**Over 4 years ago on September 9, 2013 while at the beach on vacation, I stepped on a stingray and it stung me. It was one of the worst pains I’ve ever experienced and at the time, I swore up and down that I wouldn’t even wish that on my worst enemy. Online searching yielded very minimal information, so I wrote this blog entry and it has been significant for those looking for information and sharing their own experiences to help others understand what they’re going through and what to expect. Because that was on my personal blog, I felt compelled over the years to move it somewhere else, and, here we are. Thank you for understanding. I’ve compiled all of the entries I have on the subject together in one place, and the experiences I’ll post as well for further reference.**
**Please continue to share your experiences here on this entry! Thank you for your contributions!**
How to manage a stingray sting: a quick overview (from personal experience and per reader testimony)
- Don’t:
- Use cold therapy (i.e. ice)
- Elevate above the heart
- Do:
- Place affected area in very hot water (as hot as you can stand but not scalding that you burn yourself) until pain dissipates. Has a secondary effect of muscle relaxation to allow any remaining barbs to work its way out.
- Visit a medical facility to get it checked out out for foreign bodies and some antibiotics just in case, whatever they recommend.
- Expect:
- Pain.
- Possible crying
- A delayed reaction at the sting site at around the 1 week mark, with pain, itchiness and swelling that lasts a few days and then goes away.
- Intermittent annoying pain, twinging, tingling, itchiness for about a year or until the wound fully heals.
Be sure to check out the existing contributions from fellow sting-recipients at the bottom and feel free to add your own experiences in the comments!
I stepped on a stingray’s tail
September 9, 2013 – 64 Comments
What happened: I was out in the waves with my mom, and brother. It was a partly cloudy day. Initially, I thought I’d been pinched by a crab, or stepped on a broken shell. It hurt and I was bleeding, so I limped ashore and sat down on the sand to inspect it. There was a growing realization that it couldn’t possibly be either one of those because it became increasingly painful, and wholly unlike anything I’d ever experienced: dull and sharp at the same time, and coursed throughout my entire leg with every heartbeat. I hobbled inside and tried to find information on the internet, but couldn’t find much, except, not to use cold therapy (ice) as it is described as “disastrous.” Same with elevating above the heart. Unfortunately for me, I’d read that after I had done exactly both of those things, and believe me: DON’T DO IT. I was trying to be brave and strong, but it got so bad and 30 minutes later it was worse and not disappearing in the least. I cried so hard as my mom tried to look at it, the neighboring vacationers were extremely concerned. My family rushed me to the nearest physician’s office we could find. Let me tell you: the drive was absolutely unbearable. Every heartbeat was excruciating as the venom circulated steadily through my leg. My pain-addled brain kept thinking I would have to amputate, it felt like the tissues were necrotizing in my leg with every wave!! The medical office treated me with warm water and gave me antibiotics (they also gave me insight into the fact that locals there don’t get in the water past July). Then I had to go to the nearest imaging facility (1 hour away) for an x-ray to make sure there was no foreign bodies still embedded.
Treatment includes placing the area in water as hot you can stand for 30-90 minutes… for me the pain relief was almost instantaneous. The hot water also works to relax the muscles and hopefully allow any piece of the stinger to drift out. There is no antivenin for stingrays. It is speculated that maybe hot water denatures the proteins that make up the venom, but others disagree with that hypothesis. What’s really important is making sure that there are no barbs from the stinger or other foreign bodies left within the wound. Most doctors will prescribe oral antibiotics in case of infection, given the nature of the environment that stingray stings occur in (ie saltwater, sand). The physician’s assistant down at the beach cut into the area (with local anesthesia) to make sure the barb was gone.
The days following and up until a week after the incident, the area felt 100% fine. It looked and felt like a papercut on the bottom of my foot, and I expected maybe some bruising as I tend to bruise easily. I kept bandaids on the site to prevent random opportunistic pathogens in, but it had already scabbed up after 2 days. After we arrived back home, I went to work as normal. The first day was more painful than I’d anticipated, but it was long before I forgot about it altogether.
Then, exactly 7 days later the area started itching. A couple things ran through my mind, like maybe the bandage was latex-based and my skin had had enough of it (I’m latex sensitive), and that this was a sting like a bee sting and would be bound to itch, so I didn’t think much about it. But. The next day after work, I grew increasingly alarmed. The area was very inflamed again and there was a sudden surge of little red dots all around the sting area, one of which looked like a double pustule. I put a bunch of hydrocortisone on it, worried about it and went to sleep. The next morning, I was 100% concerned. It looked BAD. The wound seemed cyanotic, the inflammation was a 4x4inch circle surrounding the puncture site, the little red dots were extremely pronounced, and it was hella itchy.
As soon as I could, I called the office down where I had been seen and talked with the PA who finally gave me the radiology report (nothing radiopaque evident in the tissues, but they did find an old evulsion fracture at the base of the 2nd toe). I told him about the condition of my foot and he wanted to see it, but I was long gone from the area. He then told me to go see my primary care physician and said that he would order an ultrasound at this point. I called my PCP and got in right away. Called work and they found a temp. Ran off the to doctor’s. The NP was like, yeah that’s not normal. No one knew what to do about stingray stings, so I volunteered what the PA told me. Sent me over to the radiology office to get an ultrasound and gave me a second round of the Augmentin I was on.
After waiting in radiology for about an hour, they let me go only to call me while I was waiting for my Augmentin to be filled at the pharmacy. The radiologist spoke with me, telling me that there was a LOT of fluid in the area and they couldn’t see anything. She had conversed with the NP and they want me back next Thursday for a re-evaluation, possibly a new ultrasound, and possibly a drainage of the area. I’m like, OK, so I schedule the appointment. Then the PCP calls me too, to say that the ultrasound was inconclusive and that I need to come back. The last time I had my ankle x-rayed it took forever for them to get back to me…then again they hadn’t been worried about anything.
So now it’s almost 2 weeks later. It feels and looks a ton better even though I spent the entirety of Saturday walking. The red dots all ended up melding together into a large rash on the inside of my ankle, but the inflammation has gone down and the area looks less cyanotic. I couldn’t take it anymore, though, and scratched the HELL out of it last night, opening up the scab and making myself just miserable (well, satisfied and miserable at the same time) because now it itches, burns AND hurts. The rash is not red anymore and now looks sort of dull gray, although the itchiness has spread to the back of my ankle. I’m hoping that by Thursday it’ll look good enough not to have to drain. It definitely hurts when I work, though. Such a pain to deal with while trying to work with patients.
Aaaand there you have it.
I felt much better about the whole thing that day heading into the PCP. They saw me quickly this time, the assistant faked doing a BP, and the nurse bursts in happy that it’s looking so much better. I am given an appointment for a follow-up ultrasound. Once again, it was a quick turnaround, and before I know it the imaging is being done. This time as I follow on the screen, I can actually see and make out what’s going on. Clear as day I see the cavity in my foot. I wait again as the radiologist takes a look. He, himself, actually comes in this time to take a look at the foot himself. I describe to him what it used to look like and how now I don’t have to limp when I walk. He looked at it and I could see him juggling decisions in his mind before telling me that having drainage and surgery in the area is risky, so he would not recommend having it drained. Given the significant reduction in inflammation, I was advised to keep taking the rest of the antibiotics.
A few days later the PCP called to give me the official report. She said, “There is no evidence of a drainable abscess in the area.” Hopefully the antibiotics and my body will continue to fight the fight and naturally dispel the infection. No word on foreign bodies, so I’m assuming that there is not. The area on my foot is still purple, but for the most part it feels normal. Every so often it twinges and throbs a little (complaining heavily after I come home from work), but I’m of the mind that it’s better…? I guess only time will tell.
Stingray wound 5 months later
January 17, 2014 – 4 Comments
That’s what it looks like. 4mm x 6mm oval, pink, smooth, lightly raised lesion. I would have completely forgotten about it except that more recently it has been bothering me. In the past few months it would occasionally twinge, but in the last 2 weeks it twinges much more often to the point that it becomes a sharp pain. It never lasts long, but it’s enough for me to notice it and wonder what it going on.
My foot doctor patient a few months ago told me that the occasional twinge is normal. I wonder what he meant by that.
Stingray Sting: 7 months later
March 5, 2014 – 2 Comments
Another stingray update! It has been over half a year now since I stepped on the stingray’s tail. It certainly hasn’t gone away…in fact it is raised and hurts when pressure is put on it. It looks kinda creepy too, but it’s not uncomfortable enough for me to get it addressed again. No doubt everyone will just ponder over it, take some ultrasounds, and then send me on my way again. If I step on my foot the wrong way, it hurts, so it makes me thankful that it didn’t sting closer to the middle of my foot. If it had, then I most likely would need it addressed. My guess is that my body is trying to push the rest of the injury out, slowly. Either that or scar tissue has overgrown the area. I feel like it’s not getting worse…potentially even a little better.
I’ll keep monitoring it. In the meantime, here are some pics:
Reader Comments
- Anonymous
Holy moly! That is strange so many days after it doing that. I am assuming they checked for parasites? I got barbed today in exactly the same spot. I have had two children and surgery on my neck and the pain wasn’t as bad as what I felt today. I was in ankle deep water on the coast in Port Aransas, Tx and was treading very carefully, after last year, having a 3 ft shark swimming right by my husband’s leg in water barely at our calves, when I stepped on a ray. It must’ve been buried because I was looking right at the water and never seen it (maybe time for new glasses). My husband saw it when it swam away, said it was about nine inches around. I can’t imagine even living through a sting if the thing would have been bigger. I sure hope your foot continues to get better and you haven’t any more pain. (-:
aowam
September 26, 2013 at 7:02 am Edit
When I was reading around on the internet, having the area inflame after a week was not unheard of. I’d be curious to know if yours does that too. Not to say that I’m glad you got stung because omg the pain!! I will also take the moment to say that I don’t think the one that got me was as big as yours (not that I saw anything). Now a month later, the area still has a scab, it still looks blackish, but it only tingle-hurts occasionally. Hopefully it’s just healing and I didn’t suffer too much nerve damage. I wish you the best while it heals and that you don’t get an abscess like I did. 🙂 - Anonymous
Hi. This is the lady from 09/25 that got slapped by the stingray. My foot has been perfectly fine other than around right around the sting area felt hard, but only about the diameter of a quarter and my foot looked bruised. Not too bad, considering the substantial amount of pain I had. Now, 9 days out, this morning I woke up with it itching like crazy and the hard place diameter is now red. My husband said quit reading the internet, you’re going to end up with a club foot!! Yes, he is quite compassionate (-:. Anyway, hopefully this won’t elevate beyond the insane itching part. I wanted to ask you though, if you put anything on it to help with the itching? I tried Benedryl cream and that didn’t help any so just wondering (and hoping) what/if you tried anything that did? By the way, thank you for sharing story and pics. It’s interesting to see how this affected someone else. I mean if it unfortunately happened to someone else. Okay, well, anyway, thanks for the info..
aowam
October 4, 2013 at 1:33 pm
I tried using otc hydrocortisone but it seemed to make it worse!! So to answer your question, all I did was take a benedryl. The nurse recommended also using claritin or zyrtec while it was inflamed. Really, besides the antibiotic I was on it was the test of time. Using an ACE wrap seemed to help keep me from scratching it, but I wouldn’t recommend an actual adhesive bandaid because that also seemed to irritate it.
Hopefully you’ll get better!! Day 10 was the peak for me! Thanks for sharing your experience too because it’s nice to know that I wasn’t the only one!Christopher
Hi, I know your post is about 2 years old, but I am where you were. Its been 9 days and it is just now starting to itch and become a tad swollen. I am not too concerned and I have not seen a doctor, as the initial sting was painful, but bearable.
Now, reading these posts I wonder what/how your outcome was and what you recommend?
Thanks
Chris - Lisa
April 16, 2014 at 4:28 pm Edit
I was stung by a stingray and 7 days after mine started itching like crazy! I was lucky that the Dr in my Instacare use to work in Hawaii! He said that there is a small percentage of people who are allergic to tiny barbs inside. He said it would take months to heal on its own or he could give me a steroid shot and it should be healed in a week. I went for the shot and the itching and pain was gone in a hour. The entire sting was healed within a week or so but there was no more pain or stinging. Just wanted to pass it on for others that might be looking for answers.- aowam
April 24, 2014 at 10:20 pm
Now I kind of wish I’d gotten a shot like that. Would’ve been a heckuvalot easier to deal with. - Christie
I was stung 7 days ago and the itching is unbearable. Do you know what type of steroid it was?
