Evil Hawthorn

[PatrickFirwood]

Last week i was reducing a large hawthorn hedge when I got jabbed in the side of my index finger knuckle, it was one of many that day so i though nothing of it. When i woke up the next morning it was a little swollen and red, but again i thought nothing of it and carried on with the day. When i woke up Saturday morning it was even more swollen, red and painful so thought i better go get it checked out. Went to the walk in centre, doctor checked it out and prescribed a weeks course of antibiotics, to be taken with an antihistamine. Sunday it got more painful, but after that it's been getting a little better daily. 

 

The pain is very strange, like a broken bone/stiff joint when i try and flex my knuckle, or pick anything up. It's now been 6 days since i got jabbed by it, and this is my 5th day on the antibiotics. Like i said day by day it has been getting slightly better, but it's still to sore and tender to say pick up a saw or use a hedge trimmer, so unfortunately i haven't really been able to work... 

 

I know this topic has been covered a few times already, just wondered if anyone could share their experience on how long it took to make a full recovery?

[Deafhead]

Probably still got the tip of the thorn in there.

[Haironyourchest]

Been there, done that. The tips break off and cause swelling. There's some kind of poison in them. Personally I would not have gone with the antibiotics - the overall impact on gut health and immune system is not worth it for a swollen finger, IMO.

 

Thorn is a legitimately dangerous tree. I punctured a band new van tyre driving over a blackthorn twig once. Will not touch thorn with he hands these days, polesaw and long handled tools only, bent pikes etc. And full face protection.

[PatrickFirwood]

I thought that’s probably the case that the tip of the thorn may still be in there. The doctor thought the stiffness and swelling was due to a poison or bacteria that it’s left behind.

 

I’m not keen on taking antibiotics unless absolutely needed, but I just wanted it to heel up asap so I can get back to work. 
 

Any idea of how long it generally takes to get back to normal? 

[Stubby]

24 minutes ago, PatrickFirwood said:

I thought that’s probably the case that the tip of the thorn may still be in there. The doctor thought the stiffness and swelling was due to a poison or bacteria that it’s left behind.

 

I’m not keen on taking antibiotics unless absolutely needed, but I just wanted it to heel up asap so I can get back to work. 
 

Any idea of how long it generally takes to get back to normal? 

Some timres the tip will work its way to the suface and with a little encouragement you can get it out .

[Deafhead]

If you can dig the tip out, a couple of days. If not, well I have still got a hard lump from one a couple of years ago and I can still feel it if I bang it. I've got blackthorn all round one of my fields, so a continued battle to keep it back. sometimes I wish that I had never sold my Cat 951.

[Ratman]

Soak your hand in hot salt water and afterwards dry thoroughly and put some kind of drawing creme on, arnica or something similar, odd squeeze now and then to tempt it out.

[Canal Navvy]

I've had one that went in, got all hot and puffy before becoming a lump that broke back out in a different place a year later.

 

In a previous life it wasn't at all surprising to find a thorn rolling around inside a hedge cutting tractors rear tyre having been fired straight through the sidewall 😲

[Haironyourchest]

There's a local legend where I live, about a lady who got Weals from a blackthorn prick and died... I've found the swelling usually goes away after a week. If the tip isn't too deep they surface eventually. 

[doobin]

5 hours ago, Haironyourchest said:

 

Thorn is a legitimately dangerous tree. I punctured a band new van tyre driving over a blackthorn twig once. Will not touch thorn with he hands these days, polesaw and long handled tools only, bent pikes etc. And full face protection.

I won’t touch it without a digger 🤣