I've been pricked by this tree branch- will my finger be okay?

[busybeebusymee]

We have this three in our garden- I don't know what it's called- and I've been pricked by one of its b*stard thorny branches and now have a very painful finger. I'm surprised by how painful and swollen my finger is as a result- should I be worried? I can't use my finger properly and warm water on it feels like scorching. There's a bit of the thorn left in my finger but trying to get it out last night pushed it further in.

Is it blackthorn? They can be nasty. Try a blob of honey under a plaster for a few hours- that can sometimes shrink the skin back enough to make the splinter accessible.

If it's hot, red, and particularly if you feel in any way feverish or see dark lines tracking out away from the area seek medical help because those are signs it's infected.

And even without signs of infection, see a doctor if you can't get the thorn out. The reaction to blackthorn can cause an arthritis-like reaction that doesn't resolve until all the plant matter is removed.

Are your tetanus jabs up to date?

Agree with having the remainder removed, you might need to see a nurse at a walk-in centre.

Could also be pyracantha or hawthorn. A leaf would help.

A bread poultice sometimes helps. Piece of bread, soak, squeeze excess water out, fasten it over the splinter with a plaster, leave overnight. Next morning you may find the splinter embedded in the bread. I think what happens is the bread swells a bit, pushing n the skin, so the splinter pops out.

But if red area is spreading, go to minor injuries.

My pyracantha got me 2 weeks ago. It was really sore and swollen. I hadn't noticed there was the tiniest black dot in it. Next day it was still throbbing so I took a proper look - I soaked it in hot water and gently got the splinter out. Instant relief! Worse than any rose jab.

I can't even wash my hands properly with the lukewarmest of water because I get a burning sensation in this finger. I had a look earlier and thought I'd been stung by a black locust tree which can apparently result to tissue necrosis which made me panic but I do think this is a pyracantha thorn. I'm on my way to the minor injuries unit now. My finger is tingling and I can't bend it from the middle joint because the pain goes all the way through. What worries me even more is that the branch I was cutting through was covered in bird poo so if I did get stung by a bird poo infested thorn, I don't want it to lead to other complications. Let's see how mad the medical staff think I am when I get there.

I've tried a hot compress a few seconds at a time (because the area is so tender) and a tweezer to left the dark bit out. I've also tried an empty syringe to life the area and draw the thorn out but nothing has worked. Feeling in pain so on my way to the minor injuries unit at our local hospital now.

Finger as it currently is.

No advice, but just wanted to say good luck and hope it heals up quickly after some treatment!

I've had many a thorn in my finger from pruning in the garden and have for many years always worn safety gloves. Thorns can be very nasty.

Even if it's still in your finger, keep disinfecting it. The body will eventually naturally eject a foreign body like that, it just gets pushed out, but clearly it is better to try and extract it as early as possible.

Take care and I hope you can get some medical treatment.

It's hard to know with these things when you need help but from what you've said I think it's sensible to see what a professional says.

Ouch definitely sensible to get it seen

Ooh ouch. Looks just like my pyracantha which got me today. Hasn't swollen up like that though.
Would magnesium sulphate under a plaster help to draw it out?

My nan was a keen gardener and used to swear by magic cream which I'm pretty sure was drawing ointment. Not sure of brand but it used to get splinters and thorns out easily.

Going forward, use a pen to draw around the area of redness and make a note of the time, if the redness/swelling continues, continue with the pen and make a note of the time each time until you get it seen to.

Gauge how frequently based on how quickly the swelling increases.

I think this is Blackthorn on the basis of having buds along the thorns. Think I can make them out in the photo, just about but I'm not 100%. If it is, it suckers as well - new stems can appear some distance away from the parent. Flowers very early, before the leaves.

Fun fact but the other month I got a tiny thorn out my hand that had been there over a YEAR! I had a purple lump/ scar on my knuckle and presumed it was from an injury. Then over a year later I was in the bath and it just sort of burst open and a tiny little black thorn popped out! The lump healed and is completely gone now. Anyway I hope you get sorted OP! Maybe a soak in some salt water would help.

Get it looked at. When I was a child, my brother pushed me into one of those bushes. I had lots of the thorns stuck in my thighs and bum cheeks! Horrific. Had to get them removed at the doctors and had drawing ointment on the ones they couldn't get out. It took ages to get better!

Quick update- I had an X-ray taken (no foreign material detected embedded in my finger). Doctor thought it was cellulitis. He's prescribed me a ten day course of antibiotics and referred me to the local hand clinic for further monitoring. I'm glad I wasn't imagining the pain (I was beginning to think I was over reacting) and that there's nothing in my finger. I am feeling feverish so will take it easy at work next week (have only just recovered from bronchitis). Thank you for everyone help and words of wisdom.

Also, I should mention, doctor said in the event of another thorn prick, I should refrain from trying to poke/prod it out myself as that's likely to press whatever it is (infection in my case) deeper and prolong recovery.

Ouch, ouch, ouch!!! I can't even imagine how painful that must've been :(

I've usually a very low 'ick' threshold for things like that but it sounds weirdly satisfying!

@rickandmorts I had one for decades, then it took it upon itself to rise to the surface. Weird things, bodies.

Glad it’s sorted OPs, it’s incredible how the tiniest teeny tiny thorn can be such agony.

Gardeners do have to be very careful with thorns and scratches at this time of year, especially handling compost. There is a risk of sepsis so don’t ever be afraid to get it looked at.

Don’t want to panic you OP but I’m a gardener and necrotising fasciitis is a gardeners biggest fear.

Im not saying you have that. But definitely keep an eye. If it gets ANY worse go straight back to A&E and say you want the thorn removing and it debriding.

You can lose arms and legs and well die from it. Antibiotics are part of the treatment but if it is an unlucky thorn with that bacteria on stuck in your hand then it needs to be removed also. Antibiotics alone won’t cut it.

Bloody hell. That's another fear I never knew existed, unlocked!! I am keeping a very close eye on myself. Will be going to the hand clinic tomorrow to get an extra opinion on what may be happening.

Can anyone recommend any thorn-proof gardening gloves? I'm new to gardening and beginning to enjoy it but don't want a repeat of whatever this is.