You can try soaking it in warm Epsom salt water and watch for an increase in swelling, pain or fever.
It might be a good idea to go to an Urgent care facility today, however.

Yes, have it checked out. You may need a tetanus shot. Several years ago it was pointed out that the fertilizer you use on these plants and others can cause problems on people. Sorry, can't think of what it is, but is like lockjaw. Especially with that red streak which could be blood poisoning. Do not let it go without medical attention.

I read your post over on the rose forums and was going to answer there but got booted off the net- Anyway, I make my living with roses and let me tell you- Run do not walk to the doctor. That red streak means business. Please take time to get in- there is still a part of the thorn in your hand. I know of what I speak!

Trish

Listen to Trish.
I know of a person that got a rose thorn in their thumb. It got infected and eventually the doctor had to amputate part of the thumb to eradicate the infection. I don't mean to throw you into a panic but this is very serious.

Ron

I have had problems with pyracantha and Christmas cactus thorns. Both of which I have had to have dug out my doctors. One doctor told me that if I am allergic to two kinds of thorns, there is a third one that I am also allergic to.

Yup listen to Trish.Get theee to the urgent Care center,NOW.
Kathi

I agree with the others about the red streak ... it could be blood poisoning. Get the the Urgent Care or ER.

Thank you, everyone. I just got home from food shopping, and my hand is much worse. Could hardly pick up anything, and typing this is no fun. I'm gonna take your advice and head for an ER as soon as I get my food in the fridge.

That red streak could signify blood poisoning. You need to see a doctor NOW. You may also need a tetanus booster - the tetanus toxin is found in the soil, dust and manure - you opened a pathway to that toxin and need to be treated - tetanus is lockjaw!

Here is a link that might be useful: Rose Gardener Warning

Keep us posted. Those thorns are as evil as the roses are beautiful.

Thanks, everyone, for pushing me out the door. Both the triage nurse and the doctor said rose thorns can be quite dangerous, and nothing to fool around with. He (the doctor) didn't think any part of the thorn remained in my skin, but he said it looked like I had a bacterial infection. The area was red, swollen, and hot. He prescribed ten days worth of antibiotics, gave me one to take immediately and one for tomorrow morning, and also gave me a tetanus shot. I'm glad to be home, and the dogs are looking for their dinners.

Thanks again!

Susan

I'm sure glad you went! Sounds like it is all under control.

Susan,

Had to check in to see if you were OK. I was worried about you. Sure glad you went to the doctor.

Judy

Whew! I was worried too and checked in here a couple times. I 've never had roses but shoot who knew they were that dangerous?
Glad things are ok now and you got checked over!!!

Glad you went and got taken care of. Good thoughts for complete recovery.

I had no idea that could happen from a rose thorn. I'm sorry that happened to you, but you performed a public service announcement! LOL
Glad it's taken care of.

Boy I didn't know that could happen either. I'll be sure to wear my gloves tomorrow when I trim mine. I'm glad you went to the Dr. and everything is okay.
Leslie

I'm sure glad you got that problem looked at and hoping you're on the mend.

I've gotten infections in my fingers and hands from handling cactus. I know how painful it can be. Glad you went to an urgent care center. Hope you feel better fast!

I, too, am glad you went to the ER.

I will never forget sitting in class to become a Master Gardener, listening to a rose expert give a lecture on roses. When he said that rose thorns can cause tetanus, nearly everyone in the class was surprised. Most of us had never heard that roses can cause tetanus, and we were all avid gardeners. And here in the Pacific Northwest, almost all gardeners grow roses of some kind. I now wear gloves any time I'm around my roses. (And I just got a tetanus shot a few months ago.)

I'm very glad to hear that you went for treatment. And this thread has educated some gardeners too!

I was thinking about you!! Glad to hear that you are on the mend!! I have gotten poked a few times, but never thought anything as serious as this could happen!!

Good grief, I wouldn't have known that.

Get well soon.

I also know of a gal who had a serious infection in her foot from a rose thorn. I took her months to get over it, including being in the hospital,deathy sick from the infection. It happened so fast. She's ok now and has been gardening ever since.

Alisande Be watchful--it may not be over yet. My daughter had the same thing happen in her garden only the rose thorn pierced the skin in her back. She developed the infection and despite antibiotics it got worse and worse. She developed MERSA the staph infection that is resistant to most antibiotics. It took a long time to heal.

And here I thought you were talking about becoming obsessed with Sears Homes!!! :) Glad to hear you're on the mend.

