Palm Frond Injury - any advice?

buckle

Today whilst working a sharp spur from a palm frond was lodged in my elbow about 2 inches deep. I pulled it out, felt ok and kept working for a few hours then started experiencing great pain and discomfort. Went to a medical centre, given anti-biotics, and told to keep a close eye on it, if worse tomorrow go to a hospital. Any advice guys? Cheers, Buckle.

Done it

Date Palm? Sorry, but your not going to have a good night, and it'll be really stiff & sore in the morning. Did it hit the bone? I hope not, that really hurts.

JayD

Hi Buckle,
You have had professional advice,You need to listen to them. With an injury like you mentioned imo, you will have some time of pain maybe some pain killers..make sure they mix with your antibiotics.If pain and discomfort persist after a period of healing time has passed return to the doctor for more professional treatment
Think about where the punture is it is moving most of the times,be concious of movement and in the begining only move it when you have to.

Palms have a way of taking revenge...take care it could have just as easy been your eye!
Hope This Helps

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buckle

thanks guys..sore is correct it is f ing killing me..it was a date palm and the spike went straight into my elbow joint 2 inches deep..cheers guys

Done it

A bad one, it'll take a few days. [Yeah a bit more than sore]

Ekka

The very tip of many date palm fronds is either yellow looking or dead looking.

I have found a few times that never came out resulting in the doctor having to cut it open, go looking and get it out, then stitch it up. That tip breaks off in there.

Did you see the piece carefully that came out? I hope for your sake it all came out.

Even if the lot came out, yes, like the other guys your in for a shit week. If it's still in, it will buldge and fester in there unless someone digs it out.

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Raven

While going through jungle survival school in Panama we had been warned about Black Palm thorns. A very nasty toxic? thorn. Anyway a general type didn't want to comply with regulation boots for the jungle and he nearly lost his leg from a Black Palm thorn.

Just follow the doctors instructions faithfully (hopefully he/she has some tropical medicine training) .
Good luck!
Raven

StrictlyPalms

Keep an eye out for any red streaking of the tissue around the injury, specifically up the arm this can be a sign of infection and should be looked at by a doc. Joint injuries can be a serious problem down the road if infection sets in, so take extra care and do everything the doc's tell you to.

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buckle

Cheers for all the advice guys. It seems to be getting better, I can actually move my arm now. I'm quite positive the whole spike came up but think I may get an ultrasound just to be sure considering it went into my joint. Thanks again for all the help - really appreciate it.

vitex42

SP is right about the red streaking. Any rash or radiating red lines = visit to doctor.

On another note, Arnica cream /tablets is a naturopathic treatment for inflammation which is brilliant for impact injuries like bruises or haematomas, as well as really good for sprains and other muscular injuries.

I know it's not like what Real Men use but believe me it works well.

Ibuprofen is also great for muscular injuries or inflammation, but not advisable to take anti-inflammatory drugs before you have to climb.....

newguy18

Can't really say much since i've never been injured by a palm frond.

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Bermy

Date Palms...I put an injury premium every time I work on them!
Sounds like you are improving, keep an eye on it, there is a lot going on in the elbow joint....even iff its all out, it will hurt like a bugger for a while

My worst was a multi-stem date, the thorn went right into my elbow from the inside, pinned it, broke off under the skin, couldn't bend my arm! Thank God it missed everything vital, I nearly passed out once I realized where it was, took an hour at the ER to cut it out...no ill effects at all except a rash from the super strong antibiotics they gave me.

The next one went lengthways into my forearm, just under the skin like someone was trying to take blood...ER again

the last was about a month ago, just hand trimming some small Canary Island dates, got pricked in the foot, knee and wrist, nothing major but enough to cause my wrist to have a real painful lump for about a week!

The fronds, twist and turn on the way down and there are so many thorns sometimes you can't avoid them....

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Jaygee

Buckle
If you stop writing then we know you've lost arm! Most of the injuries from phoenix palms tend to be followed by tetanus so make sure you have your backup jabs every five years. Fortunately its a rare occurence but some gardeners who are spiked have died from the spread of tetanus. Now you've seen the quack it'll be sorted.
Sleep tight
JG