- aowam
- Ian
April 24, 2014 at 6:18 pm Edit
I was stung last week at Pass A Grille Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida. The ray got the top of my foot, so all the bones up there prevented deep penetration. I did not seek medical attention, as the pain went away quickly and a doctor friend of mine said that if you don’t feel any more pain, then there is unlikely to be any barbs under the skin. It scabbed over, then the scab came off after a day of walking in dress shoes. I put on Polysporin and a Band-Aid, and now the wound is is unbearably itchy…- aowam
See! It seems that after about a week is when the itchiness comes about!! I hope everything clears up quickly for you.
Christie
Thank you for this information. I am one week out from a sting ray bite and woke up in the middle of the night with unbearable itching to find that it happened to others. I will call my doctor in the am. Any other tips?
I found rubbing an ice cube on the area soothed it a bit. It was pretty bad for a couple days, and then went away.
Ian
I took Claritin for a few days, and it did the trick.
- aowam
- aowam
Keep the comments coming everyone! And thanks for reading. I never knew this post would get so many hits! Maybe after enough testimonials we can come up with a working what-to-expect schedule, since there’s not much else out there in regards to the mysteries of stingray stings! 🙂
Mana
Hi I was stung 7 days ago on the bottom of my foot, amd yes, the pain was excrutiating, but the barb did not stay in my foot (checked by a local doctor). The swelling went down after day 3 but just yesterday (day 6) it started to itch horrificly. The doc perscribed antibiotics but I have not taken them. What to do now? Also, I want to go to the beach in a few days, is it too soon?
aowam
I’m no doctor, but I would strongly recommend doing what the doctor says…the antibiotics are a precaution because who know what stingrays carry and seawater isn’t the most sterile liquid on earth. And take a prescribed! All of it! Never take just 2 tabs…always the full course. My wound was wrapped up with gauze and I went out into the water anyways by day 2. As long as it’s covered (once again, sand/water…germ factories) I don’t see a problem. Just don’t push it. I hope it gets better!
Ian
Yes, do what the doctor says — and be sure to see a doctor! About 10 days after being stung, cellulitis of my foot and ankle developed. A 10-day course of antibiotics did the trick, and I am now symptom-free, with just a dime sized, short lump remaining at the wound site.
I was stung a couple weeks ago in the bottom of my heel, and was watching carefully to make sure the wound was kept clean and would heal without infection. I thought I was getting back to normal and then on the 7th day, the bottom of my foot – about 2 inch radius around the puncture- got red, hot, and incredibly itchy. I used ice to give me some relief which worked for a while. The next day the redness moved up my ankle – which is the direction I think the barb went – and started to swell so I had some antibiotics prescribed. By the time I got the antibiotics, the part of my foot that initially started itching started to look better, so I think it was just part of the healing process, as it seems like a lot of people have experienced. Now I’m almost to the end of the 2nd week and the redness and swelling is gone, and itches only occasionally.
aowam
It’s pretty cool that the same chain of events happen to people!
- Barb
Stung on top of foot below big toe last week while surfing. Soaked for 1.5 hours in really hot water at Lifeguard stand – helped. Seemed to “heal” and then on day 6, got red, swollen, tender and itchy. What?!?!? Went to Urgent Care – took X-rays and found no stinger in would. Said “delayed histamine reaction” / allergic reaction, and possibly infected. Put on antibiotics. This was my 3rd stingray sting — all have been different locations, with different initial pains, and different healing time afterwards. 🙂
aowam
I guess it’s just the stingray!!! It would have been interesting to see if size made a difference or maybe species? Too bad no one gets a look at the attacker!
Ray
Stung 3 times? Name checks out…
- strewnherenthere
Oh the itch. Got stung and it hurt! Healed and pain went away after 24 hours. At day 8 the itching is intense. No pain and a little swollen area. Strange poison they give you. I’ll wait to see if it gets better tomorrow. If not I’ll get some ab’s at the doc. Good to hear I’m not alone here. I’ll keep an eye on it. Not sure if it’s fungal or a immune response to the venom. Good luck my fellow victims!
- Anonymous
Hi, I received a sting on my ankle 8 days ago, I did have swelling and a decent bruise but all seemed ok. Then the itching started, I have left it for 2 days, however my ankle has swollen and is extremely inflamed and sore. I went to the dr today and he asked if I had a tetanus injection (which i hadn’t), he said that I have an infection and has put me on antibiotics and steroid cream. I have to go back in 3 days.
- Chesca
Thank you for posting this!! I know my comment is two years later but it really helps reading this.
It has been 9 days since I got stung in Coronado San Diego. The itching and swelling just started. It has been bothering me all day and is making me worried! I have yet to see a doctor… Which is probably bad but I am out of the country and have to wait another ten days to go back home! Hopefully it is still just in the process of self healing. Do you think submerging the are in hot water again will help it or boost it to drain on its own? I haven’t tried anything to help relieve the itching and swelling, any tips?
Thanks!!!!
Ice helped me. The itching was intense but went away after a day or two. It wasn’t infected, just seems to be part of the process of the sting ray poison.
aowam
I agree with VBROERSMA. To me it seemed to be the process considering it clears itself up in a few days. Since it’s not venom anymore, ice should be ok along with OTC hydrocortisones or allergy meds if it gets really bad. Good luck! Also, it’s been 2 years, but I continue to encourage posts! 🙂 Thanks for reading.
Chesca
April 21, 2015 at 12:18 am Edit
So would you still recommend going to the doctor or just wait it out? It just itches, swells and stings sometimes.aowam
If it gets really bad and worries you, sure, visit a your PCP. Trust your gut here.
Christopher
@Chesca
I was also in Coronado San Diego and was stung 10 days ago. The initial sting wasn’t too painful, so I just let it be. Today, back in NYC, it itches like crazy and is a little swollen, but no pain. What was your final outcome? Did you end up getting it checked out. I am not sure how versed NY doctors will be on the subject - Chesca
Also, how long would you say it took for the symptoms completely go away? Like swelling and tenderness? I feel this tension sometimes at my Achilles when I flex my feet. Does it all go away after time?
aowam
For me the itching/burning/obnoxiousness lasted at least 3 days, spreading to the back of my ankle…somewhat similar to a mosquito bite, but as you say it felt moreso because it did tend to want to affect deeper anatomy. The itching and rash couldn’t have been longer than a week, but for a complete full heal from the sting site, it was almost a year before the scab went away. Every so often even now (though farther and farther apart) the area will twinge, reminding me of the incident. It feels like forever as you wait but soon it’ll just be a memory and a cool story to tell 🙂
Ian
I was stung on the top of my left foot. I took plain old Claritin to relieve the itch, which might have lasted for a few days. Developed cellulitis after one week, and was treated for that. It took about 6-8 months for the soreness to go away — a mild ache that I’d feel only upon waking up in the morning; something similar to muscle soreness after you work out muscles you haven’t used in a long time. I still have a dime-sized discolouration around the wound point, and it has now been a full year since the injury/
- Jan
I’m so glad I came across this as it’s eased my mind . I was stung 7 days ago and today it’s so itchy red and hot to touch . Also inflamed . The night it happened i felt pretty unwell – sickly and headache . Do you think I need to go to Doctor or does that sound normal . I’m from Scotland ( was on holiday in Florida ! ) and we don’t get stingrays around here ! Thanks for any advice .
Ian
I’m not sure if the itchiness is a sign of infection, but the heat and inflammation definitely are. Seek medical attention, because marine bacteria are not friendly to landlubbers. As for your headache and sickliness, I felt the same way after my last sausage bap in Glasgow!
- Heidi
My husbamd and I were in Fort DeSoto Florida last week when I was stung by a sting ray btwn the toes. Oh my God, the pain!!! But Wednesday….EXACTLY 7 days…it started itching like crazy. I am so glad i came across these posts, bcs i thought i was imagining it. Also the sting area is hard, like a knot, under the skin and it feels like a tender bruise when touched. I am not as concerned now, knowing this is common, but i will def keep an eye on it with my doc on speed dial!! Thanks
Jan
I went to my out of hours service today and have been told there is an infection and am now on a course of antibiotics for 7days . They have drawn around the area with a pen to keep a check on the redness and inflammation to see if it’s spreading . I’m really glad I read this post so that I went to see about it . Hopefully it will sort itself out now . Thanks for the advice !
- Keshia
I’m so glad I read your post, and all the comments! I was stung 10 days ago in Port Aransas, TX. I thought I had been bitten by a small shark, and I just new my toe had been torn away from my foot. With the amount of pain I felt, there was just no other explanation. When I finally got out of the water, all I had to show for my pain was a small puncture, that was bleeding profusly. Within 5 minutes my toe was bruising, so I assumed I has snagged it on something stuck under the water and broke it. After getting back to my room and cleaning it, I tried to elevate it, which caused the pain to intensify. My husband, annoyed by my “dramatic” response to the event, insisted that I elevate it (as we thought it was broken). I tried for a little while longer, only to be jolted out of bed to a standing position because I could no longer tolerate the pain. I then chose to sit in a chair and rest my foot on a chair across from me, keeping it level. I noticed red blotchy spots forming on the top of my foot, below my toe. My whole foot burned like fire when my husband touched the blotchy area. My friend finally suggested I was stung by a stingray, and we went to the fire station to get it checked out. They called the EMS, and I was advised to soak it in hot water and apply meat tenderizer. The hot water took the pain away, and all the bruising was gone the next morning, but I had a clear blister that popped up right below the puncture. It continued to look better, but with each day after about the third day it started to turn colors. I started two antibiotics when we got back, on day 6 of the sting, and I’m on day 5 of antibiotics and my toe is swollen, with dark red/blue marks, and some drainage. The itching is insane at this point, and I was about to go tell my PCP how much he didn’t know (he told me the other day it looked fine). So I am glad to see that this swelling and itching phase seems to be the final little storm before the calm!
Keshia
Oh, and I guess there’s no specific antibiotic that is better than another? I am currently taking Doxycycline and Cephalexin together.
- Christopher
Good to hear I am not alone on this and seems like where I am is the same place and just confirms that it was a stingray
I was on Coronado Beach in San Diego and was stung 10 days ago.
The initial sting wasn’t too painful, so I just let it be.
Today, back in NYC, it itches like crazy and is a little swollen, but no pain.
Wondering if I should ride it out or get it checked out? I am not sure how versed NYC doctors will be on the subjectIan
I was stung in St. Pete’s and a week later I went to the ER in suburban Chicago, and they knew exactly what to do — so I think you’ll get good guidance in NYC.
Christopher
Thanks Ian. How’d the ER work out after being stung a week?
Ian
It was a smart move. See my June 2014 comment above.
Jen
I’m in Tennessee. Haven’t been to the doctor because they have absolutely now clue about stingrays. How did your get ?
- Amber Largent
I was stung about a month ago in Bucerias Mexico on the pacific coast 2 days before Christmas. I was in the water for all of 2 mins when I put my foot down to ride a wave in (I was only waist deep) when all of the sudden there was this pain that felt like a knife piercing into the bottom of my foot. I immediately thought I had stepped on a sharp she’ll or had been stung by a jellyfish, but within seconds I was overcome with some of the most excruciating pain I had ever experienced in my life. In distress and grabbing my foot, my boyfriend scooped me out of the water and carried me to shore. Someone came running down to the beach as I was wailing in pain and informed us that it was a sting Ray that stung me. I was carried to the bar on the beach where the locals knew what to do. They soaked these leaves found on the beach in hot water that apparently have some medicinal properties for such a wound. If I had not had as quick of action or knowledge about what had happened to me as fast as I did, I’m sure my outcome would have been much worse. I was riving in pain for about 90 mins, it had subsided somewhat after the initial 30 mins and a few shots and a pain killer later (I was in Mexico, real medical care was limited). On a side note, I did have some lady trying to push her positive energy into my wound… I had to tell her to move and that it was not working… Someone was talking about cutting me open and I said that was not happening, not here, not on a beach. Instead I had people slapping the venom out of the wound while I laid face down on a chair. I think the guy that got me was a little one, and the puncture wound on the arch of my foot is really small. However it doesn’t matter the size I learned when it comes to venom, I guess they are just as venomous as babies as they are adults, the only thing that differs for these types of injuries is the size of the tail and species, but all in all the pain from the venom is the same. I rated my pain at 9/10 and im glad it subsided quickly. My partners family had to see me in probably the worst states of my life, which was somewhat embarrassing. I also had several people ask me the following days later that had seen me deliriously and incoherently coping with my pain how I was doing. My reaction was omg you actually had to see my like that and I was somewhat mortified. I got a tetanus shot as soon as I had returned to the states 4 days later. A month later and I’m still sore around the puncture site. I can wear shoes fine, went snowboarding just fine, but if I put pressure in one particular spot (usually happens when going up the stairs or stepping on uneven surfaces) it still hurts/is sore. There is what appears to be either still swelling or hardened scar tissue by the puncture site. It’s not red or anything, but I still keep an eye on it. It definitely itched A LOT a week afterwards. I also had a few instances of sharp shooting pain. I still find the itch to return from time to time though, but not as badly. Time will tell if there is More damage. It went through an area where there are a lot of tendons (the arch) so we shall see. Thanks for all that have shared, helps me better understand my injuries as well.
