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Original poster

Thorn infection tracking up my arm...can I leave it til tomorrow?

40 replies

WAMS · 22/03/2020 10:17

Was gardening yesterday and a rose bush bit back. Woke in the night with a sore, swollen knuckle. Its achey now rather than painful but I can see it's begun tracking up my arm. Do I need to call out of hours doc or will it be ok to leave it for GP to deal with in the morning?? With so much going on I don't want to make a fuss.

OP posts:
EBearhug · 22/03/2020 10:18

Call it. It's spreading. If it becomes sepsis, that can kill.

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 22/03/2020 10:19

Sounds scary. Ring 111 - that’s what it’s for.

Weregoingonanadventure · 22/03/2020 10:20

If its tracking then you call now. If you leave it then rather than giving you some antibiotics, they will need to admit you, giving up a bed they need, and you will need more intensive treatment.

By waiting, you're just going to give them more to do when you finally go in.

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General health
Veronicat · 22/03/2020 10:21

If its tracking up your arm you need to get it seen. It can lead to blood poisoning and/or sepsis.

Guardsman18 · 22/03/2020 10:21

When I had something similar I was 'rushed' to hospital and put on an iv drip immediately. Can you see the tracking spreading?

The local hospital drew around the tracking and the speed with which it grew was scary.

So, I don't think you should leave it. They said I nearly died.

MacavityTheDentistsCat · 22/03/2020 10:23

Call now. And start marking the end of the tracking (with a pen) at hourly intervals so that you have an idea how fast it is progressing.

Mrsjayy · 22/03/2020 10:23

People at the moment don't want to fuss but that sounds iffy there is no harm you phoning out of hours, Sepsis sets in quickly get checked.

Original poster
WAMS · 22/03/2020 10:23

Yikes. Ok folks I'll call out of hours and start there. Thanks.

OP posts:
Isadora2007 · 22/03/2020 10:23

Mark the area. Get advice- bad timing indeed but I hope you are okay.

EvenFlo2 · 22/03/2020 10:23

No you need help now, yes services are stretched but if you think about it - if you do something now you will take up far less time than leaving it and needing more input.
I’ve had one of these before, was bloody horrible so hope you feel better soon Flowers

Mlou32 · 22/03/2020 10:24

If its tracking then its unlikely to go away itself. It very well may need antibiotics. Yes, call out of hours and see if they can leave a prescription for you to collect.

Original poster
WAMS · 22/03/2020 11:02

Cant get through to 111. Can I just turn up at a walk in/minor injuries place or do I need referring by 111?

OP posts:
Starbuck8419 · 22/03/2020 11:04

Yes even if it means waiting I’m afraid.
Like people have previously said. It could turn into sepsis. If you leave it at best you lose your arm. Worst you die.
Sorry to scare you but I hope you are in the car on your way now. 💜

ShellsAndSunrises · 22/03/2020 11:05

Walk in/minor injuries is fine; I’ve been there for similar. Probably preferable to 111, to be honest right now!

All the best Flowers

Elouera · 22/03/2020 11:08

You can go to the minor injuries, without referral. PLEASE go! Remove any rings you have on that hand too, as you might get cellulitis, which is fluid under the skin. As another poster said, get a normal pen and make around the tracking mark. This can indicate how quickly the infection/bacteria etc is tracking. Let us know how you get on.

AlCalavicci · 22/03/2020 11:10

I would go to a walk in right now , the last thing you need is to be ill with sepsis while all this scary stuff is going on .
I agree mark in hourly or even half hr the tracking , write the times down either on you arem on on a bit of paper that you can hand over if you start to get really ill .

I hope a quick dose of anti' bio's sorts you out and you are feeling better soon . Flowers

Aragog · 22/03/2020 11:10

Get it sorted. Soon.

I had a blister that did this. Years ago now, way before we had the sepsis warnings all around us.

In my head it was a just blister. I can't go to the hospital with a blister.
I left it.

By the time I could no longer walk on it at all it had tracked right up, almost to my groin.

I was lucky. I had daily injections of antibiotics and pain killers at the hospital. I was allowed home each day but had to go in every day. Dh had to take me as I couldn't drive. It was so painful and I felt rubbish. But the antibiotics did work. A few days of these and also tablet medication and it cleared up. I was off work for over a fortnight, with a blister.

It's only looking back now I can see what the issue was properly and understand the need for the prompt action. At the time it all felt like a big reaction, but we (the general public) are way more aware of sepsis these days I think.

Duchessofblandings · 22/03/2020 11:13

You need antibiotics, out of hours will probably diagnose by phone (our surgery is) and prescribe for collection.

Mrsjayy · 22/03/2020 11:28

Just go to whichever walkin and they will advise you save you sitting on the phone all day.

hvnc · 22/03/2020 11:31

Yes to out of hours! Hope you get sorted

Idreamofpizza · 22/03/2020 12:43

I casually strolled into a chemist with this last year and was told to get myself to hospital immediately. I did but still ended up on a drip with antibiotics. You need to go straight to hospital.

lljkk · 22/03/2020 12:53

Let us know what happens. x

CamillaBeauchamp · 22/03/2020 13:07

Agree with the posts here. I had a blister which got infected and it started moving up my leg. I phoned 111 and they told me to immediately come in for antibiotics

PegasusReturns · 22/03/2020 13:09

Yes walk in now. Should be quicker than 111 which seems to be clogged with corona concerns. Hope it’s ok

nether · 22/03/2020 13:14

I'd get tracking seen at minor injuries or A&E (whichever is more reachable where you are).

This is both urgent and important, as there is a real risk of sepsis. They would rather see you no where than deal with a worse condition, which is likely if you wait and see.

It's only the non-urgent, less important issues that need to keep,away from weekend services