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Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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Anonymous post on March 23, 2004
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I have a friend who was bitten two years ago on the ankle by a copperhead. She is of very petite frame, five feet high, not an ounce of fat on her almost skin & bones body. She is in her early 60's.
During the past three months she has experienced extremely painful joint pain throughout her body. The pains move all around, from the hands, arms, shoulders to back, legs, feet and toes. Just recently she experienced acute swelling in both of her hands within a manner of a few hours. She could not grip the steering wheel of her car for the pain.
She has not yet seen a doctor. She is thinking it is just arthritis. But, I've never known such full-blown arthritis to come upon someone so quickly.
My husband thinks he has read somewhere of residual effects from snakebites that produce these types of symptoms. But two years AFTER the bite? Anyone heard of such?
Thanks.
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RE: Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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by Phobos on March 23, 2004
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Hi:
Please have her see a doctor, pure & simple.
There are so many mechanisms to cause systemic "arthritis" like symptoms. One thing it's least likely to be is the after effects of a copperhead envonomation. Copperhead venom injected into a joint capsule can certainly trash it but "global" after effects years later I think unlikely.
Did she have antivenom? Large amounts of Horse Serum ends up in the bursa and feels like someone put sand in there but there should be no lasting effects from that either.
If you're in an area that has Lyme Disease present, it would be good to have the doctor screen for that also.
I just learned that Salmonella (food poisoning) can cause an arthritis like after effect that is permenent too. I never imagined that to be true.
It would be interesting to hear what others have read on this topic.
Al
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RE: Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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by elapidking81 on March 23, 2004
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Hello,
I also dont think that it would be from the bite, but like said before she needs to see a doctor as quick as possible i also have heard that lyme disease can cause similar symptoms.hoppe all goes well.
shane
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RE: Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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by JTEDENS on March 23, 2004
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Rheumatoid Arthritis is another option. I don't think the bite is likely at all but rheumatoid arthritis is something that can have a fairly quick onset and be very debilitating. Her doctor can screen for that also.
regards, John
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RE: Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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by Buzztail1 on March 24, 2004
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While the "conventional wisdom" holds that there are no long-term effects from most venomous snake bites, there are exceptions.
Some individuals may develop long term reactions to either the venom itself or even the antivenin.
I have an experienced (in venomous keeping) friend who was bitten by a Rhinocerous Viper and was subsequently treated with antivenin and released. After two years he was still experiencing previously undocumented "after-effects" which were serious enough that they severely lowered his quality of life. Fortunately for him, he found a doctor who had considered the possibility of snake envenomation after-effects and was doing studies with specific pain medicines which turned out to be very effective.
We routinely seem to dismiss the reports and stories of the older folks throughout (at least) the South who talk of the long-term effects that they or family members suffer after a venomous bite.
After all, this is 2004!
Antivenin has been around for years and we KNOW that it completely neutralizes the effects of all of the components found in snake venom!
One of the reasons that people like Bryan G. Fry and other venom researchers are still studying the specific effects of the various components of venom is that we don't know all the different ways it affects the body.
I believe that it IS POSSIBLE to experience various long term effects from envenomation. I do not have any idea how to get a doctor to take the possibility seriously or how they should treat it.
When I was a child (a long time ago - no jokes here!), it was commonly known that Eastern Diamondback and "Canebrake Rattlesnake" venoms were strictly hemotoxic. Since then, both animals have been found to have neurotoxic components that seriously complicate bite treatment and today's venomous enthusiasts accept and believe that we have always known that.
Anything is possible. Proof requires an open mind and lots of research.
Good luck,
Karl H. Betz
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RE: Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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by elapidking81 on March 24, 2004
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yall all made good points buzztail you are right venom is a very complex thing and when you add it to the human body that is also a very complex system the affects could and do vary person to person so the the laidies problem being from the bite she recieved form the snake cant be ruled out .
shane
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RE: Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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by sparkleshappy on June 17, 2004
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I was bitten by a Pacific Rattlesnake and experienced long term after effects almost exactly like you describe. Doctors suspected Lyme, but I tested negative twice. The pain on the hands and feet lasted several years. I had 5 vials antivenom and attributed that to the joint/bursitis like pains. Healing the joints took 2 years. I recommend exercise--it will hurt like hell but keep with it slowly. Healing the hand/feet pain has been longer. A venom expert said there is a component of viper venom that makes feet painful in mice (keeps em from running too far). It's been slowly fading now for ten years, wish I knew how to help, I wish you good success.
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RE: Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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by 2wiceBitten on May 31, 2013
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I have been bitten by a copperhead. I tried to shoo it off my stairs with a large towel twisted around my hand thinking I would snapped it toward the snake and make it move. It didn't work. The snake jumped up and bit me through the towel. I instantly knew it was poisonous. Pain immediately shot through my finger. I did what we are told not to do. I Immediately stuck my finger in my mouth and tried to remove any venom. It numbed my lip as I spat it out. It swelled and I stayed at the ER a few hours. A month later a 9 year old boy that knew of my bite showed me where he had been bitten. Five years later I ran into him again and found that his finger stopped growing at age 9. It had been terribly stunted. I thought I was lucky till I read your message because within a couple of years I was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease and osteoarthritis. Then it progressed from my neck to my knees I'm in constant pain and have required surgery. I never related the sudden decline in my health with that snake bite.
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RE: Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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by pictigaster1 on June 3, 2013
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Haveing been bit by copperhead,as well as others,also having disk disease makes me wonder.I have noticed a few things wrong with my body as a result of snake bite.Like fingers do not grow back.Akes and pains can come from the long term effects of envenomation fact.I always push through the pain and keep going.The truth is the effects of absorbing massive amounts of venom are so poorly known that much research is needed .To say it is not the bite is just wrong as the facts are not known or understood .Snake bit is as a very dangerous thing and much is left to understand even today.I am rambling sorry guys .
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RE: Residual Effects from Copperhead Bite
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by DaveB3 on February 22, 2015
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Dear Venomous Reptiles
NeuroToxin Venom interests me for I have suffered from multiple envenomizations, not snakes.
child > bee, wasp, fire-ants
teemager 1971> Yellow Jacket (anaphylaxis - most important thing was I lost all energy when active, it took days to recover energy.
adult 2003 Africanized Bees.
BUT
Recently, (why I would like to email some history of recent biopsies) from 2007 Recluse Spider bite on right arm
2008 Brown Widow Spider bite on leftside neck
2009 House Centipede
2012 Sac Spider ( poorly identified by a college professor as 'not that dangerous'.
I heard it say and read some, that insects can smell the scents and odors of people perspirations, that might explain why some people get mosquito bites and others don't.
Thanks for any referrals, please! Dave B.
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