- Tom
Its crazy to see so many people with similar symptoms as what I have. I was stung on the inside of my right heel in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, 9 days ago. When it happened, at first I thought I was being bitten by a small crab, and a second later it felt like someone dropped a cinder block on my foot. I said some choice words, picked my foot up out of the water, and noticed that I was bleeding pretty bad from a spot on the heel of my foot. I got out of the water, at which point some friends suggested it was from a sting ray. They checked for a barb, and luckily nothing was embedded in my foot. The pain got really intense immediately, and I couldn’t move off the cooler that I chose as an initial resting place for at least an hour. The pain varied minute to minute, but at some points I had a dull pain all the way up to my hip. I rested my feet in the hot sand, and may have inadvertently broken down the venom through doing so, because it became less intense about 2 hours later. My foot was a bit swollen, and had a dark blue/purple line heading about 2 inches up towards my ankle, but I was able to walk home 3 hours after it happened, and hobble around that night.
Fast forward 3 full days later; I’m home and went to the gym for the first time since the incident. I did some moderate cardio and think I might have flushed what poison was remaining in my leg out into my system, because I got really sick later that night. For the next two days I had no energy, chills, a mild headache, was nauseous and experienced vertigo if I moved my head or eyes around too fast. It was weird, and not like other times I’ve had a normal cold or flu… Am I wrong to assume it had something to do with the sting a few days prior?
Last night was 8 days since it happened, and it started itching considerably. Today it looks a little red, is a bit swollen, and is tender above the scab. I’m a bit concerned, and am going to watch it tonight and tomorrow, and head to the doctor if it doesn’t improve.
Anyway, I thought I’d quickly share as well to add my experience, as it was interesting reading all of yours! I’ll update this if anything else changes!
- Jill
My daughter was stung and was put on Bactrim. Nine days later, her wound became quite inflamed and she developed a rash all over her body. I gave her 10 mg of Zyrtex, but hives began to appear. I took her to the allergist who added another dose of Zytec 10 mg plus a stronger antihistime at night called Hydroxyzine HCL 25 mg 1 to 2 tab Even on that dose her rash got worse. By the second night, she is starting to get some relief and it might be starting to calm down. The dr also added a new antibiotic, Cipro as my daughter has other sensitivities and the dr was concerned about potential infection at the site because it was so inflamed and warm.
Thank you for your comments.It helps to know others had delayed reactions too.
- Christy
Did you ever soak it in hot water? I don’t know how you managed the pain without it! I also stepped ON a stingray’s tail. You are the only other person I have come across who has also done this. We must be pretty lucky. 😉 The stingray must have dragged it’s tail across the bottom of my foot because I had an inch long and inch deep gash along the bottom of my foot. I was gushing blood all over the beach and wanted to die from the pain. This was over 2 years ago and I still get those little red itchy bumps all around the scar. I feel like there was a barb the doctor must have missed. Now whenever my friends get pricked on their ankle or top of their foot and complain about the pain, I’m like… Don’t even talk to me about it. Try having a huge gash on the bottom of your foot. Haha. I am SO careful now at the beach!
- Jen
I’m on day 9 and experiencing the same things as the original poster. My sting is in exactly the same spot. The itching is unbearable at times. The doctor called me in 500 mg of Kaflex to be taken 3 times a day for 10 days. As for now with the way it is I’m not sure it’s helping.
- Jen
Day 9 (yesterday) I end up going to a walk in emergency clinic. The swelling was so bad and painful I could hardly walk. I requested a steroid shot because of previous post. The swelling was down quite a bit by day 10 and no pain. My foot is more of a deep purple now but no itching or pain and I’m thankful for that. He did prescribe me a second antibiotic to take along with the first one.
- Penny
Very thankful for the post and comments. Being stung by a sting ray is a unique situation! I’m at day 9 and yes the itching is awful and the puncture spot is inflamed. I think it will be like several of these people and will settle down soon.
Jen
I went Friday evening (day 9) and got a steroid shot. At day 11 is still swollen but not as bad. Claritin helped me with itching
Penny
Thank you!!
- Mariya
Thank you so much for all your posts. It was very helpful. I would like to share my experience. I got stung by stingray 8 days ago at Clearwater Beach, FL. I was walking in the shallow water as I was exiting the water. I felt sharp pain in my feet. The pain was unbelievable. Only people who experienced it could understand it. I also experienced some shock and I couldn’t move my foot. Luckily my husband was nearby and cared me to the shore. I am so grateful there was a lifeguard on duty. He gave me a bucket with hot water, so I could soak my foot in to relieve the pain. The pain went away in about 3 hours, but I couldn’t walk that day. Overnight my foot felt better and I even was able to attend my friend Birthday. The next few days I didn’t feel any pain and I was able to return to my normal routine. Until today (8th day) my foot got worse. It is itchy, hot, red and swollen. I am so glad I found this blog. It is big relief to know that these symptoms are common. Will keep you posted with my healing process. Thank you.
ian
You’ve been to the hospital, right?
Mariya
No, I haven’t seen a doctor. Will go to Urgent care tomorrow, if the symptoms remain, or get worse.
Ian
Hot, red and swollen = infected. Best of luck!
- Kayla
I stepped on one a 5 years ago and it still hasn’t healed correctly. Most of the time it has a callus over it, but from time to time it softens and the little bit of tissue that did grow back is stringy (only way I can think to describe it) and boy does it hurt. Hopefully your’s won’t do this. To add to my wonderful first trip to Florida, I was stung by a jellyfish 2 days later and found out I’m allergic to benadryl. Fyi I didn’t go to the doctor for any of it
- Jen
Thank goodness for this blog!! I was stung by *something* on 5/16. we had no idea what it was that had gotten me, but we knew that i bled like mad and had a decent v shaped cut on top of my foot and it hurt like a B, like someone ran my foot over with a car, for about 6 hours. We were at a semi remote beach so no life guards, no one around to ask their opinion. since the pain and bleeding finally stopped we skipped an ER trip. 8 days later my foot swelled up and turned red and itched, so further research led me to here, which confirmed, i was stingrayed. a round of antibiotics and prednisone has helped. I’ll keep monitoring as some comments above have me worried about long term effects.
- KeBron
Got stung 8 days ago in SD. Itching like hell and whole foot swollen today. Thanks for blog i know itll be ok. On antibiotics now. If i dont post again, they worked!
- jane
wow — amazing to have found this blog that has obviously been going for years. I’m sitting here at 3.30am in Sydney, having been stung 16 days ago, trying to work out why the wound has suddenly become so painful at night that it wakes me up. Initial pain at the beach was appalling, hot water soaking at hospital was magical, I was checked that no barb remained, healed well and quickly with just a bit of red swelling left after 2 weeks, and then suddenly 2 nights ago in the middle of the night I had an hour’s pain that was similar to the initial pain (although nowhere near as excruciating). Now I’ve got it again tonight. But once I get up it goes away. Something to do with lying down and having my foot elevated? It seems others have commented on that initially — but after this amount of time? Any ideas? I don’t think it’s infected. And I had a bit of the itching people have talked about, but not any more.
aowam
For me at least (it has been a couple years) I had that off and on for an entire year, gradually decreasing. Never could find a repeatable source or reason.
- Melody
I got stung this summer, not knowing what it was until I did some research and deduced that it was a stingray sting- due to the symptoms I had. It felt like a crab pinch when I got stung and my toe was immediately bleeding when I got out of the water. After about 30 minutes, I felt an unbearable amount of pain that would not subside. My friends thought I hit my foot on a rock and didn’t believe that it hurt so much. I literally layed on the beach and cried for an hour while they went to rite aid to get me bandaids because there was no lifeguard on this beach. I remember just not being able to move my foot because I didn’t want the pain to increase. Getting to the car was difficult and I had to hop on one foot. When I got in the car, my friends proceeded to wash the wound with water but I don’t know if it was the fact that it was an open wound or if the air was cool but I could feel the air hitting the wound and it was such an unbelievable pain I couldn’t keep still and just kept crying. After the incident I would wrap my foot and slowly walk because it hurt to walk for about a week. Towards the end of the week it started getting better, however it didn’t start to itch. I was able to walk but as the days went by my foot and toe, where the sting was, was swollen, hot, itchy and red. The skin felt hard and half of my foot was completely red. I ended up having to go to the Emergency room and got an x-ray done, an antibiotic shot and was prescribed antibiotics to take for 10 days. They told me if the redness spread any further I would have to be hospitalized and be given IV antibiotics. Thankfully, it got better and I was able to return to normal function. It’s been almost 6 months now and the only thing I have to say is that I still have a brown mark from where the stingray stung, wondering how long it will take for that to go away. Also I can’t tell if it looks like my toe is the slightest bit more swollen than my other one? But idk how that would be if it’s been so long. All in all, that was the greatest pain I’ve ever felt in my life and I wish we would’ve known what it was so I could have gotten immediate medical attention. Hopefully this helped anyone out there and feel free to ask any questions! 🙂
Daveo
It is crazy pain for a few hours. Good news it does go away quickly. Keep an eye out for infections, neosporin and keep it clean. This is not the end though, the itch gets crazy crazy intense for 2-5 days. After that it is over. Hot water is the immediate treatment. Not too hot to burn you though. It helped me a lot. This is the initial treatment that lifeguards use. It actually breaks down the toxin proteins. Hang with it. You will be fine!
This really is the best site for information about stingrays! I got stung on the top of my foot by a small ray here in the Seychelles. The pain was absolutely excruciating, I knew right away it was a sting ray because I felt the impact of the stinger on my foot. I was holding my baby boy in my arms to had to wait for my husband to come and get him before I could collapse and scream! The hotel staff did a great job of disenfecting right away and making sure no barb was stuck. The drive over the island to the hospital was unbelievable and felt endless. The painkillers they gave me at the hospital did nothing to reduce the pain and seems they don’t know about the hot water trick here as they just gave me an ice pack….I ended up with a shot of morphine like in my butt, the only thing that managed to relieve the throbbing pain. It’s now been 48hrs and though the wound seems to have healed my foot is starting to swell up. Hence me looking for information and support online.
I guess I will check again in a few days, but at least now I am aware of what potential developments can look like. Hope it won’t take years…!!
I’m sure hopeful it won’t!! Wow, 48 hours…let me know how it turns out!
Did you happen to experience the wound site getting inflamed, red or itchy around day 7 or 8? Seems this is a common reaction. If so how did you deal with it?
Yeah it seems everyone gets this delayed hypersensitivity reaction around the week-mark. When I went to the doctor, they just ended up extending my antibiotics just in case and recommended OTC antihistamines (for me Claritin that I already took sometimes for allergies). Honestly I don’t think the medications did much, just managed the symptoms, and it was all just time. I hope you feel better soon!
Your blog post is still helpful years later! I was stung about 10days ago while on vacation in Jamaica. I will spare you those details. Saw the on-call doctor at the resort. He had me put my foot in super hot water but only for about 10mins. It really brought down the pain. Then he cleaned the site and injected 1% lidocaine into the puncture wound. He’d move the needle around and massage the lidocaine through the area. He checked for any remains of the barb just by feeling the area as he moved around the lidocaine, said it would feel grainy if there was anything left behind. Put me on antibiotics right away and gave me an ointment to apply 2x per day.
Got back home and saw my PCP who put me on a different antibiotic (first doc only gave me enough for 3 days). PCP gave me a dose for 7 days. Said the wound looked good but it was the first time she had ever treated anyone with a stingray “sting”.
Today the area around the wound turned pink, got hot, and I have a swollen area. I circled all of the red area and it hasn’t gotten bigger. Took benadryl and assumed it’s a delayed reaction as others have mentioned. I’m still on antibiotics so can’t see it being infected.
Still changing the bandaid 2x per day and applying ointment. The scab came off and now there’s a tiny hole. Some of the skin is a dark purple so I’m thinking I’ll schedule a trip to a dermatologist.
