Return to the Cacti & Succulents Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
Posted by gustavsen54 (My Page) on Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 20:46
| Two months ago I bumped this cactus very gently with my finger and had an immediate, severe and very painful reaction. Within three days my finger and adjacent hand areareas swelled up to three times their normal size. I have been to the doctor three times and no one knows what to do. After two months, the pain and swelling have subsided somewhat, but I still have pain and swelling in my finger. I can't figure out how to upload a photo to this message. Can anyone help? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
| http://imageshack.us/ You want to upload it here. There's a little box you click on that'll let you pick the image, if it's on your haddrive, and then you upload it. After it uploads, you'll get a URL address. I have an idea what it might be but I think you'd better upload the picture first. |
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
Cactus spines are not poisonous, if the plant is a true cactus it must be some kind of bacterial infection.
But there are many spiny plants that people mistake for cacti, and I guess that is why amccour is waiting for a photo. |
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
| It does sound more like a bacterial infection, or maybe even an allergic reaction to something. Opuntia sometimes give me a bad time when they get me, the tiny glochids get under the skin and either get infected or cause an immune overreaction. Sometimes spiny Euphorbia get me, too. |
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
Pretty much any thorn can cause reactions. I once had cellulitis from a palm that stuck me. You could just be allergic to it, have an underlying autoimmune disease, retained pieces of thorn-they won't show up on x-ray and can be impossible to find, could have developed something like a hyper-reaction. I'd suggest a good work-up by your primary care physician to r/o underlying diseases and a visit to a pain doctor/clinic. When my brain wakes up I'll tell you what the syndrome is called. People can develop incredible sensitivity, to the point a sheet touching them is painful, from what are very minor wounds. A good pain Doctor can diagnose & treat you. Are you having any drainage? Fevers? Swollen lymph nodes?
Do not hesitate, go to the pain doctor.
Tally HO! |
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
| I think you should have had the 'cactus' identified right away for proper treatment. Without a photo, we don't know if it really was a cactus. Many Euphorbia species resemble cacti, but Euphorbia contains a white sap which can cause severe allergic reactions in some people. I speak from experience, I was poisoned by the latex of a non succulent Euphorbia and was basically bedridden for 4 days, and it took weeks to recover. This is what I looked like. I made the mistake of rubbing my eyes, hence the swelling. In future I would see a doctor immediately, taking the plant or a piece of it for proper diagnosis and treatment. Christopher 
|
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
That looks like a Euphorbia problem, Yes, go to a pain doctor, be sure to bring the plant, has it affected your eye sight. I am allergic to cactus spines, like 'Bunny Ears' the smaller spines more so. I think I may have posted here the problem with my neignbors, dog and child with a Euphorbia plant, we keep oil on our work bench and Aeonium Lindii on the bench which seems to take away the pain. Milk also helps, if it is a Euphorbia, but you must ID the plant first. The doctor will call the poisen center .
1800-222.1222 |
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
| Wow, Christopher, that's paying some heavy dues for These Plants of Ours! I've had the usual assortment of punctures, cuts, scrapes and burns, but nothing to that degree. What non-succulent Euphorbia was it, and what treatment did you get? Sorry for the experience you had - that's the worst I've ever seen. It makes me wonder again why there's a proliferation of Euphorbia tirucalli in many public places in Southern California. |
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
| The plant that got me was Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias). There was some growing wild down the road from me, and I broke off a stem to examine the flowers. It was during a leisurely walk, and when the latex dripped on me, I took little notice. Then I woke up the next morning looking as I do in the photo. I called the Poison Control Center and explained it was a Euphorbia. I took antihistamine and used a topical analgesic lotion for the rash over my arms, legs, face, etc. I also did some research on the web. If it were to happen again, I would probably go to the Emergency Room, but waiting several hours to probably be told what I already know did not appeal to me. Funnily, I have dealt with Euphorbia as a houseplant for many years and never had a problem. Christopher |
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
| Chirstopher, That's got to be worth a medal with a citation. So, being a fancier of Euphorbias, do you now grow Aeonium lindleyii? |
RE: Can anyone identify this cactus??
| | |
| Actually, what I have now are mainly cacti and Euphorbia. I guess I like to live dangerously. ;.o Have never grown Aeonium, though some are interesting. But then so are many many cacti and Euphorbia. Christopher |
|
|
|
|