Rose Thorn(ton)
aka, Rose Thorn
author, The Houses That Sears Built

LOL, Rose.

Everyone, here's a scary tale from the UK. I'm just as glad I didn't read it last night.

oooh, rose thorns are the WORST! I have yet to have a scratch from a rose bush that didn't get infected, let alone a poke.

Wasn't there somebody else on this forum that got pricked by a rose thorn and practically had to have surgery?

I was stabbed by a rose thorn on Friday, today my left forefinger is double its normal size. having read all the information given to alisande I will be off to the doctors on Monday. Thankyou.

Jonesboy, I hope you'll go to the ER today instead of waiting. A lot can happen between now and tomorrow.

Good luck with this.

I got stuck on a thorn in my lower arm about 2 maybe 3 weeks ago .[I have had tetanus booster ] But ince then I have been expierencing tingling amost paining frrling in that arn and elbow pain ----------no red line or swelling---your opion yhankyou

I wouldn't fool around with it, Hypacondriac. Rose thorns carry other things besides tetanus. The elbow pain, etc., might be unrelated to the thorn stick, but then again it might not. I recommend having it checked out.

Two days ago i was trimming my rose bush and my scissors slipped and my fist went right into the thorn bush and i punched a thorn pretty hard. The thorn was stuck right in the center of my middle finger knuckle, i had to use tweezers to get it out because it was so deep. I didnt think anything of it, but the next day my knucle was twice the size and now i cant even open my hand up; when i do, i get a shock of pain in my hand and middle finger. Im really scared to go see a doctor. Is there anything i could do without going to Urgent care center? Or is it smart to go in? let me know what you think.
Thanks

Hayden Marie, I can't imagine why you are afraid to go to a doctor. What could s/he possibly do that would be worse than what you're experiencing now?

I almost lost my index finger to bone infection years ago from damage inflicted by a terrified cat. I'm thinking the same could happen to you if you don't get some treatment ASAP. By all means, go to the urgent care center. And if they don't take your infection seriously, go somewhere else. Let us know how you make out.

I got stuck in my index finger with a rose thorn over a week ago (through my gloves). I pulled it out and it hurt for about a day and I thought that was that until I woke up this morning with a very sore, bumpy, swollen, red finger, Tried soaking in all kinds of solutions but based on the comments above, decided to go to urgent care, Very glad I did, Doc couldn't find anything in my finger but put me on antibiotics for a week and said if it didn't get better (or got worse) in three days, I would need an ultra sound to see if any of the thorn remains in my finger. He also mentioned MERSA.

I remember this thread from so many years ago and think of it every time I get stuck with a rose thorn, this morning for example! Never had an infection though, luckily.

I got one time a blackberry thorn in the middle of my palm and it all went into bumps and I went to clinic to get it checked over and I do get a tetanus shot every year and you all should especially gardners. It really blew up on me and I went back to clinic and got a different doctor and I said it is almost like shingles the way it looks and she startled and said no, I said no too. It took like a month for it to dry up and I also kept it clean too and taped a gauze bandaid on it. The first doctor told me its totally different from garden blackberry thorns to wild blackberry thorns and I got the worst and it also took forever to work itself out too. I would go in and get it checked out plus a tetanus shot too. Keep it clean and see what doctor tells you.

Not a rose thorn, but reminds me of my sister's situation many years ago.

She noticed that she was getting a tumor-type growth on her stomach. She went to her doctor, fearing the worst. Turned out that the previous summer, she & her family stopped at an abandoned one room school house, and she decided to ride the wood slide with her young daughter on her lap. Apparently, unknown to her, she picked up a large wood sliver through her shorts, and it went through her blood stream & tried to get out her stomach several months later! Her doctor managed to dig it out with no further health percussions.

Kathleen, tetanus boosters aren't required but once every ten years!

I fell in our yard full of rose bushes. My leg has several pretty good long deep scrapes. What I didn't realize until last night was that i had a few thorns sticking in the top of my head. One was large and deep. We tried to remove them...it felt like being scalped! Painful. We are not sure one is completely removed and the area is very sore. I have had a dull headache since last night. Reading the posts makes me concerned...I guess I may need to see dr. Any advice would be appreciated.

Google Sporotrichosis and you will be on your way to Urgent Care lickety-split!! It's a very serious and very common fungal disease contracted almost exclusively from rose thorns. It is so common it is known as "rose gardener's disease"!!