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Bite victim seeks info on long term effects
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by Grog on March 6, 2006
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Hello from Kissimmee, FL. I was bitten by a Cottonmouth (also called a Water Mocassin) last Thursday, March 2nd. I was hit with one fang in the ring finger of my left hand. I didn't get a full dose of venom. I was hospitalized from Thursday to Sunday. Other than pain and swelling (left arm & part of shoulder/ribs,) things went well. No systemic problems; bloodwork stayed fine.
I am looking for sources of information on long term effects of snake bites. The finger is still somewhat swollen and tender. The symptoms I am wondering about is a lack of feeling on certain areas of the finger, and inability to fully extend or retract. I can't move it fully out like the other 3 fingers, nor can I make a fist. The motor limitations don't seem to be just due to swelling. It's like my tendons aren't long enough. The finger moves to a point and then stops.
I am wondering if the finger will loosen up eventually, or if this is a permanent condition. I do go back to the doctor for a follow up tomorrow, but I was fishing for information on the internet and found your group. If anyone can point me toward any repositories of case studies or stories, I would be much obliged. Thank you.
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RE: Bite victim seeks info on long term effects
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by Chris_Harper on March 6, 2006
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Last Thursday? Check back with us in 3 months! You should have 95% recovery at least by then.
Cottonmouth venom dissolved tissues inside your finger. Sometimes it may destroy nerve endings and connective tissues. For the type of bite you described though, you should have a pretty good recovery.
To see some video of various snakebitten hands and fingers, paste this URL into your browser: http://www.venomousreptiles.org/chris/snakebitten.WMV
Don't consider these hands and fingers "typical". There's no such thing as a typical snakebite. There are too many variables. But then again, your finger may end up looking like one these. It's impossible to know at this point.
webmaster
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RE: Bite victim seeks info on long term effects
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by Phobos on March 6, 2006
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Hi:
Well the Cottonmouth and Copperhead are the worse two as far as have some lasting effects from their bite. Their venom has some of the largest amounts of proteolytic enzymes found in any snake venom. This is why it causes such severe damage when it finds it's way into someones finger. Cottonmouth bites are a serious contributor to the "surgical amputation" statistics in the state of Florida. I'm afraid only time will tell what amount of permanent damage you've aquired. Check out our photo album under snakebites and see some serious Cottonmouth damage done to fingers.
Good Luck,
Al
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RE: Bite victim seeks info on long term effects
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by Chris_Harper on March 7, 2006
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One thing I can say about CroFab is that I have yet to see a finger go bad when the patient gets 6 vials within 2 hours of a bite. And I've seen quite a few copperhead finger bites over the past couple of years.
One patient took one fang directly into a knuckle joint after pinning it with his foot, and I just knew he would end up with major problems at least with that joint. His swelling was moderate, but the ecchymosis in the finger was extensive within an hour. We gave him 6, and I saw him 6 months later. He showed me his finger and told me that he had a 100% recovery. That's just one example, but the fang placement was the worst for a finger that I've seen.
~CH
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RE: Bite victim seeks info on long term effects
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by Grog on March 7, 2006
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Thank you all for the information. I guess I am luckier than I knew.
I started getting crofab about 90 minutes after the bite. I got 10 vials over about 4 hours back to back at first. Then the swelling stopped progressing and they did 2 more vials every 6 hours for a day.
Saw the doctor today (Tuesday March 7) and my finger should be okay and back to 100% normal in a week or two. I have to stretch it as far as possible over and over (painful) so the tendons & tissue don't scar in the current limited mobility.
Again, thanks for the link and information.
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RE: Bite victim seeks info on long term effects
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by Grog on March 7, 2006
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Chris - the link "http://www.venomousreptiles.org/chris/snakebitten.WMV" gives me a can not load error. Just an fyi. Thanks though.
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RE: Bite victim seeks info on long term effects
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by timberrattlesnake89 on March 7, 2006
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Chris,
That was the most hilarious music I have have ever heard in my life. The guy that is missing the finger from the Cotton and the other hand was bitten by the EDB, was that Hayward Clamps hand? I remeber meting that guy that who was bit by the Cobra that he was selling. That was at the Columbia Show in 2003.
Phillip
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RE: Bite victim seeks info on long term effects
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by FlaSnakeHunter on March 7, 2006
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My experience with snakes, in general, began at the age of 5 when I rescued a black racer from a gang of neighborhood kids throwing rocks at; my passion, venomous snakes, was realized at the age of 13 and I have been very actively involved since, having witnessed several venomous bites, mostly from indigenous Florida venomous species.
While at the University of Florida many years ago, I was bitten on my left index finger between the 2nd and 3rd joints, by a yearling Agkistrodon p. conanti. At that time, I was keeping quite a few exotic venomous snakes, including several Gaboon vipers and Rhinocerous Vipers.
Initially, there were no symptoms, however, within 10 minutes I was experiencing mild to moderate "burning" pain at the site of the bite with very little swelling. After two hours had elapsed, the swelling had only reached just above my knuckle; there was a complete absence of any other typical symptom of Water Moccasin envenomation and, at that point in time, I judged the bite to be quite mild. As such, I decided to forego a trip to the hospital because I did not want the antivenin exposure. Instead, I closely monitored the symptoms throughout the night (the bite occurred on a Thursday night at approximately 6:30 PM) and, by the next morning, there was some swelling that had reached to the mid-forearm area. Although the pain had increased considerably, I went to all of my classes that day and as long as I held my arm up, the pain was tolerable (my profs had to be advised of my situation prior to each class so that they did not think that I was asking perpetual questions).
On Saturday, two (2) days post-bite, the swelling had decreased remarkably, the pain was about 20% of what it had been on Friday and I was able to form a grip, not a fist.
On Monday, I was scheduled for a strength training session (I was a powerlifter/bodybuilder) and, although it was painful to grip a barbell or dumbell, I was able to clench my teeth and go for it.
By Thursday, one (1) week post-bite, all swelling and pain was gone, however, when making a fist, my hand felt "tight".
Two (2) weeks post-bite, there was only the memory, no symptoms whatsoever.
Curiously, approximately one (1) month post-bite, I developed a very small area (about the diameter of a pea where each fang puncture had been) of necrosis at the site of the bite and, for a few weeks, skin sloughed off from this area.
That was it. I was lucky insofar as I had obviously received a very minor bite and my decision to forego hospitalization turned out to be acceptable in terms of the ultimate outcome but unacceptable in terms of the risk.
In retrospect and with much greater knowledge and experience today, I probably should have sought medical attention. It is much better to err on the side of safety rather than risk.
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RE: Bite victim seeks info on long term effects
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by Chris_Harper on March 8, 2006
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Does anyone else have a problem loading that video? You shouldn't. It works on every computer I try it on.
http://www.venomousreptiles.org/chris/snakebitten.WMV
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