I also stepped on the stingrays in August of this year in Florida. The pain was horrible and I’m still having issues. The tail was not inserted in the side of my foot but on the bottom. I have had an X-ray and Mri just to see if anything else was still stuck inside. My foot doctor did take a piece of scale out of my foot (a small splinter type thing) at one appointment. I have developed a callus on the area and it hurts to walk sometimes especially in heels. I’m not really sure what to do at this point with it and debate on going back to another foot doctor to see if they have any other advice.
My pain and the callous/scab thing that appeared in the area lasted on and off for about a year. It would some days drive me crazy and then others it was completely nonexistent. Crazy what it does!!
My husband was stung on the foot/ ankle 6 days ago and his whole foot and ankle swelled up. It’s hardly gone down and he has lots of bruising almost 7 days later. The wound looks good (not infected) and he got all the right medical care initially. Anyone else had long lasting swelling?
I’ve not heard through the other experiences of a starting and lasting swelling, but then again people are all so different! I hope he gets better soon!
Thanks for your reply. It became Red and hot a day after this post and our doctor sent him straight to the hospital and he was there for 5 days on IV antibiotics. The drugs also brought the swelling down also but the doctor was vague about whether the swelling had been directly related to the infection. He has since had nerve pain and numbness and still not able to walk properly 3+ weeks later. He’s on drugs for the nerve pain and we are waiting to see if it gets better with time. It’s been crazy how complicated this injury has been and how little info there is.
@Lillypilly18 That has got to be the worst I’ve heard from those contributing here…I’m curious to know, myself, whether it was directly related or not. Perhaps a secondary infection…more than likely, they don’t know either? I’m wondering it the stingray was very big! It IS very amazing how little information there is out there! Even the medical professionals don’t really know what’s going on! I really hope he gets better with no lasting damage, but in my experience it’s a long road ahead and mine was quite minor compared to your SO!
I am so glad I found this blog! I was stung on January 4th and thought it was getting better until yesterday. I noticed the cut was bumped out, red and very itchy. I soaked it in hot water for about 15 min, put peroxide on it and then neosporine with a band-aid.
This morning I look at it and it’s still red & inflamed, but now there is a couple small red bumps and a medium sized red rash just below the puncture. It is still itchy and my foot tingles. Is there any at home remedies without going to the doctor?
Reading through the other posts I will be buying some Benadryl or other antihistamine drug, but I’m at a loss as to what else I can do without going to the dr. I currently don’t have insurance (long story) which is why I’m trying to avoid going.
My husband was just stung 8 days ago in Port Aransas, TX. Initially it looked just a little swollen and like a small puncture. We did heat therapy the first night and it healed pretty nicely after a few days. Now 8 days in and the itching has started and it’s started to swell again. 🙁
P.S. So glad I found this site for info for myself and my husband as his sting heals, very informative!
I’m happy that it was helpful to you! I hope the delayed swelling and itching resolves soon!
This blog is very helpful. I was stung last week in San Diego. I never sought medical attention but now I’m reconsidering. I’ll have to make an appointment and see if I can get antibiotics and possibly a tetanus shot too. For me the itching started in really bad last night, which was exactly the one week mark.
Here’s hoping everything heals quickly and well for you
This my 3rd time being stung on the foot (I’m a surfer). I’m was used to the swelling, but since this last sting I have had pain all around my ankle. It feels like an ankle sprain, but it affects both sides of the ankle (medial and lateral). Obviously there was no injury. Some days a better than others and it improves a bit with activity.
My toe still has a little swelling but the pain is minimal. The initial sting was very superficial and I doubt there is a retained piece of stinger.
It’s been a bummer because I am a runner and I still haven’t gotten back to running yet. I looked for case reports of similar problems but I found nothing about delayed or chronic pain until I found this blog.
Wow!! Was it a big ray? I hope you continue to feel better and can get back to running!!
I get stung 8 days ago, here in Panama, I was surfing with my daughter when I felt a pain that didn’t feel in my life , right away I put my foot in hot water, for a hour, that was key to reduce the pain. The venom is termo sensitive , I finished the antibiotics medication and putting antibiotic cream, it is hitching and still a little bit red in the cut. Seeing all these comments I feel like a join a club of survivals.
Welcome to the club! Haha! Thank you for sharing your experience with us! I hope your sting experience is short and as least-itchy as possible!
My experience is right on course with everyone else. I was stung 11/24. Excruciating pain, went to urgent care, soaked in hot water, was examined to make sure no barb was present and then a couple hours later I was completely fine. I thought I was in the clear. Woke up yesterday, day 8, to extreme itching, some redness and swelling. Today it is the same, warm, itchy and swollen. It hurts when I walk due to the swelling. I was stung on the inside of the foot near the heal. I was very worried but I see this is now a common scenario. None of the experiences follow up to say what happens after this point…I hope it will resolve on its own. I will make sure to follow up!
Hi! I’m so sorry this happened to you and hope the extreme itching will soon pass. Typically, it will last a few days and then peter out and you’ll be mostly back to normal. The sting site/scab might take much longer to fully go away and for me I got random lightning pain in the area for a year, though less and less until it went away. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Hi, Thank you for your response. I’m updating as promised. The swelling and itching has almost all resolved now a couple days later. For a timeline: I was stung 10/24, completely fine by the end of that day. 11/1 woke up to a swollen foot, red, hot and itchy. 11/2 still swollen and freaking out a bit. 11/3 getting better and today, 11/4 almost back to normal (actually typing this from the gym!). I am a relatively heathy female in my 30s. I never took antibiotics but did go to urgent care to make sure the barb was out. Other than that it has resolved on its own. I was very surprised by the delayed allergic reaction and the lack of information about it on the web. I’m sure if I went back to the doctor during this phase (and didn’t find this blog) they would have said I had a bad infection and given me more antibiotics. Glad this was not the case. Thank you so much for this great information.
I was stung 8/11 in Huntington Beach, CA while I was surfing. I got stung on the instep. I went to the lifeguard and they soaked it in hot water and said I didn’t need to go to a hospital. They are more experienced with stingrays, so I trusted them and did not go. The next day I flew back to the Netherlands. There was a lot of swelling and I couldn’t walk for days, but I managed. A week after the stung it started to itch really bad so I went to the doctor, but since they don’t have experience with stingray stings in the Netherlands, they prescribed me allergy pills for the itching. Two weeks after the sting it started to swell again, redness appeared and it hurt really bad, so I went to the hospital and got X-rays, but there was no sign of a barb left behind, so I got antibiotics and they sent me home.
Now, almost seven weeks later, the wound is still not healed, it is red around the area and it hurts sometimes. I hope it will resolve on its own.
Wow I hadn’t heard about a 2nd week flareup! I hope it heals for you soon. Mine remained painful to walk on and a weird, hard yellow bump appeared right at the sting site itself for almost a year. It kept getting better as the days went on but it blew my mind how slowly it healed. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Wow I am so happy to find this post. There STILL is nothing on the internet about the after effects of a stingray sting. 8 days later after I was stung in Huntington Beach I am here in bed with terrible itching on the arch of my foot where I was stung. I never went to the doctors when it happened. The hot water helped and I didn’t see a barb. However there has been a hard hard area about half an inch away from the scab. It was there since it happened. I assumed it was the venom? The hard swollen area seemed to go away but now, 8 day’s later it’s itching and hard again. No redness and not hot slightly tender but more on the scab area than the hard part next to it but the swollen area makes me curious. Is it liquid? Debris? Infection? Healing? Lymph nodes? I think it’s a sensitive area on the foot, literally the inside arch of my foot.. I guess time will tell. Has anyone else experienced swelling away from the initial poke that has come back with an itch? What was the outcome with no antibiotics? I don’t want those if I don’t have to take them. Thank you to everyone who has posted 🙂
Wow! I seem to remember something similar, a really hard area near the stinger site that was sensitive and slightly itchy if you touched it. Almost like the muscles were stuck in a state of contraction. The antibiotics were mostly prescribed as a precaution more than anything, I think, but then again, I’m no doctor. It’s crazy to hear that it’s still hard to find anything on the vast internet! I’m glad this was able to help!
Wow thank you, everyone, for this support group! I found this post at about 2 am while my 6 day old stingray wound woke me up with horrible itching. I’ll add my experience to this post, for your information and relatable pleasure. 😊
I was in Port Aransas, Tx last week for a family getaway, most of the time we all stayed at the house, since the weather wasn’t great. On the day before we left my dad and uncle wanted to go play in the ocean (I’m always down for such activities). I didn’t initially follow them because I like to be nice and warm before going in the water. I started walking in toward them and suddenly what felt like scissors cutting my foot stopped me. I thought maybe a crab pinched me, lifting my foot I saw blood pouring out and hurried back to shore, not wanting to be attacked again. I got my dad and uncle’s attention and the pain started to set in pretty intensely. The thought of a stingray wasn’t even on our radar at all, so I tried to tolerate the pain and not be a wuss. Let’s just say, it got considerably worse, definitely one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. For hours we were thinking it was a flesh wound, assuming ice would help…. don’t do that. At this point I’m writhing in pain that won’t subside, my entire foot was untouchable because the pain felt like fire and knives. We figured it had to be some sort of poison, since the pain was so extreme and a simple cut didn’t add up. My dad did some research and found stingray articles with pictures that looked identical to mine. Finally, a family member applied a warm piece of gauze with meat tenderizer on the open sore, which almost immediately alleviated the pain. The relief was incredible, since the hours before were almost unbearable. I’m up and walking around that night to spend time with everyone but the wound continues to bleed and the whole right side of my left foot is bruised and super tender. The next couple days it gets better, just sore and causing a very unattractive limp. 6 days later it starts itching pretty severely but still hurts to the touch, a catch 22. The skin surround the wound it tight and a little reddish blue, hopefully this is a temporary regression in the healing and I’ll be back to moving painlessly soon!! I’m so happy to have found a group who know my pain! I hope everyone is healed by now, seeing as how I’m posting a few years after y’all. 🙏🏼☺️
Hi! How long did it take for the swelling to go down? I just had this happen to me in San Diego and had no clue what it was either until the lifeguards and my boyfriend mentioned possibly a sting ray- just curious to know how long I might have to hobble around for lol!
Yowch! I’m so sorry you had to endure that right at the end of your getaway! I haven’t heard about using meat tenderizer. I know it works for jellyfish stings (which I also had before). Thank you for sharing your experience and I hope it only gets better 🙂
Hi! I just had my first encounter with a stingray on Sunday! I think I got lucky as well- I think I might have just gotten grazed, but man that venom is seriously no joke!! I was in writhing pain for what seemed like forever. The lifeguard suggested it might be from a stingray, I kind of got nervous since I have never experienced something like this before. Right when my boyfriend and I got back to his apartment, we immediately put my foot in hot water and added some salt…and the pain went away almost instantly. We switched out the water whenever the temperature was cooling down and did this for about 2 hours or so. I haven’t felt any pain since it happened, I guess this is technically day 2, the only thing that stinks is I have to hobble around since my foot is still pretty swollen. I do feel like I can move my toes more and the upper part of my foot which is great! I started to notice feeling a little itchy so I am so glad I found this forum! It’s really crazy how little information there is out there. I will be sure to leave another comment with the progress- I didn’t end up going to the ER or a doctor or anything since I really think I got nicked as opposed to stung, even though the experience felt horrible!
Anyone have any tips to help bring down the swelling? I guess it is still pretty recent- I’ve just been putting on some ice and taking Ibuprofen, putting some Cortizone cream on the itchy part (not directly on the wound), resting and keeping the wound clean- I also put some butterfly bandages on it to keep it together. Appreciate any tips!
Thanks!
Eep. I’d not heard of just a graze even getting some serious venom. Most of the others here got full on stings. If you were only on day 2, that seems early in comparison to others for itching, but each individual is different and maybe because it’s a graze. Keep us posted, especially when the 7-10 day mark comes about! The doctor just put me on an antihistamine for any rash, and I’d recommend just babying the area for a bit. As long as no more venom remains, ice should be fine too. Best of luck to you!
Thank you!
Update: I am now on Day 6 and now I know what you all were talking about with this itching! It randomly woke me up and gave me some issues going back to sleep. I’ve been taking an allergy pill everyday since this happened, but am glad to hear it sounds like it’s just part of the process- I need to just wait it out.
Now that the wound has had time to heal (somewhat) I think it wasn’t really a graze- definitely a sting. it’s left me with about an inch long wound but my skin is pretty close together- I applied some butterfly bandages and have been using antibiotic cream and I haven’t had any issues with bleeding since the initial sting.
