Bristleworm Sting and Chronic Joint Pain?

[NEM Aquatics]

Hey all. A month or two ago I was clearing some hair algae out of my tank. I was being lazy and not using gloves, and I guess at some point I rested a finger against a bristleworm. Got a good 20+ bristles right into the joint of my ring finger. Without thinking, I just sort of wiped them off, most likely breaking them and leaving them embedded in the joint. Had some bad fluid buildup and swelling/pain a week or two after, so went on a heavy dose of Cephalexin for two weeks to prevent any infection. Helped things for a few weeks, but cold weather has brought back almost arthritic-like symptoms in that joint. Anyone had something similar happen?

 

[landlubber]

interesting. i've heard bobbit worms can have these types of lasting affects but i can't say i've ever experienced anything notable from a bristleworm.

 

[Dan_P]

Hey all. A month or two ago I was clearing some hair algae out of my tank. I was being lazy and not using gloves, and I guess at some point I rested a finger against a bristleworm. Got a good 20+ bristles right into the joint of my ring finger. Without thinking, I just sort of wiped them off, most likely breaking them and leaving them embedded in the joint. Had some bad fluid buildup and swelling/pain a week or two after, so went on a heavy dose of Cephalexin for two weeks to prevent any infection. Helped things for a few weeks, but cold weather has brought back almost arthritic-like symptoms in that joint. Anyone had something similar happen?

That’s terrible! I have not run into this sort of thing. Makes you want to raise guppies, no?

 

[Ghost25]

Bristle Worm sting now joint problems

www.michiganreefers.com

This guy had a similar reaction.

 

[NEM Aquatics]

Bristle Worm sting now joint problems

www.michiganreefers.com

This guy had a similar reaction.

Interesting. I was on 500mg Cephalexin for 10 days, 4x daily. So hopefully that could rule out potential Mycobacterium. Maybe my immune system recognizes the bristles under the skin as a foreign body and is accidentally going after the joint? At any rate, will definitely make some sort of specialist appointment if things get worse. My primary care literally googled "bristle worm" in front of me when I brought it up, so not feeling great about their knowledge

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I once stood on a sea urchin and survived after picking splinters from my foot. I once stood on a cocktail stick that left a splinter in my foot and I nearly lost my leg again I survived, i once had a splinter in my finger that penetrated from under my fingernail to my knuckle to the point where I could not bend my finger due to wood inside.

Best thing to do is at least see the doctor