Poked With Very Dirty Fish Hook - Worry About Infection?

[derekxec]

should be fine and the shot lasts a while i believe so will help if you are ever working outside and such too 

[7mm-08]

I was in the same boat as you OP in that I hadn't had a shot in probably 20 years.  I got my tetanus shot earlier this year and there were no side-effects that I could discern.

[rmcguirk]

Get the shot.  Man up.  It hurts, but no more than a bruise.  The shot lasts for five years. 

[QUIENYO]

For those of you that get the shot; do a set of push-ups afterwards.  This helps to circulate the meds through your muscle tissue and prevents the "dead arm" sore spot the next day.

[CountBassula]

I went and got the tetanus shot yesterday and I got the bad headache afterward.  Now this morning I feel fine.  I hope I'll be ok.

 

i think i get a booster shot for it too next time i get a sinus infection (ever 3 months on average :-( ) and have to see my doc.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

With some of the girls I've kissed,.....how could I be afraid of a little rust????

[greendragon]

I am diabetic and I just got a Tet shot last week. I didn't even feel it. Although I do give myself a shot of insulin everyday, Please get the shot and be safe sir.

[JunkYard814]

I deal with a lot of infections at work. Here is what you do:

 

Clean the wound and apply some type of Bacitracin or Neosporin. Keep the wound covered at all times with a bandaid. It will prevent any added bacteria from getting in. 

 

Symptoms of an infection include:

 

area around the wound will become red and there may be partial swelling. If the area of redness is growing, you should get to the doctor as you will probably need some type of antibiotic. An easy way to keep track of the size of the area is to circle the red area in pen before you go to bed. If it has expanded outside of the mark, it is obviously growing. 

 

The area surrounding the wound may be sore to touch. 

 

If at any point you begin to see red streaks moving away from the wound, get to the doctor immediately. 

 

I definitely think its a good idea to get your tetanus shot. You may want to get that as soon as possible and then you can bring up your incident with the doctor. 

[BadContrakt]

Tetanus shots really aren't bad. I've never been afraid of shots, though. As for the "do push-ups" afterwards, do it. My doctor told me the same thing a few years ago when I got the shot and I did, woke up the next day with no sore arm or bruise like many people talk about. As far as the hook sticking you, don't worry about it. Just keep it clean and keep an eye on it. For the future if you ever get hooked again - do the same. Keep it clean, keep an eye on it, and don't stress over it.

I think one of the main reasons you were getting headaches was because you were WORRYING about the puncture so much. Stress and anxiety can throw your hormones off like crazy and cause weird symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, even nausea and hot sweats. WORRYING is something you don't want to do. I know this because I've suffered with anxiety for a few years now and when something goes wrong, the best thing you can do is look at it logically and be calm about it.

[aquaholic]

I wish i would of read the advice about the push ups. I had to get a tetanus shot yesterday after i dumped a bunch of gas on a brush pile and had it blow up in my face. Got taken to the er where they gave me the shot. Now aside from looking like two face for a while it feels like the hulk sucker punched me in the bicep.

[coryn h. fishowl]

I put a dab of honey on a cut.I had read where raw honey keeps wounds from getting infected.

YES, finally i have found someone who knows of the power of honey. Good Man

[Scorcher214]

Never thought about tetanus shots. I know i had all my shots in school and what not, do ya need to get them again and again? I've pricked myself with so many hooks.....

[Preytorien]

YES, finally i have found someone who knows of the power of honey. Good Man

 

Agreed! Honey is all natural and seems to help a variety of things.

 

I deal at work with often very hot equipment, so burns aren't uncommon. If you take a dab of honey, put it on the burn, cover it with a small square of saran wrap, then a band-aid, it'll be gone in hours. Nice to know the same can be applied to cuts/punctures. You bet i'll try it next time!

 

But I agree with the above posts......better safe than sorry. Get a tetanus shot, it'll ease your mind. Then keep an eye on the wound and let the dr. know if it changes in size, starts hurting more, or red streaks shoot out from it (like blood vessels)

[Sam]

My doctor knows I bass fish and he insists on having my tetanus shop up to date.

 

If I tell him I nailed myself with a dirty hook he will give me another one.

 

It is imperative that you communicate with your family practice doctor so all of your shots are up to date, especially the tetanus shot.

 

Last physical I felt like a puppy at the vet with all the shots he had me take.

 

At least I am looking at the grass from the top down!!!

[CPBassFishing]

For those of you that get the shot; do a set of push-ups afterwards.  This helps to circulate the meds through your muscle tissue and prevents the "dead arm" sore spot the next day.

never knew that. Thanks for the helpful tip.

[KyakR]

I deal with a lot of infections at work. Here is what you do:

 

Clean the wound and apply some type of Bacitracin or Neosporin. Keep the wound covered at all times with a bandaid. It will prevent any added bacteria from getting in. 

 

Symptoms of an infection include:

 

area around the wound will become red and there may be partial swelling. If the area of redness is growing, you should get to the doctor as you will probably need some type of antibiotic. An easy way to keep track of the size of the area is to circle the red area in pen before you go to bed. If it has expanded outside of the mark, it is obviously growing. 

 

The area surrounding the wound may be sore to touch. 

 

If at any point you begin to see red streaks moving away from the wound, get to the doctor immediately. 

 

I definitely think its a good idea to get your tetanus shot. You may want to get that as soon as possible and then you can bring up your incident with the doctor. 

Complete explanation! The other day I had a treble hook in my finger up to the bend ( I even took a pic of it, yikes) Went to the ER and they cut it out. I was told pretty much what JunkYard said above. Tetanus shot, intensive antibiotics (cephalexin), neosporin and a bandaid. I went out to fish the next day so they gave me a latex glove, ha!

Seriously, get your T shot. I keep mine always up to date as I go barefoot alot too. And try not to worry!   

[pbizzle]

With some of the girls I've kissed,.....how could I be afraid of a little rust????

And that's coming from a man who's username basically means "Discount Hooker".

[pbizzle]

I wish i would of read the advice about the push ups. I had to get a tetanus shot yesterday after i dumped a bunch of gas on a brush pile and had it blow up in my face. Got taken to the er where they gave me the shot. Now aside from looking like two face for a while it feels like the hulk sucker punched me in the bicep.

Remember nothing good ever came from a story that starts with "I dumped a bunch of gas".

[Basseditor]

If you fish or do things where you're going to get cut or poked, get the shot every 5 years.