I agree with what everyone says- it feels like the wound itself takes forever to heal.
My foot stopped being swollen around Day 4/5 and I can put some pressure on it but mostly just afraid of opening up the wound or something so I keep off of it.
I hope this goes away soon!
Update to my update above! My foot got super itchy, hot, and swollen. I’ve been taking allergy medicine, using Goldbond (on the itchy parts) and neosporin (On the wound) and just icing it or keeping it cool. Yeah pray or actually much better than yesterday so I’m hoping that this is a turning point but I will keep you all posted. This would be day 7 and this all started yesterday (your estimations and comments are right on target)
Any tips or reassuring comments to deal? Thank you!
It will get better! My own foot turned a really nasty bluish purple and ringed with little red dots until they all meshed together into a giant rash. Just treat the symptoms and hang in there! If the symptoms start getting only worse, not better, or you start finding yourself with trouble breathing, then please seek immediate medical help, but otherwise, maybe try to distract yourself if possible! I remember not being able to work at all for a few days. Usually if you got it on day 6 then probably by day 8-10 severity will begin to noticeably diminish both visually and inflammatorily. I think the most annoying part for me overall was that it took almost a year to be rid of the whole thing as the wound site just looked creepy and would pang randomly. But the worst part of the itching and reaction was over within 2 weeks of the initial sting. Feel better soon! Having normal use of both feet is a nice thing to have!
Gotcha! I hope it starts to diminish too, I think right now it might be at its peak- I’ve had issues being able to sleep since it’s so itchy. Ive found ice to be the saving grace in all this. Did you put any cream on it to help with the itch? I’ve tried cortizone and gold bond and neither seem to make a difference, only ice
Which stinks because during the day yesterday I had absolutely no issues- it’s just night time that seems to be the problem.
I think that might be a good sign! Your body is doing it’s job dealing with the irritant! Annoying, yes. I think I tried to use a topical antihistamine and finding the same thing as you. Either it wasn’t working or the itch was stronger then the effects. I tend to be sensitive to insect stings anyways so I typically use pressure to help me through the night with bad insect bite itchiness (I have Skeeter syndrome so they tend to get massively huge). Basically I just wrap a soft, thin blanket or something similar firmly on the area and usually it’s enough to get me sleeping again.
Oh wow I’ve never heard of Skeeter syndrome- I have similar experiences though- I’m always so sensitive with insect bites- they always get super swollen, itchy, and hot for me and it’s incredibly frustrating.
I hope you’re right and this is just the process! Might have to just sleep with an icepack on my foot or a cold cloth.
Do you think after you healed it kind of ruined the experience of going into the ocean for you?
I love the beach. I’ve always loved the beach. But afterwards, you’re right, it changed it a bit. I’m certainly more careful. I do the Stingray Shuffle. The very first year afterwards, I wore aqua shoes, and I found that I really had to psych myself up to even take that very first step into the deeper portions. In my mind, I knew that the chances were low that I’d get stung again, that I’d been to the beach pretty much every single year of my life growing up without nary a sting (just a nasty jellyfish incident), but my body was scared. I wore my aqua shoes for a few days before I shucked them on the very last day (one year after the sting) and it was not only liberating but character building to know that I overcame that fear. However, like I said, I’m more careful now. I really don’t want to go through that again. On the bright side, if it does happen again, I’ll know exactly how to go about dealing with it. 🙂
Gotcha! That makes sense and I don’t blame you. I feel like I might have a similar experience, which is a shame considering all of the times i’ve been in the water without having this happen. so just an update- I actually was able to sleep last night unlike the night before. It was so nice being able to sleep. I had to wake up about once or twice to just reput on the ice and then take it off and immediately fell back asleep. Any tips on the swelling and walking? Right now i’m using crutches to stay off of bearing full weight on my foot- there’s no pain it just mostly feels weird since the foot it still kind of swollen and seems to act up the rash/itching when I walk on it ( I think it might have to do with body temperature going up and making the skin irritate or something). The wound itself is healing which is good- do you recommend just completely staying off of it until its all healed or trying to walk on it a bit everyday?
Thank you for making this forum! It has really helped me and has eased a lot of my worry and stress relating to this. Greatly appreciate having a community of survivors! lol.
Well, I’m glad that it has been helpful and glad to hear that it’s getting better! It should be on the up and up from here on out. I tried my best to walk around the wound site itself but kept walking so that if anything was messed up from the injury that I wouldn’t lose my ability to function properly afterwards from overcompensation. I do remember similarly finding that it really irritated the site to be moving so much so I gradually increased my movement to coincide with the healing process. Overall it sounds like you’re out of the woods and now you have an interesting story to tell others. Haha! I know that over the years people enjoyed hearing about this rather rare experience. You also understand now why Steve Irwin died from that sting to the chest.
I am over the hump! It is Day 15 and my wound is scabbing over and I can finally walk a bit. Granted the top part of the bottom of my feet gets a little sore, but that might just take some time. Thanks again for creating this forum!
I was out swimming in San Diego 11 days ago and I thought I stepped on a sharp pointy rock at first. As I started to walk back to the shore I started to realize there aren’t rocks in Pacific Beach and I quickly realized that it must be a Stingray. I got out and the bottom of my foot was bleeding. I started to feel a burning sensation on my that didn’t go away. I even felt my right shoulder was becoming numb for a few seconds. I shouldn’t have said that out loud because my wife started freaking out that I was having an allergic reaction and I might die, so I started to panic for a second and then snapped out of it. I didn’t want to go to the hospital because it is during COVID – 19. So I went home and put foot in hot water and pain went away instantly. I took the foot out of the water and pain came back so I soaked my foot back into hot water for a couple of hours. Everything was fine until day 7. Before that I had a small lump at the center where I got stung about the size of a dime or maybe even smaller. But by day 7 it got to the size of a nickel and by day 9 size of a quarter. I started freaking out and contacted a friend who is a holistic doctor and this what she had me do after I sent her pictures of my foot
“looks like he drew the circle to ensure it wasn’t getting bigger and stayed same size of smaller. Does look super infected and 10days ago would be odd to have systemic sx. I would do a foot bath with HydrogenPeroxide, epson salt and hot water… then a cold water plung (2mi), then put castor oil on it. He can also put Goldenseal on it (a squirt on a cotton ball then tap on for 20min, then remove and add castor oil)”
I also started taking antibiotics (doxycycline mono 50 mg 2x a day) I had these left o er from a couple of years ago. It wasn’t prescribed to me for the stingray since I haven’t officially seen a doctor. But I’m on day 13 and the swelling is down and it looks better and not as itchy. The bump is still there and is still the size of a quarter but it isn’t growing. I’m still doing the hot foot baths 2x a day
Oh man! I’m sorry this happened to you. Did you get a gash as if it looks like you stepped on glass or was it more like one of the poster’s picture with the circular wound?
That’s wild that it happened in Pacific Beach- that’s where it happened to me too. I was at Tourmaline, how about you?
I’ve been hearing a lot about Epson salt and how it’s really good at taking out the toxins from your body. Ice is what mostly did it for me since for whatever reason my itch wasn’t getting any better by using Goldbond or even Cortisol cream, but it sounds like that foot bath formula sounds pretty good.
It sounds like you’re over the hump though! Those days after Day 6-7 are a nightmare with the itching and by Day 10 things start to seem to clear up a bit. I wish you the best in your healing process! I think this whole forum was great and resourceful.
I just started walking again over this past weekend and my wound is starting to scab over and I’m at Day 15- I didn’t see a doctor initially either. I did have a phone conversation with one on Day 9 since I wanted a second opinion and to see what he thought- at this point I had some discharge coming out of my wound but the LVN at work said it’s just part of your body healing itself since it’s not like a pus from an infection. Not sure what yours looks like, but good you have a friend to ask!
Best of luck to you!
Okay, wow… all I can say is thank you for posting this information! I was stung (doesn’t seem like that word does the pain any justice, does it?!) by a stingray on the top of my foot on July 4th while in HIlton Head, SC. Same intense pain as described above. Treated at Urgent Care with hot water, also as described in all of your posts above. Started healing and feeling much better about 4-5 days later. THEN came the itching on day 8 and woke up with red, swollen and hot foot on day 9 (today). I went to Urgent Care this morning and was prescribed two antibiotics and given a tetanus shot. Doctor said it was a secondary infection and that there are many nasty micro organisms in the ocean to be concerned about. As many of you have said before me, I live nowhere near a beach and was concerned they wouldn’t have any idea what to do with a stingray wound but I was pleasantly surprised the doctor knew immediately. He was also very perturbed they hadn’t given me antibiotics at the beach urgent care. Said I would be fine by now if they had given that to me on day one. He told me to stay off of it and, if not better in 3-4 days, go back to the doctor. Thanks again for this very informative blog and all the comments here.
Very glad that you are doing well!! And welcome to the stringray sting club! LOL! I agree with you….the word sting really doesn’t do it justice. 🙂
Hi Hilton head sting… was just stung last week as well…Which beach were you at?
Palmetto Dunes on July 4th — where were you??
I hope you are better soon. After 14 days, I am so ready to get back to normal! Still can’t walk fully on it and have to sit around all day (not near as fun or relaxing as it sounds!). My body isn’t used to being so stationary! Ugh!
Hi Hilton Head Stingray– I was in Palmetto Dunes. Still doesn’t look good my foot, but at least much less pain and itching. On oral steroids and doxycline (large dose) and topical steroids and antibiotics as well… Nobody mentioned tetanus shot tho, you I did have a booster a few years ago but not sure how current it is…
i got stung in hilton head last week. i’m in so much pain today and it’s looking worse everyday :-(((( it’s awful !!!!
Hi all, I am so glad I found this blog I was going crazy. There’s actually not as much would think out there as one would think?
I’m a huge swimmer, always loved swimming, so when COViD shut all the pools down as soon as I could hit the ocean I couldn’t wait. Was swimming about 1.5 miles or 2 a day. One day stupidly rented a paddle board (always wanted to try it, not for me). As I was coming out of the water, carrying paddle board, I stepped on the stingray, which in turn stung me in the inner sole of my foot.
Was in horrible pain, had a whole group around me on the beach (and was worried about COVID, none had masks on!). One person was sure it was a jellyfish, and I had just been stung earlier in the week and knew jellyfish did not bleed. I was pretty sure it was a stingray, as I could feel it swimming away and was soft. One of the bystanders trying to help me was sure it was a horseshoe crab, and so she got ice and had me elevate the leg (I later learned this was worst thing to do)!!!
The EMTs arrived and said it was a stingray. They offered to take me to the hospital, but given COVID I asked if this was necessary. They checked the wound and did not think there was any barb, cleaned it. Of course I was in a fair amount of pain, but they warned me it would get worse. They helped me back to my hotel room where i immediately put it in hot was as they said. The pain was awful, all the way up to my hip. Just horrible pain, was worried should’ve gone to the hospital. Every day got a bit better, though still sore. I began to walk around, etc.
Haven’t gone in back in water yet though want to, I have read of some triathletes going in right away again, but I was weary. Been monitoring for infection as per suggestion of my cousin who’s a doctor. Today was a week. Yesterday it started to feel more sensitive, almost tender if that makes sense. This morning it start itching and grew progressively worse through the day. Trying not to itch it of course, but it’s hard. Not just at the wound sight but also around it on the foot, and some rash as described.
I have a lot of allergies and so am regularly on clarinex (prescription strength Claritin basically), and have been taking Benadryl. Reading on here it seems like it could be one of following: delayed histamine reaction, stinger/ spine fragment in foot or infection of some kind… or maybe it’s just par for the course..
Should I seek medical help or continue as is? I put in a call/ email to my doctor back home as well but don’t expect them to know much about stingray bites.
Thanks everyone, this has been a great resource, I thought I was going crazy.
Best,
Frederic
Hi Frederic. Mine took the same course as yours — started getting better but then on the 8th day starting itching, all over my foot. Red, splotchy rash. The next morning it was purple near the wound site and my foot was hot and swollen. I went to urgent care that day and was told I had cellulitis (look it up to see if yours looks like that) from a secondary infection. Now, two strong antibiotics and 2 follow up doctors appointments later, I am now moving back in the right direction (again) — and this is now 14 days after the stingray. Still a bit swollen and still needing to elevate and ice as often as possible. Yes, ice right after the sting is the worst (we mistakenly tried that at the time, too!) but once the venom is out and you are dealing with a different kind of infection, ice is okay so do it if it feels good — it’s almost like heaven to me now when it’s time to put it back on! On one of my doctor’s visits this week, they did end up taking an xray to make sure there wasn’t something left in there but that came back clear. All the doctors think it was a delayed infectious reaction from marine bacteria which they all said can be pretty nasty stuff. If it is hot and the redness is spreading, you should probably get medical attention. I hope you are better soon!!
