Stingray bite and Multiple Sclerosis

[Babolious]

In January 2005, my wife was stung by a stingray (similar sea creature) on the right thigh.  Three months later, she began to get numb toes on her right foot ans started to struggle with chronic fatigue.  Now 2 and half years later, she needs about 12 hours of sleep per day (yet still feels tired), has the numb toe as well as a sore patch on her lower right arm.  In that time, she has visited a neurologist a few times, had an MRI scan done (which was inconclusive), and spent much time with her family doctor, tired several different diet ideas, and is now seeing a natural path.  Any thoughts on whether or not the sting ray has anything to do with her chronic fatigue?

[supermum_ms]

Hi there,

This thread is very old (2007) and was related to 'stingray's and MS', so you've landed in the MS community.......i would suggest you see your doctor, as it's very possible your immune system is fighting an infection from the sting and you need antibiotics or ? to get back to your normal.

Hope that helps............JJ

[MelPlater]

I was tagged by a stingray about a week ago. I didn't put it in hot water for about 2 hours. The pain was un-real. Now, the reason I'm reading your post is because I have been extremely, extremely exhausted the last 3 days. And I am a super energetic person. I usually sleep 5 to 7 hours. I have been sleeping every single chance I can get these last few days. My face was also swollen this morning and my heart is pounding. I am really starting to think that stingray has done more to me than normal.

[Chuniyo]

I was recently wounded by a sting ray I unknowingly stepped on.
I do have systemic lupus & taking medication for seizure activity
some years ago. I have read that sting ray Neuro Toxins can induce
seizure activity in some people. LOOK up Stanford University Medical
Hospital. They had a symposium on sting ray Envenomation.They are in Palo Alto Ca. An urgent care doctor gave me the article ( which I am trying to
find ).  I am now experiencing extreme fatigue. My foot & leg are numb.
the infection seems to have abated but not the pain & strange symptoms.
Research the venom & enzymes of this marine creature. It is intense.
Call Stanford Medical & have a conversation with someone who is qualified.
Will post information as I go though this myself. Good luck. Chuniyo

[Chuniyo]

I was recently wounded by a sting ray I unknowingly stepped on.
I do have systemic lupus & taking medication for seizure activity
some years ago. I have read that sting ray Neuro Toxins can induce
seizure activity in some people. LOOK up Stanford University Medical
Hospital. They had a symposium on sting ray Envenomation.They are in Palo Alto Ca. An urgent care doctor gave me the article ( which I am trying to
find ).  I am now experiencing extreme fatigue. My foot & leg are numb.
the infection seems to have abated but not the pain & strange symptoms.
Research the venom & enzymes of this marine creature. It is intense.
Call Stanford Medical & have a conversation with someone who is qualified.
Will post information as I go though this myself. Good luck. Chuniyo

[CJ197209]

My sister was hit by a stingray in Tampa Florida in 2002 she was cut across 3 of her toes the big toe getting the worst damage. the ER submerged her foot in hot water which seem to help with the pain as long as her foot was submerged the pain medicine she was given did not help at all. We came back to tn. 2 days later and 2 weeks after the incident her scar oozed a clear liquid from her big toe and the doctors here in Tn didn't know how to treat it and again gave her pain meds. She now has an unknown auto immune disease that is breaking down her soft tissue and those symptoms started about 1 yr after her stingray incident. I am wondering if the toxin from the stingray may have something to do with her situation. her wounds were never lanced or cleaned by the ER Dr. I wonder if her body could have had a reaction to the venom causing her to develop the unknown auto immune disease that is causing her to have severe pain,loss of circulation in her extremities like feet and now hands and it has also attacked her gallbladder to which she had to have it removed.I guess I am wondering if it is possible to a person to have a severe reaction to the stingray toxin that is irreversible?

[immisceo]

Hi there. You're on a rather old thread on a Multiple Sclerosis forum. A lot of the main answer-ers of the original question are no longer active here and were responding to something outside of the usual scope of what's mentioned here (though it's a fascinating read!).

From my non-professsional perspective, you're doing the right thing by seeing a neurologist and pursuing an infectious disease specialist. This is what I would have suggested. The medical run-around is never any fun, and I would understand how 'wait and see' would not be very satisfactory medical advice from your neuro. I feel very enlightened as to the far longer term (than I ever imagined) effects of envenomation!

But again, I'd go to a specialist. I'd want to try and confirm it's from the sting alone and that you're not also dealing with any co-creepies. Also, it may be possible to be treated symptomatically while you wait for things to run its course. The symptoms you describe sound like a terrible hit to your quality of life and your doctors should be working with you to make you more comfortable if possible.

[scorpion_pain]

anybody know about scorpion bites/stings, got bite in Nicaragua on left side of heel, numbness tingling up to below knee, heart racing dizzy, increased blood pressure all that lasted for hours then developed blister that sealed over and took 2 months to absorb into my skin and slough off. Now I am still having symptoms of burning, feels like foot on fire still at times an achy pain at site like i maybe getting stung again and pain in my foot and ankle, an now my whole right leg somtimes hurts up to my hip ! any ideas on what going on. Also still having these all over muscle twitches seen neurlogist he says from toxin and not sure how long muscle twitches will last, also having fevers and now trying to see Infectious disease, been tired fevers, muscle aches,

[Pumzika]

My foot had a classic ray wound from an unsighted critter on 06JUL12. The injury impacted me in a profound manner. My injured foot continues to swell up to no discernible rhythm and the ankle remains weak-like it's sprained. It's never returned to it's original form ( looks a bit like root ginger) and my skin on that foot has a darker hue to it.  The venom caused a Grade 111 ulcer, which carried a fungus called Lasiodiphlodia theobromae. I have deep tiredness on some days. I felt as if I was on the verge of death with the anti-fungal medication, so I gave up on it due to its toxicity. I believe I may still carry the fungus, which has an ultra slow growth rate. Something must be triggering the foot to swell out and for it to remain discoloured. I will follow up on my next consultation with the Infectious Diseases unit that is handling this case with an enquiry on MS. Lots of unknowns involved. Thank you.

