Hi there,
just wandering if it's normal to have a lot of pain after being stabbed by a yukka 3-4 days ago. I was in the garden weeding and bent over when a yukka leave stabbed me on my head, I have been suffering a sort of neuralgia pain ever since from the top of my head to my ear. Is there cause for alarm or will it subside??

I dont have an answer for you I am sorry..but related to this, your tetanus should be updated

I hope your pain clears up

to the site

No need for a tetanus shot as the tetanus bacteria is found in dirt or manure, not on the ends of Yucca spines. Its too late anyway - to be affective, the vaccine has to be administered within 48 hours, sooner is better. (the symptoms start showing up in 48 hours. its easier to prevent tetanus than cure it).

That said, you have had an allergic reaction to the Yucca, the spine hit a nerve or you have a spine tip buried in your head. Its time to call the doctor.

PS: to NGA

I'd get to a doctor. While a yucca is not poisonous, the sharp tips can puncture the skin and anything on the needle can then be transferred into your skin.

Conny, Please let us know what the doctor says. Gosh, that is just freaky and frightening. I had an allergic reaction to a spider bite once, and the strange pain and discomfort took quite some time to finally disappear. Hoping the dr. has a quick fix! Don't be shy about talking about the pain you are in to them.Good luck.

DaisyI said:...(the symptoms start showing up in 48 hours. its easier to prevent tetanus than cure it).

From the Mayo Clinic:
"Signs and symptoms of tetanus appear anytime from a few days to several weeks after tetanus bacteria enter your body through a wound. The average incubation period is seven to 10 days."

Mayo Clinic also says there are treatments, antitoxin, antibiotics, and "All people with tetanus should receive the tetanus vaccine as soon as they're diagnosed with the condition."

http://www.mayoclinic.org/dise...

I do agree that it seems an unlikely wound to cause it but see this Extension article which does mention tetanus, and other possibilities from a yucca attack. There are quite a few other results if one searches Google for yucca spine injury:
https://ask.extension.org/ques...

Tetanus is something we always had to be aware of and shots up to date because of raising horses (the manure Daisy mentioned).

Anytime there is a puncture wound outdoors ..tetanus should be part of the equation.

It is a good opportunity to eval the status of your immunization anyway.

I stand by my recommendation

Edited to say there are ER doc's that give the vaccine for bee stings if the patient has not had a vaccine administered in as little as 5 years. I had a patient that got it and passed horribly from a peck on the knee from his chicken and it had been a month before he had a symptom

Welcome to NGA, @Conny !

I agree that you should see a doctor -- maybe just a minor infection, maybe something more going on; but since it hasn't "fixed itself" after several days it's time to find out what the problem is (and yes, get your tetanus updated if need be )

The skin on the scalp is not meant to be really flexed like say on an elbow or knee or knuckle..and so when the darn thing experiences swelling..it gets tight real quick and that may be all it is....the pulling and tugging from stretched skin is unfamiliar up there. . But go check it out and get a professionals eye on it.

Go to the Doctor! Sooner rather than later!

Yucca spines always cause swelling and pain where ever they happen to stab me...
Dig the things out... and they grow right back!

If I was stabbed in the head by yuccas, i would expect the symptoms you describe.

Personally, I'd probably tough it out.... but... I've gotten into trouble that way...

I know what you mean, Stone... I tend to assume most things will heal up or whatever on their own; sometimes that assumption isn't correct.

I used to be more on the side of "Oh, it will go away soon."

... then I passed out on the clinic floor Monday morning, after I couldn't find a decent doctor over the weekend.

"Go home and come back when someone else is on duty" is not always great medical advice for the patient.

They later said I was very lucky not to lose a leg, so I changed clinics!

(Cellulitis and blood poisoning that I thought at first was a bad cold. DUHH!)

Wow. Yes, when you feel bad and you know something is wrong...go with your instincts.

And as I said on another thread, in another context, it's better to see the doctor and feel like an idiot for wasting his time than to ignore a possibly serious problem.

@RickCory Rick, That is just awful. I looked up Cellulitis, and found this.
Left untreated, the spreading infection can rapidly turn life-threatening. It's important to seek immediate medical attention if cellulitis symptoms occur. And blood poisoning.

Hope you're feeling better.

Laurie B

lauriebasler said:@RickCory Rick, That is just awful. I looked up Cellulitis, and found this.
Left untreated, the spreading infection can rapidly turn life-threatening. It's important to seek immediate medical attention if cellulitis symptoms occur. And blood poisoning.

Hope you're feeling better.

Laurie B

Yes, it can lead to sepsis...turns flesh to soup. Glad Rick took care.

It was decades ago, but I still use a cane.