Thanks ! I saw the urgent care provider via a virtual appointment. They think cellulitis… diagnosed a hefty dosage of doxycycline, oral prednisone and topical steroid.. hopefully will help but now worried will be horrible side effects ugh. Foot feels like it did right after happened, hard to walk and swollen.
Good luck hope yours starts to feel better too!!
I’m glad you got some medical care, though. After 6 days on antibiotics, my foot is finally getting better. Still red, still swollen but less so now.
Not sure if saw my reply to your question about where I was in HHI…I was in Palmetto Dunes and the stingray got me on July 4th. What part of Hilton ahead we’re you in?
i got stung in hilton head exactly a week ago, and my foot is horrible looking and painful. i’ve been to doctor and they gave me a tetanus shot and antibiotics but im in even more pain than i was when i went to the doctor a couple days ago. it’s very dark and red around the area i got stung. it’s intense pain whenever i stand or walk & seems to get worse throughout the day. i wish i could upload a picture to see if this is normal for anyone else. it seems like there is no healing in sight and i’m in a lot of pain & the doctors here don’t know much about stingray stings. they said if it looks darker and bigger than when i went in i should go in again but it already seems worse just 2 days after going to the doctor. did anyone else experience crazy pain a week later and super dark spots around the incision ?
Hi Braelyn. I was stung in Hilton Head on July 4th and was the 3rd person the urgent care had seen that day for stingray stabs — they really should post a notice on the beach! This is ridiculous! I am so sorry you are in such pain and I can completely relate. After the first initial pain, my stingray wound started to feel much better by about the 6th day. BUT THEN….on the 8th day, it became very red, itchy and splotchy. On the 9th day (July 13), it was severely swollen, dark red at the site and so painful. I was prescribed 2 kinds of antibiotics and given a tetnus shot. I went back to my doctor 2 more times last week and only on about the 5th day of antibiotics did I feel it looked like it was getting better. I am now on the 8th day of antibiotics (and 16 days since the initial stingray puncture) and am doing so much better. I think I might be able to get a shoe on tomorrow. 🙂 Keep a close eye on your wound. I also recommend icing it for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off (it felt heavenly and, in fact, an ice pack is the only way I was able to fall asleep at night) and keep it elevated. If you are concerned, definitely go back to your doctor. You/They should take a photo so they compare it to how it looks later in the week to see if there is improvement. I hope you feel better soon. This has been quite an ordeal for me and it sounds like for you, too.
They really should have notices in HHI about signage regarding stingray shuffle like they have in Florida, California and elsewhere. I have actually considered contacting a lawyer. They really should be some type of indicator. I’ve heard they get 400-600 stings a year here which is about a quarter of the total stings in the country (around 2,000 I’ve read).
Braelyn, regarding pain, did your doctor give you steroids at all? Steroid cream and steroid orally seem to help the pain/ swelling/ itching. They have unpleasant side effects but it would I think relieve that. Also the topical anti-biotic/ steroid combo seems to work at least to treat the symptoms. Foot itself still a bit swollen, purple/red around the wound site, but at the moment (god willing) less painful/ itchy. Still waking up a few times a night though. I also recommend extra strength Tylenol or Advil.
Glad I found this post. A stingray got me on the inside of my left heel last weekend in Marina Del Rey, California. It happened at about 1:00 pm, and the lifeguard said I was the sixth sting in the area that day.
Pain wasn’t too bad as I hobbled out of the water but 10 minutes later it was almost unbearable. Lifeguards finally came through with a bag of hot water That eased the pain. The lifeguards told me to watch it and if the pain didn’t go away within about 3 hours to go to the ER for surgery. Luckily the pain pretty much subsided in about 3 hours. The next day it was much better, just slightly tender.
7 days later (2 days ago), we went back to the beach. Other than getting ankle deep, I didn’t get in the water this time.
The next morning (yesterday) the wound area started to hurt a bit. I figured the wound maybe reopened up from walking on the sand, and I’ve dealt with it by hobbling around the house as my wife and I take turns corralling our 9-month-old son as we both work from home. It feels slightly tender to the touch, and a little tingly above the puncture wound (kind of like nerve-damage tingly if you know the feeling). I can’t tell if anything is inside the wound.
Now, 12:30am on day 8.5 (1.5 hours ago) I woke up to unbearable itchiness. I tried hydrocortisone cream, which did nothing. After about an hour and a half of trying not to scratch it (unsuccessfully), it has now stopped itching (as I wrote this).
It still feels slightly tender but I’m afraid to touch the area for fear the itchiness will return.
Questions for any of you brave souls who have dealt with this before me: (1) do you think I need antibiotics to prevent an infection? (2) does Claritin, Zyrtec, etc. help the itchiness? (3) if not, what remedy has worked best for you? (4) should the wound heal itself and resolve on its own, or do I need medical attention?
Thank you for your time.
Hi Brandon. I’m so sorry you are going through this. Like you, I was stabbed by the stingray, was treated with very hot water and then seemed to be fine with the swelling, etc. easing over the week…until about 8 days later. My foot became very itchy and splotchy red. The next morning (day 9), I woke up in a lot of pain and my foot was bright red, hot and swollen. I went to Urgent Care and was given 2 very strong antibiotics and a tetanus shot. I would recommend that you keep a VERY close eye on yours — if it becomes red and looks worse, get medical attention. One of the antibiotics I was given was specifically for marine bacteria, so make sure that is part of your medical plan (if you do go to the doctor). A friend of my sister’s was stung last week and was given an antibiotic right away; however, she went back to the doctor’s yesterday because her foot had gotten worse (as most of us seem to experience) and then was given the specialized antibiotic (for marine bacteria) that she did not receive the first time.
After 3.5 weeks, I am finally feeling like my foot is getting better and I have been able to walk on it again (hooray!). Take good care of your foot and get medical attention if you feel it is getting worse. Nothing worked for me except the dual antibiotics. I did try hydrocortisone and Benadryl before going to the doctor and none of it helped. Good luck!!
Hi! Do you remember the. names of the antibiotics? On day 8 I started Levofloxacin and topical steroids. Per my dr and google it covers marine infections however today is day 11 and it seems to slowly be getting worse. The redness, and swelling seems to slowly get spread while itching is intermittent. Minimal pain. So wondering what the next rounds of antibiotics I should ask for. Thanks!!
Hi Brandon! I’m sorry this happened to you. When I got stung it was in San Diego, CA. You’re brave for going into the water- I was so worried I would get something in my wound I didn’t put my foot in any body of water until it was completely healed. My cut was more of a slice on the bottom of my foot and was incredibly irritating to deal with as it made it difficult to try to walk. I learned that hydrocortisone cream does nothing for this- I didn’t seek medical attention either so I just basically put Neosporin on it multiple times a day. Once it got to a point where it wasn’t bleeding anymore, I covered it with a nonsticky gauze- it’s more like a cushion to put on it just so I could put gauze around it and tape it. I also recommend taking an antihistamine everyday so you don’t get an allergic reaction, I’m really no doctor so I can’t say this was the best route to take, but it’s what I ended up doing. Ice was my BEST friend during this time. Around day 6/7 I remember having the worst itchiness I’ve ever experienced and it would only go away with ice. There was one night I could barely sleep. Try icing a bunch, but if your foot is giving you trouble and it seems to be getting dark around the wound site then go seek medical attention- I didn’t have that part happen thankfully so I just waited out until it was passed the itching phase and then I put on Aquaphor when there was a scab and it helped the scabbed area heal nicely and quickly.
Good luck to you!
Hi Brandon!
Welcome to the club, the club no one really wanted to be in. 😅
I don’t think I’ll ever forget my experience back in May, I honestly thought it would never heal, but hallelujah, it took total maybe 3 weeks to be 100%. My itching occurred around the same time yours has, about 9 days after the injury.
I would never tell you when/if you should go to a Dr., I opted not to, since I didn’t think it was infected and it seemed like time would be the only thing to help. However, the itching was almost as unbearable as the initial sting was, that’s when I found this post and was able to see it’s a normal part of the healing process.
Something that helped me relieve the itching significantly was ice. I would literally stand on an ice pack until the itching stopped, that really helped me a lot. I didn’t take any allergy meds or anything, but I can see how that might help. Another thing you can try that seemed to work for me was soaking your foot in pretty warm epsom salt water, I would reheat the water once it got cool. I want to say the itching phase lasted about a week, and it came in waves of intensity.
Please do go see a doctor though if you think your foot might be infected, only you can really decide on that one. I considered getting medical attention when the itching started, as the area around the wound was a little red and puffy and slightly warm to the touch, but ultimately decided that I would wait and see, but that was just my experience. I’ll be praying for you and all our fellow stingray victims!!
Hi Brandon,
I can only speak for my experience. Immediately after I soaked In hot water. Extra strength Tylenol. I was taking Benadryl but did very little but it did sort of work as a sedative.
It seemed to be healing but on the 6th or 7th day got worse. It got extremely itching and painful, hot to touch and red. I did a virtual urgent care visit and they diagnosed cellulitis. They put me on a high dose of oral doxycycline, oral
Prednisone (for the swelling and itching), steroid cream and antibiotic cream. They also told me to soak 3 times a day in epsom salt in warm/ room temp water.
I’m now at 10 days from that diagnosis and regimen and feel much better. I also recently went to a in person doctor and they said it was healing “nicely”. So if it’s very itchy/ red and may be hot I would recommend a in person doctor visit or virtual visit if you’re u Not comfortable going in person. In my case with the cellulitis I was having other symptoms including chills and mild fever, so it was all a bit scary. Hope this helps let me know if any other questions!
Thoughts on going back in? Been three plus weeks now seems to be healing ok, I can walk normally, even have gone on long walks and run a little bit.
Water is rough, so a bit concerned about shuffling feet if on a body board (I guess just step carefully??)
Thank-you for this blog! All of the medical sites don’t seem to mention the itching! I was stung 10 days ago, off the charts pain, lifeguards were there with hot water, couldn’t drive home until 1.5 hours of hot water soak on the beach. Called my doc, prescribed prednisone and antibiotic. Swelled up next 3 days, couldn’t walk on it, whole ankle hurt. Thought was getting better then day 7 itching and swelling back up started. Feels best when elevated, standing feels like a balloon. Debating to call doc back but looks like this is not an unusual course of healing.
How’re you coming along? My foot is swelling and purple at the wound site, on day 2 of antibiotics. Starting to get concerned a little.
Just curious to see how your wound was past day 2? I was stung 8 days ago in Manhattan Beach and started day 1 of my doxycycline prescription. The swelling has gotten worse through the day and I presume it will for at least another 36 hrs or so but was curious to see what you experience was like with the antibiotic. Thanks!
Hi Marco,
I’m an RN and I thought it was getting better but a week later it was still swollen and getting red. I had developed cellulitis so I went to an urgent care center and got some antibiotics. They gave me doxycycline also initially, but that wasn’t very effective so I went back and they put me on Keflex. You should probably be taking Keflex along with the doxycycline to cover the Vibrio species of bacteria that is in ocean environments. My sting is doing well now is is starting to heal nicely, but rather slowly. I don’t think doxycycline is enough personally. I also got a topical antibiotic called Mupirocin.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
I was stung on August 1st in Malibu, at a beach I’ve gone to literally 60+ times and have never had an issue at. Like everyone else here, I drove from Malibu to East LA as quickly as possible and plunged my foot into a tub of extremely hot water. The venom has coagulant properties in it, as soon as I put my foot into hot water the wound began bleeding again (it has ceased from the drive home) which told me that the venom was being released, pain subsided and I began feeling much better. I properly cleaned the wound with saline solution and applied Neosporin. I began to feel much better over the course of the next 5 days though I do sense nerve damage as I’ve lost feeling in my pinky toe, even running 3 miles on the foot on August 8th. Then the pain and swelling and redness began the following day on the 9th. Now, on the 11th, after a virtual diagnosis, I have been prescribed 100mg of doxycycline for the next 7 days. My entire foot has swollen considerably, unable to be even walked on, I’ve had to keep it elevated for the better part of the last two days. I’m hoping the antibiotic will clean whatever may be left in there out over the next week. I’m uninsured (Freelance in LA) and really hoping debridement may not be needed to properly clean out my foot. I’ve broken multiple bones, passed kidney stones and the pain from the venom surpassed both of those injuries, stingrays are no joke.
