I was helping a friend move his tank inhabitants yesterday. We moved the tank last Wednesday and got it all set up. All we had to do yesterday was move the rock, corals, and fish. I cut my finger very lightly (there was less than half a drop of blood. It stung really bad, but I figured that it was just saltwater that was doing it. The cut (see pictures below) is less than 1/4" across. I did it at like 10:30am and it continued to hurt more throughout the day.
About 2:00PM I noticed that it was swelling and it was painful to move the top knuckle joint. At 5:00pm the finger was getting red and the swelling had moved to the second joint. The top knuckle could only be moved 20 degrees or so before the pain was unbearable.
By 10pm it was even worst so I took a couple Ibuprofin and tried to "walk it off" over some sleep. I set my alarm for 2:45 so I could check my hand. I made a deal with my wife that if it got worst at 2:45am we would go to the ER. Well, I woke up, took a couple of Ibuprofin, and looked at it. The swelling was getting a little worst and the redness was increasing.
I didn't go to the ER then because I didn't see any red lines going up my arm. By the time I woke up at 7am, there was a red line going from my first knuckle to about halfway up the inside of my forum. I had been researching on the net and know that you can get some nasty infections from a tank. I made the decision at 8am to go to Urgent Care (not the ER).
I finally saw the nurse and she said it was definitely infected and she prescribed me two types of antibiotics and some super strength Ibuprofin. My wife is picking up my prescriptions now so hopefully everything gets better tonight.
The nurse made sure to tell me twice that I NEED to go to the ER if it gets any worst. I will definitely be following her advice. The pain is pretty intense. It hurt(s) more than my appendix did when I had appendicitis. I would guess a 8 on a 1-10 scale.
So....... I know everyone wants to see some pics.... Make sure you all be careful.
Note the red line/rash going up the inside of my arm. The line currently goes up to my elbow.
About 2:00PM I noticed that it was swelling and it was painful to move the top knuckle joint. At 5:00pm the finger was getting red and the swelling had moved to the second joint. The top knuckle could only be moved 20 degrees or so before the pain was unbearable.
By 10pm it was even worst so I took a couple Ibuprofin and tried to "walk it off" over some sleep. I set my alarm for 2:45 so I could check my hand. I made a deal with my wife that if it got worst at 2:45am we would go to the ER. Well, I woke up, took a couple of Ibuprofin, and looked at it. The swelling was getting a little worst and the redness was increasing.
I didn't go to the ER then because I didn't see any red lines going up my arm. By the time I woke up at 7am, there was a red line going from my first knuckle to about halfway up the inside of my forum. I had been researching on the net and know that you can get some nasty infections from a tank. I made the decision at 8am to go to Urgent Care (not the ER).
I finally saw the nurse and she said it was definitely infected and she prescribed me two types of antibiotics and some super strength Ibuprofin. My wife is picking up my prescriptions now so hopefully everything gets better tonight.
The nurse made sure to tell me twice that I NEED to go to the ER if it gets any worst. I will definitely be following her advice. The pain is pretty intense. It hurt(s) more than my appendix did when I had appendicitis. I would guess a 8 on a 1-10 scale.
So....... I know everyone wants to see some pics.... Make sure you all be careful.
Note the red line/rash going up the inside of my arm. The line currently goes up to my elbow.
