DELETED
Yes, the spines puncture the skin and break off. If you can, you're supposed to remove them. If it's too difficult, you don't want to force it b/c they make break apart and cause further infection. I think they'll "grow out" of your skin, but if there's infection, Jim needs to get thyself to a doctor, pronto.
Ouch, sorry Jim. We learned all about those things when I took diving classes a few years back. Painful, indeed.
Ouch, sorry Jim. We learned all about those things when I took diving classes a few years back. Painful, indeed.
That's what I thought.
For you first aid junkies out there-- one more question-- if you don't have vinegar what do you do? Does the old fashioned advice about jellyfish stings "just pee on it" (sorry if that grosses folks out) work?
The reason I ask is because most of the beaches on STJ aren't anywhere near a resort with a bucket and vinegar! And it would be nice to know!
Kudos to Caneel for taking care of our fellow forumite!
For you first aid junkies out there-- one more question-- if you don't have vinegar what do you do? Does the old fashioned advice about jellyfish stings "just pee on it" (sorry if that grosses folks out) work?
The reason I ask is because most of the beaches on STJ aren't anywhere near a resort with a bucket and vinegar! And it would be nice to know!
Kudos to Caneel for taking care of our fellow forumite!
*Another fine scatterbrained production
A girl in our group accidentally stepped on one last Sunday morning at Secret Harbour before we went over to St. John. The bartender did tell them to use the same remedy as you would for a jelly fish. Thankfully she only had nine of the needles go into her foot, but it was pretty painful. They did start dissolving about halfway through the trip. My husband and I had been on this beach for three days and never seen any urchins close to shore.
I just posted my report on the topic. When I wrote mine I was not giggling like WWWT was when she wrote hers.
She assured me that this would be funny --- in a few weeks.
This is an excerpt from that report to fill you in on the latest news.
"The initial step stung a lot but then it wasn’t too bad. The additional remedy was rum administered by mouth (PO) as needed (PRN & Ad Lib). Whether the soak, or the aloevera, or the PRN rum, or the time since the hit did it, it is now feeling better."
It is key to the treatment to not try to debride the spines. I am now about 18 hours into this and I have about 90 to 95% of my mobility is back. The pain at the time on a 1-10 scale was about a 7 or 8. It is now a 1 or 2. Perhaps we'll post a progress photo on tomorrow's report.
Thanks for all of your concern.
At this time I am going to resume a warm saline treatment probably at Maho or Francis.
JIM


This is an excerpt from that report to fill you in on the latest news.
"The initial step stung a lot but then it wasn’t too bad. The additional remedy was rum administered by mouth (PO) as needed (PRN & Ad Lib). Whether the soak, or the aloevera, or the PRN rum, or the time since the hit did it, it is now feeling better."
It is key to the treatment to not try to debride the spines. I am now about 18 hours into this and I have about 90 to 95% of my mobility is back. The pain at the time on a 1-10 scale was about a 7 or 8. It is now a 1 or 2. Perhaps we'll post a progress photo on tomorrow's report.

Thanks for all of your concern.


JIM
Last edited by jimg20 on Tue May 27, 2008 10:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Tracy in WI
- Posts: 1624
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:39 am
- Location: Wisconsin
That happened to me at Salt Pond a couple years ago....DON'T TRY TO REMOVE THEM..they will dissolve eventually as they are protein!! I had them on my buttocks and my hand where I tried to catch myself, dummy that I am!!! Anyway, a local said to have someone pee on it...no kidding...well, no one volunteered(thankfully!!) so vinegar from Lily's was the next best thing according to the clinic on STJ!! So there I am at Skinny's pouring vinegar on my butt!! Initial sting/pain was incredible and the last of the spines didn't dissolve from my hand for about 2 months!! Everyone got a real laugh on my behalf!!