I am so glad u did this post cuz my 8 yr old daughter got stung by a stingray n it seems like it’s hard to get answers or anyone that’s knows about a stingray sting so I have been worried she was in trouble cuz like a week later she was so itchy on the sting area but seeing what everyone s experience s are I feel better that she will be ok . I hope everyone is doing ok …thank u for your stories.
Wish I would have found this blog a month ago
I love the beach, so off we went to South Padre Island the first of August
2 hrs. Into my beach vacation, something stung the tip of my big toe.
Immediately blood and my
foot just shook with pain for about 3hrs.I thought it was a crab
10 days later I knew it was way more then a crab
Went to doctor, salve, anabiotic‘s, a tetanus shot, even had an x-ray to make sure something wasn’t still in there
Skin peeled like a sunburn and still have a blister on bottom of toe
Thank you posting everyone to this blog
Got stung in Coronado, and now 8 days later, started the itchiness process. Just really wonder if the original poster now after 7 years have been completely recover from that “weird skin lump” from the wound yet…?
Oh yeah, it fell off about a year later. Very strange tho
Just got stung at San Onofre bluffs campground at trail #4 on 9/16. Worst pain ever!!! Nobody was around me so I had to walk a few hundred yards in terrible pain to the nearest people. I was pretty scared too for awhile. The lifeguard with the truck was at the Lifeguard post a couple hundred yards down the beach and the people helping me waved her down. I’ve been surfing these areas for decades and never recalled people being stung but I guess it happens all the time.
I was coming in from paddle surfing and I had just put my foot down in the shallower water to get my footing and WHAM!!!!! I thought my achilles tendon had separated from my heel but realized that it couldn’t be that and I started to realize that I may have just had my first sting in over 35 years playing in the ocean. I had never even worried about it before!!
The lifeguard took me to the kiosk at the entrance where they have a hot water spigot and I soaked my foot for probably 90 minutes in very hot water.
I’m doing ok so far. I was stung on the inside of my ankle between my Achilles tendon and my ankle bone. I’m an RN but I had no clue what to do and plan on treating it myself. I’ve been able to walk pretty well and I’ve been walking on it a lot. I didn’t go to a doctor My ankle and foot swelled up pretty good but I’m only on day 3 so I hope that I don’t have to go through the itching and other experiences people have had.
Great blog though!!!!! I didn’t find any of this kind of information anywhere on the web and I’m glad I stumbled upon this so that if I get any of the symptoms that others have experienced I won’t have to TOTALLY FREAK OUT!!
I’m currently uninsured because I took a break between nursing assignments (good timing huh?) and start my new assignment at the end of this month….I hope!!
I don’t actually think these are common experiences but it’s good to know.
I’ll send updates as needed.
THANKS EVERYONE!!!
Love all the stories! So helpful. So… here’s mine. I was in San Diego on October 12 and got stung. The water was so cold, I thought I had just stepped on a piece of glass or a shell. I picked my foot out of the water but didn’t see any blood or marks. Then, a few moments later, the burning and stinging started. I picked up my foot again and it was gushing blood. As I started to hobble up to the beach, it was all I could do to keep it together to make it up to our tent. I sat down in a chair and could see the trail of blood I had left. The lifeguard came in a timely manner, wrapped the foot up, and got me to the lifeguard stand where there were about 10 to 12 other people with their feet already in hot water. For the first 45min to 1hr there was little to no relief with the hot water. My entire leg went numb but also felt like it was being squeezed to death from the inside. I kept hitting my leg and my knee and trying to draw the poison down and out of my foot. Who knows if that was helpful at all? 🤷🏻♀️ By about an hour and a half the pain had drastically subsided and I could stand my foot being out of the bucket for more than two seconds. The lifeguard disinfected and bandaged me up and I managed to somehow hobble to the car. We got back to the hotel and I immediately put my foot back in the hot water as it was still throbbing. It was then that I realized that I had been stung twice. Once on the side of my toe and once underneath my toe. I was able to sleep finally with the help of some pain meds and made it on my flight back home the next day. I was feeling much better and even went for a little jog on Friday, four days later. But by Sunday, the foot was completely swollen and pulsing again. So I started researching and found this blog. I was able to get an appointment with a Teledoc on Monday. Because of all the recommendations here, got two anabiotic‘s, a tetanus shot, and started taking antihistamines. Putting ice on it and keeping it elevated also really helped with the itching and swelling. My anabiotic’s are done and I’m still taking the Antihistamine’s. I tried to go off of them two days ago, but, my foot started itching again. It is still swollen and bruised and the bottom of my big toe is still hard and discolored. I hope this helps someone. Bottom line, hot water first, see a dr, start on the meds and antihistamines ASAP, then elevate and ice. Thanks so much for starting this and getting information out there.
So thankful to have found this blog. It’s currently day (8 or 9?) and I am up at 3 AM itching like crazy!! I got stung in Santa Monica 11/15 and on 11/23 the insane itching commenced. Originally the lifeguard said there was no barb, looked good and everything felt better by day two. Now I have intense itching and redness. There is slight heat. I will be going to the emergency clinic tomorrow to get it checked out thanks to this post! So glad I found this community.
Wow that’s crazy – I got stung on 11/16 in Santa Monica, right by Annenberg Community Beach House. I just got the swelling and itching last night 11/25. There must be a bad stingray in the area! What happened when you went to the emergency clinic? I’m wondering if I need to go or whether it’ll sort itself out. Seems like it’s an allergic reaction from the posts – I’m taking antihistamines (Cetirizine Hydrochloride) this time of year for allergies anyway so hopefully that’ll help.
Hello everyone, like everyone else I’m glad I found this. Stung in Del Mar California just north of San Diego Christmas Eve, on the edge of my heel, by my Achilles. Like everyone else super hot water a couple hours did the trick. I was even walking on it days after. Last night started to feel some itching not horrible but yes substantial. There is very Little, if any swelling, minimal pink around the wound. However I have had clear fluid oozing over the past 2 to 3 days (minimal) from what I understand this is normal? I am on day eight and wondering if I should be proactive by starting to take antibiotics, creams etc. it is normal to have a blister around the wound as well as some mild clear Fluid?? Thanks for everyone’s participation this information is very helpful!!
So, so glad I found this. Stung 3/31/21 in Coronado, San Diego. It was a standard issue excruciating pain, seemed to get better, then on day 8 it got incredibly itchy, red, hard to walk on, swollen. That day my doc gave me a round of Clindamycin, and I’ll update y’all on how it goes (that was yesterday).
The thing I’m noticing is that a few of the other posters (including me) get really intense reactions to insect bites. Like when I get bit by mosquitos the bites swell up and get super itchy. So I wonder if more of us actually react like this and the stingray delayed reaction is somehow connected. Just a thought.
Hello to everyone from Vancouver Island, Canada. I am so happy to see all of your posts. I too was stung by a stingray late December in Bucerias, Mexico. Having recently had COVID I felt I had some immunity and took a trip to Mexico and then, 3 minutes in the ocean I got stung – perhaps that’s karma. Anyway, I returned to Canada 10 days later with an extremely swollen foot that was red, hot and moving up my leg. I went to emergency and was diagnosed with cellulitis and went to the hospital for 3 days in a row for IV. I recovered and now it seems it is getting red and somewhat swollen again – I can see where that stingray punctured my foot too. I am hoping this doesn’t get worse and will keep a close eye on it. I’m not sure if it means anything, but I was in the ocean here on the weekend for the first time. So Weird! Also, that sting was the worse pain I have every felt. I did see the doctor in Mexico who froze my foot and gave me pain killers and antibiotics. Cheers to all of you in the Stingray Club 🙂
I was stung in Corpus Christi Texas on May 24th while on vacation. Right on the achilles tendon area. Horrible pain and I feel for anyone who has ever been stung by these. My foot hurt for about 4 hours but the hot water helped it tremendously. I was able to enjoy the rest of the week without any problems. Retuned home and I went to work on Tuesday and when I got home, the area looked completely different. Went to the doctor on Wednesday and he placed me of Cefdinir and Levoquin. Also took an xray but did not see anything. Looks much better today but still swollen and have redness but nothing like it was 4 days ago.
I am SO glad I came across this. I got stung by a baby sting ray in my ankle/Achilles area a week ago and had no idea what it was. After half hour or so, the pain was unbearable and we were in Anna Maria island, Florida. It took over an hour to get home. Thankfully my son with his driving permit drove me cause with that pain, I would’ve never made it home.
Anyway I read on what to do. Emerged foot in super hot water for hours and the pain went away. Went to ER and they did a X-ray and no foreign objects left inside, thankfully. He prescribed antibiotics and I was too hard headed to take them. Today marks one week and last night I had constant itching on the area. I thought it was my anklet or socks but it kept itching. This morning I came upon this thread and good to know it’s common for the area to itch a week later. Started taking antibiotics now just incase. Such a small sting and who would’ve thought it can cause so much. I also have cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide.
I have yet to read on many posts but I will to understand what to possibly expect.
BTW, growing up near the ocean I had always been told about doing the “stingray shuffle” which is when you slide or shuffle your feet across the sand instead of taking steps when you first get in the water. That way you scare away any sting rays and don’t step on them. I did not do that and in all honesty I’m not sure it would have been practical in my situation as there were large waves and we were going out there to body surf. So I rode a wave and then came down on top of one.
My experience is so similar… I was swimming in California last week, and after only being in the water for less than 5 minutes I felt like I was bit by something. When I got out of the water my foot was bleeding profusely and the people I was with who frequent that beach said that it was a stingray. I hobbled back to our spot on the beach and by about that time the pain was starting to really step up. After cleaning my foot, there was only a small puncture wound on my arch. They knew what to do and got me a tub of very hot water, which seemed to help to at least relax my foot. I found that it hurt less to completely relax the muscles and not raise it up. Being a Marine I just wanted to grit my teeth and tough it out, but my God did it hurt. My whole foot felt like it was on fire and the pain was constant, sometimes becoming unbearable. Then after about 60 minutes the pain started suddenly and quickly fading away. I was left with a small wound and a large bruise developed over the next day, but otherwise I was totally fine. I cleaned it that day with soap and water and kept it covered for the week following. I returned to work like normal on day 3 and worked all week with no issues. Everything seemed to be getting much better, until I woke up this morning on day 9 with the most serious itch I’ve ever had at the wound site. I gently scratched it, which gave momentary relief followed by an even more intense burning itch. This itch is what led me find this page and I do feel quite a bit relieved reading everyone’s experiences. The wound site is a little hard to the touch and is red (possibly just from scratching at it) but it is not warm or swollen, so that’s good, because I did not go to the doctor, and I’m hoping I won’t need to. Fingers crossed I guess.
How long did it take for the soreness around the sting to go away? The actual sting doesn’t bother anymore and it looks like it’s healing perfectly. Not sure if it’s because the sting took place on my ankle/Achilles area but it’s sore. And when I walk, it’s also sore a bit on top. So how long did it take for it to heal completely?
Thanks for this. 9 days ago I was stung by a stingray. I thought i was stabbed by a large crab at the time so I tried to man up back at the house we were staying at. 2 hours later I cried uncle and called my wife to take me to the ER. She called the local urgent center on her way to grab me. They told her it was a stingray and to soak it in hot water. Within 5 seconds the pain was manageable. Soaked it off and on for an hour and then took a nap. Woke up with absolutely zero pain. Slight swelling started the next day and remained unchanged until today. Slight itching today but swelling spread on the bottom of my foot with accompanying redness. I will start taking an antihistamine.
Thank you so much, this page is perfect! I was stung a week ago at Hilton Head Island. I had thought it was a crab or something, until the lifeguard informed me it could be a stingray. Sure enough, a few minutes later I got very dizzy and had to sit down. She got a hot pack out and wrapped my foot and told me to soak it in hot water for about 2 hours. Once the pained died down, I went to a local doctor to check that there wasn’t a barb in there. No barb, took antibiotics and had my tetanus shot. He had said that he never gets in the ocean there because of stingrays. 7 days later, and it’s still slightly bruised around the wound and is slightly hard on it. There’s a slight itching, but I did experience pain earlier today. Every night after work this week it has ached, so I put a heating pack on it and it seemed to soothe it well enough. I had not heard of the stingray shuffle, but I plan on doing it all the time at the beach from now on!
So, here I am 8-9 weeks later, and it is acting up again. I am currently fighting a UTI and started antibiotics a few days ago. Almost immediately, my foot started swelling and itching. It’s not like it was before, but it looks pretty bad. I just wonder if the antibiotic are targeting the stingray sting instead of the other infection. Any thoughts?
