    You need skull help.

    Good luck.

    Doug


    [:D][:D]
    You WILL live though![;)]
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  • SCorvers
    Tetnus shot. Theyv'e saved my life and trips to the horsepital countless times. I hear they are good for 10 yrs, but I get mine updated every 5 cuz' that's about the length of time I go between needing stitches.[:D][8D]
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  • sabb0007
    Unless there is a bunch of puss forming it shouldn't be an infection. I would say just keep the area as clean as possible and monitor it closely for any changes.
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  • sabb0007
    A tetanus shot shouldn't be needed for this, although a puncture wound, tetanus usually grows on things on the ground and would probably be outcompteted by the bacteria present on the fishes body. Tetanus shots are very important though - and incredibly lethal disease if you catch it. Valid point in staying updated on it. I am by no means a doctor - just a b.s. in biology and recently to microbiology.
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  • sig232
    See your doc and get a professional opinion. Fish carry a lot of bacteria especially ocean fish, its not worth the risk to pick up blood poisioning or something worse. [:0][:0]
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  • bobski
    remember the movie alien?[:0]
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  • dlrjj
    quote:Originally posted by tomahawk
    think i should type slower?[:D]
    In cider, huh.

    Old joke/pun, but still a good one.[;)]
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  • 180A
    I always heard that if you were "finned" by a catfish to rub the wound on the catfish's belly -- something about the substance on the belly would neutralize the sting.

    But, I would still see a doctor ASAP!
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  • Kodiakk
    I'd hate to see some of your guys doctor bills per year if you run to the doctor for every scrape and poke.
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  • akfanatik
    i hope youre hand falls off
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  • cpermd
    If it swells and keeps getting worse
    If it drains pus
    If it developes red streaks

    Then go see your Family Dr

    CP
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