Swollen knuckles

ajhudson15 · May 22, 2019

Good Morning,
I just wanted to get your thoughts on a possible issue. Is it possible to stick your hands in your tank and contract bacteria into cuts and cause problems?

BadFish619 · May 22, 2019

Yes you can get a bacterial infection from your tank. Rare, but possible

eggplantparrot · May 22, 2019

ajhudson15 said:
Good Morning,
I just wanted to get your thoughts on a possible issue. Is it possible to stick your hands in your tank and contract bacteria into cuts and cause problems?

dunno about bacteria but if you have stressed/damaged palythoas/zoanthids you may be exposed to palytoxin. not fun. there are lots of things that want you dead in the ocean so I wouldn't be surprised if there are bacteria that can infect a cut.

WVNed · May 22, 2019

Yes you can.

ajhudson15 · May 22, 2019

well im a nail biter so I normally have sports on my fingers from that(yes I hate it but its habit) and its the hand I normally use to feed fish or stick in the water real quick. Ive had a tank for over 5 years now and never an issue but yesterday I had a knuckle swell up, become red, and just hurts. Today I have the knuckle right beside it now doing the same. Not sure if it is fro the fish tank but it was the first thing that came to mind lol.

ajhudson15 · May 22, 2019

I do have some zoas with aiptasia around them(currently working on getting rid of the aiptasia) wonder if that can make them release that

VSVP bet · May 22, 2019

Yes, i have had infected cuts from sticking my hand in my tank. However, a forum isnt a substitute for medical experts. Not trying to create a sense of panic, but if something is wrong best to consult experts.

WVNed · May 22, 2019

Not something to fool around with.
https://www.fishlore.com/Articles/DiseasesTransmittedToHumans.htm

ajhudson15 · May 22, 2019

WVNed said:
Not something to fool around with.
https://www.fishlore.com/Articles/DiseasesTransmittedToHumans.htm

wow it says can mimic arthritis which is exactly what it feels like. well great ill keep an eye on it for a few days and see what happens. I work at a credit union so if I love the ability to use my hands im screwed lol

ghostman · May 22, 2019

Look for a current thread on mycobacterium marinum. I have had it in the past, with 3 surgeries and months of antibiotics. Potentially dangerous. Get it checked out by a doctor.

TriggerFinger · May 22, 2019

Yes it can!! I’ve had a couple gnarly paper cuts getting infected literally overnight after sticking my hands in the tank. A LFS employee was hospitalized after slicing his finger on live rock in a store tank. I always use gloves now.

WVNed · May 22, 2019

If you are infected it will progress in hours. If you wait days you may lose some body parts.

MnFish1 · May 22, 2019

Suggestion - don't wait a couple days - especially if its spreading. Vibrio can sometimes do this - and it can be a dangerous infection. Mycobacterium marinium is more a chronic thing - but either one is important to get diagnosed and treated early - especially if its in 'a joint'.

It could also be strep staph or any number of other bacteria - but all need treatment especially in a joint.

It also may be nothing related to your tank - but - Either Emergency room (taking with you the article about vibrio and mycobacterium) or an infectious disease specialist. You can also see your primary care - but if you do - make sure they consult with an ID specialist. I would do this 'today' -

EDIT - vibrio and mycobacterium are 'rare' - but you want to know if you have them ASAP

ajhudson15 · May 22, 2019

I am happy to report that it is now my whole hand. Looks like a trip to the doc may be in my future. Hopefully it's nothing related to any fish tank disease but idk what else it would be

TriggerFinger · May 22, 2019

Medical experts, bud.

MnFish1 · May 22, 2019

ajhudson15 said:
I am happy to report that it is now my whole hand. Looks like a trip to the doc may be in my future. Hopefully it's nothing related to any fish tank disease but idk what else it would be

GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM..... WHETHER ITS YOUR TANK OR NOT - and good luck btw - BTW - I've been there (posted on here before). Don't wait.

ajhudson15 · May 23, 2019

MnFish1 said:
GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM..... WHETHER ITS YOUR TANK OR NOT - and good luck btw - BTW - I've been there (posted on here before). Don't wait.

TriggerFinger said:
Medical experts, bud.

woke up this normal and barely swollen. knuckles are still sore but the swelling is almost gone. I HAVE to work today so if it the end of my day its getting more swollen or worse ill go.

scriptmonkey · May 23, 2019

@tdlawdo

Hey Doc, sorry to bug you, what's your thoughts?

MnFish1 · May 23, 2019

ajhudson15 said:
woke up this normal and barely swollen. knuckles are still sore but the swelling is almost gone. I HAVE to work today so if it the end of my day its getting more swollen or worse ill go.

Curious - is it 2 different fingers - or 2 joints on 1 finger. or is 2 knuckles

tdlawdo · May 23, 2019

No bug at all. The fact that you swelled so much and then went down isn’t a bad sign. Maybe it was “just” the toxin from a paly. Also nail biters that also do filing of papers can get fungal infections not to mention staph and strep skin infections. Odd to go up and down. Did you take any meds that might have caused them to go down and masked that symptoms?

Best advise is to see a doc. May get blown off I would take the article then at least they have to play the defensive medicine game and be a little more thorough. Sucks but it’s true. Hands are built in compartments and if the infection is in a compartment it can build pressure on the order of hours causing problems all the way to limb loss or worse! Don’t play too long.