[Katy28]

Has any one heard of epilepsy developing after having been stung by a sting ray. My boyfriend developed epilepsy a few months after being stung in 2007. He has has numerous tests over the last few years by neurologists and cardiologists which have all been inconclusive. He has had 18 seizures, 17 of which have been when he is eating and 1 during the night. Seeing this forum had lead us to wonder if there is any possibility being stung by the stingray could have caused these long term neurological symptoms....please help if you have heard of these type of case before. Thanks

[pukeko]

My husband was stung in the leg by a stingray which later became infected. Four months later he found out he had nephrotic syndrome. Could there be a connection?

[michelleislay]

oh wow.  i am thoroughly impressed and intrigued by all of this.  

is there no end to the talent and knowledge of this forum???

yes, discovery channel can be skipped tonight, a good dose of it exists here!!!!

michelle

[tanyasparrow]

My Dad was stung by a stingray three months ago and is having numbness and pain through out his body.  They now want to do a MRI.  The doctors told his there is no way the sting from a singray would be cause these problems.  After reading this post I am forwarding this to him to check on MS.

[Quixotic1]

Hi, you've posted onto a thread in the MS Forum.  You may well be having a "serum sickness" reaction to the venom instead of an allergic reaction to the antibiotics.  If you are also having any joint pain and/or fever, then it is VERY likely serum sickness.  

This is treated with a course of steroids.  You might ask to see an Allergist/Immunologist, but generally a good GP can deal with this.

Quix

[kjbaustin]

I was stung by a sting ray in the side of the foot on June 19th.  It turned into and infection about a week later. After taking antibiotics for a week, I broke out into hives.  The doctor thought that I am allergic to antibiotics, which is a first for me.

After a week of steroids, the hives have come back strong again and are not responding to benedrill or zyrtec.  Is it possible they are related?  It seems such a long time since I was stung by the sting ray though

[Lulu54]

Hi I-freddy and welcome.  I'm sorry your wife is being checked for MS.

If you reread this thread carefully, you will see that we believe the stingray sting itself is NOT the cause of MS.  MS doesn't work that way.

However, being struck by the barb could be enough to set off the inflammatory/infection in the body that could provoke the MS out of being silent into an active phase.  I hope this makes sense.

good luck in finding answers,
Lulu

[Sparkysarah]

I have nothing to add except that this had led to the most fascinating thread and once again Quix has added some very insightful comments. Thanks for sharing, follow up that MRI scan and I wish your wife well.,

Sarah

[i_Freddy]

I found this post and site while researching the same thing. Just over a year ago my wife was stung on the top of her foot near the ankle by a sting ray in Anna Maria ISland Florida. Now she is having mri's blood work and seeing a neurologist trying to rule out MS and Lymphoma. She had an inconlusive mri as well and later this week will be getting a biopsy done on her lymphnodes. She has experienced chronic fatigue that is getting worse and her lymphnodes are constantly swollen as well as brusing easily and the bruises last for what seems like forever. I specifically mentioned Anna Maria Island Florida as there are so many kinds of rays. The ray that stung her was small. Maybe 12" across. Does anyone do any research on long term effects of sting ray venom? I recently found another post on another site where a man said his wife was stung about 6 months ago and now was undergoing tests for MS. I am starting to find a pattern here with women being stung and then later having to be tested for MS. Could be a specific species of ray? Or the size?

[Lulu54]

Best tip -shuffle your feet when walking in the ocean water - the stingray don't like to be stepped on but otherwise are usually on-agressive.  Contact with them and their barb is usually accidental.

Lulu

[jensequitur]

Typically stingrays are not aggressive.  I did a 'swim with the stingrays' outing when I was on a cruise, years ago.  They were quite friendly, and seemed mostly interested in the chum bucket.  Perhaps you smelled like fish?

[PJ31]

A few days ago I encountered 3 large stingrays coming towards me in a bay where the water was waist deep.  They came within 3 feet of me but within moments another one swam by and came back for a closer look.  My question is what is the best defense in dealing with an inquisitive stingray?

Thank You,
John

[Siddy1]

In my case it was a total hip replacement that started my MS symptoms after 40 years of "quiet".  I think it was just lying in wait for the right trigger and susceptibility (Quix words) to  kick in. Unfortunatley it kicked in and attacked my own immune system instead of fighting it.  My Orthopedic surgeon absolutely agrees with this.

I was wondering if I had another hip replacement whether it would reverse this process - NOT!   Just kidding!


Marcie

[Fluffysmom]

What an interesting and informative discussion!  I had to laugh at the CSI reference; I thought the same thing not long ago, that we are all CSIs trying to put together the clues that explain what is going on with our bodies!

To "the wife":

I wish you all the best; answers, feeling better, minimal new symptoms, and comfort and peace.  

Kathy

[Quixotic1]

Cool!!  Thank you!

Quix, AKA Grisom, AKA Momma Bear  :)

[speechgeek]

Quix

Do you watch CSI?  You are now AKA Grisom. Love this post VERY informative!!

Rebeccah