I was barbed 12 days ago on thr side of my right big toe. Thankfully I knew about soaking in hot water, I went to the ER as I have medical issues that made me extra concerned. I gota tetanus shot and antibiotics and was told no pools or ocean or lake water until the wound closed so I steared clear for 4 days. Last day of antibiotics and my toe puffed back up and started hurting worse and I had a sun burn,went to a walk in clinic (still on vacay at the beach) and PA decided to xray but saw no barb. 1st antibiotic made me sun sensitive so she prescribed a different antibiotic that didn’t make me fry like bacon. Toe looked better this morning but is back red n more swollen this afternoon. I finish my 2nd round of antibiotics day after tomorrow. Will see what happens next, I have definitely been itchy all around the barbed area off and on for days, I figure it’s from swelling irritating my skin but who knows.
It’s been 1 week exactly since I’ve been stung and I woke up with the area under my foot where I’d been stung itching like crazy. I put monistat ointment on it and that helped a bit. I’m going to put hydrocortisone on next and see if that helps. I was really comforted reading I wasn’t alone!! Very helpful post.
Got stung at Bolsa Chica near Huntington Beach. Was out with the wife and family. I felt that I had stepped on something soft like skin and felt as if my foot was immediately pierced. I jumped up and my wife asked me what happened and I told her I felt like I stepped on a broken shell or a piece of glass. Then 30 seconds later this I intense pain spiked right through my head. I managed to hobble my way back and noticed my left foot bleeding out with a puncture wound o. The bottom mid far left side. I was taken to the lifeguards office where there were about 15 people with their feet in buckets of hot water. I was the 50 something g person that day that was hit and apparently it happens during low tide. 3 hours of having my foot in hot water until I was able to feel like I could walk. 7th day itching hit and I’m on Antibiotics
These comments kept me going + sane during my experience recently, so adding my timeline here.
Hour 1: On Del Mar beach, stung by a ray on left foot, beside the ankle – felt like a bite / pinch from a crab at first, but I knew what had happened. Got out of the water, bleeding pretty heavily, and went straight to lifeguard who poured hydrogen peroxide on it. Pain was starting to become very intense. Went to the lifeguard station where they put my foot in hot water “until it doesn’t hurt” – took around 90 minutes-2 hours until I felt ok walking on it, thought it was still uncomfortable.
Day 1: It was sore + swollen later that day but nothing serious, and didn’t impact my ability to be up and walking around. I had neosporin on the wound and was careful to keep it clean.
Day 2-8: Gradually improved, and I thought it was over, as swelling decreased, and while it felt “off”, the pain was pretty much gone.
Day 9: Started swelling again and becoming itchy + painful — I feared infection and went to the urgent care. The doctor did an X-ray, found nothing, and prescribed me a podiatrist visit and course of antibiotics “prophylactically”. I didn’t take them as it did not look infected to me, so thought I’d risk it as don’t like taking antibiotics unnecessarily.
Day9-20: Swelling and redness persisted, I took antihistamines for the itchiness, which gradually decreased
Day 21: Swelling and mark still visible, but not sore, but there is still a noticeable lump in the area. Hoping I’m through the worst of it and that this can help some others out!
I would take antibiotics, as i did. Ensure they give you a general (amoxiciliian etc) then a specific one that treats salt water infections. A telehealth doctor gave me a powerful antibiotic that destroyed my body and made my ligaments tender. The 2nd telehealth doctor had experience treating sting ray issues and told me to do as i mentioned above next time (as if there will be a next time). I had sepsis – which sounds like you may have, which can become very dangerous very quickly if not treated. My 2 cents.
What makes you think that? I have improving symptoms and no pain or swelling or itchiness for over a week, just a fading bite / sting mark
8 days ago stung by a stingray in puerto penasco Mexico (rocky point) in water that was maybe knee deep. It got my right on the side of my right foot. Immediately in pain and hobbled out of the water. I wish I would have read this then and knew to put it in hot water but instead poured tequila on it and put a bandaid on. It hurt really bad for several hours. The next day it seemed much better and the pain was mostly gone. It wasn’t a large wound (like a pen dot) so I’m thinking it was a small one ( thank goodness) because the pain was still very bad I can’t imagine if it was a large one. The next day it seemed much better and the pain was mostly gone. It felt fine all week until Day 7 it became extremely itchy. I couldn’t help but itch it like crazy. It started to swell a little and was red around the wound so I began to worry it was infected or part of it was still in there so I went to urgent care. They gave me a tetanus shot and told me to take Benadryl or Claritin that I might have been experiencing a delayed allergic reaction. Now it’s Day 8 foot continues to swell and the top of my foot feels like maybe fluid is building up underneath. The itching has thankfully subsided but I’m starting to worry about the swelling. Just took a Benadryl and hoping that will help it but I was relieved after reading this that maybe this is just part of the process.
Hi, great content! Got stung on side of left foot last Monday, March 14 in Dominican Republic wading about chest deep with a sandy bottom. Felt something move, then what felt like a crab pinch and more movement. Freaked me out so I swam away like Jaws was coming. Got to the beach and realized I was bleeding profusely. Resort worker helped clean the wound and apply iodine. He then took me to the resort medic room. Within ten minutes of the sting I was sweating profusely and felt like passing out. Additionally my foot hurt progressively worse and swelled up. The medic didn’t find any residual barb after basic first aid. I declined a full evaluation for $180 and refused to go to the local D.R. hospital. Instead I tried icing. Don’t do that – felt like someone was sawing my foot off. Retreated to my room and again tried icing because of the swelling and inflammation. Again the pain was stupid intense. Laid down on my bed and elevated my foot. Don’t do that either – didn’t help at all. Finally I tried sitting in the hot tub on the balcony of the room and the second my foot was immersed in the hot water the pain was completely gone. I researched on the web various creatures that could sting me and easily identified it was a sting ray based on the incident, having seen several sting rays, the symptoms, and the hot water remedy. I sat in the hot tub for two hours and just relaxed. I had taken Benadryl and was a little loopy from the venom and the Benadryl, so I just remained in the hot tub for a long while.
The swelling reduced and I decided to get out, and thankfully the pain continued to be minimal the rest of my vacation.
Yesterday (7 days post sting) my foot started itching. Today it itches more, it’s a little red, and swelling is returning. I decided to research more and came across these stories which have been very reassuring.
Going to my family doctor to get antibiotics, a steroid shot, and will provide her with this link!
Okay today the swelling has increased significantly. The Dr. said the latest treatment recommendation is a steroid shot, 5 days of oral steroids, and a concoction of three different antibiotics. Unfortunately one of them gave me c. diff the last time I took it, so trying just two of the antibiotics. Got the shot in the rear and have been taking antibiotics today. No sign of reduction in the swelling yet. It doesn’t really hurt, just a little tender and right from swelling. I will report daily progress updates. Wish I could post pictures; my foot looks a little wonky…
Dear All, if you are still reading this Blog. I am a wound care physician and came across this blog. This is horribly interesting that many of you received various treatments and interventions. I am most interested in that on day 7-9, after what appears to be a recovery, that there is itching at the site (or periwound). This triggers all sorts of responses from the patient and the clinicians (steroids, antibiotics, renewed interest in Tetanus, etc.). The same thing just happened to my daughter and she found this blog.
I would like to present this information in a scientific poster to present at a wound conference. If some of you would allow your pictures and stories to be used, it would strengthen the information for possible acceptance. Please let me know. Of course, all pictures and stories would be depersonalized.
I (the OP) am totally cool with my experience being used
I (San Diego Sting) am ok with you using my experience! Let me know if you need any additional info or pictures, I didn’t post pictures on this blog.
Oh my goodness, yes, please do! My sting experience is listed above from 2019. I developed the delayed reaction of redness and swelling around day seven like clock work. Had it not been for this blog I would have been quite concerned. It completely resolved on its own after a couple days. Thank you!
Happy to be included… Let me know if need more info or want to discuss further. Thanks and best of luck to you !
Best,
Frederic
Geesh everybody……..right on cue……..I just got stung at Torrey Pines about a week ago, with all the same reactions. Started itching like mad after a week, a hardening around the wound site, still painful to the touch. No treatment yet. But I did just get a tetanus shot in October.
I got hit by a ray in Del Mar exactly 7 days ago – no signs of the barb broken off in the wound, and it was a pretty small puncture. The pain was excruciating about 45 minutes after the sting, and a 2 hour hot water soak basically eliminated the pain completely. I felt completely fine the next day, and the wound looked like a tiny paper cut. I was going about my normal active routine days 2-6, and figured I was in the clear.
Around 4 am today (day 7), I woke up with a terrible itching sensation on my little stingray paper cut, and noticed the area next to the wound was slightly swollen, red, and a little “hot” to the touch. Concerned about an infection, I immediately drove to urgent care. X-rays confirmed there were no remaining fragments in my foot, and the doctor prescribed me a 10-day dose of Doxy (100mg twice per day). Just started the antibiotics, so fingers crossed.
I found this blog today, and I’m amazed at the similarity in resurgent symptoms around days 7-10 with so many people. Crazy!
That’s exactly how it happened to me. You feel fine a few days after the sting and suddenly a terrible itch in the middle of the night. It might be uncomfortable for a couple of months. That’s how it was for me. This forum was extremely helpful.
Like clockwork this is what happened to all of us. The trip to urgent care and antibiotics are unnecessary. So thankful for this blog, hopefully healthcare professionals will now recognize the course of a sting.
Dear Stingray Online Healthcare Community:
Great news!!!
Many months ago, I suggested that I would submit a science poster based upon this health blog. Indeed, the abstract was accepted at the SAWC Spring Conference in Washington, DC in April, 2023
I am a wound care expert who was directed here by my daughter who was lacerated by a sting ray in Southern California. Based upon this online health community, I wanted to promote that we can learn a lot about many conditions by listening to patients, especially with uncommon ailments. While we have pictures from Jessica of her foot, the poster will be more powerful with at least 3 or 4 sets of pictures of this Stingray Wound Itch Phenomenon. I just need permission and pictures to include in the poster. Everything is anonymous; no one will know it is your foot, if that is an issue for you. Depending on the response, we will generalize some of the statement from the individual to a group. Those approvals and pictures can be sent to me at ruzhany@aol.com. If you have pictures, I would need initial pictures and another one at day 7ish.
In addition, thoughts on how you want me to acknowledge this blog would be grateful, above the direct reference stated (if that is enough, just let me know). I think that it is great that all of you are making an addition to the medical literature.
1. Title
a. Advancing Wound Care Knowledge through Online Health Communities (OHC): The 7th Day Stingray Wound Itch Syndrome
2. Authors
a. Scott Matthew Bolhack, MD, MBA, CWSP, CMD, PCWC, FACP
b. Jessica Lynn Bolhack, MPH
3. Introduction
For wounds caused by stingray lacerations or punctures, there are no references in the professional medical literature about the 7th Day Stingray Wound Itch Syndrome. Furthermore, once a patient travels away from the coast, the experience of healthcare professionals rapidly dwindles. There are many aspects of wound care that can be improved by the feedback and experience of the patient, especially as a community.
4. Case Scenario
A patient sustained a stingray puncture along a Southern California beach. The wound was treated with irrigation and warm soaks and the pain resolved within hours. On Day 7, the patient experienced new onset itching, pain, and erythema at the site. The clinician recommended oral antibiotics and further testing if no improvement. The patient found an Online Health Community (OHC) on stingray wounds, specifically concerning the 7th Day Stingray Wound Itch Syndrome (associated with itching, new onset of pain, erythema, induration, without regional or systemic symptoms, typically 6-10 days after injury). Based on this information the patient chose to observe the wound and went on to full resolution without intervention.
5. Results
Since 2013, there have been at least 55 patient reports of the 7th Day Stingray Wound Itch Syndrome shared in an Online Health Community (OHC) (https://doitcat.wordpress.com/2017/12/03/i-stepped-on-a-stingray-my-experience/). Patients describe their various treatments (observation, antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines, ice), workups (bloodwork, radiographs & ultrasounds), frustrations (clinician inexperience), and outcomes (none of the individuals treated with observation alone reported complications).
6. Discussion
The Internet has become a critical medium for clinicians, public health practitioners, and laypeople seeking health information. OHCs in the form of blogs, chat rooms, and websites devoted to all forms of illness exist, and can influence the individual in their choice of intervention. These communities may help wound clinicians gain understanding and develop care protocols for uncommon pathologies.
Please feel free to contact me at ruzhany@aol.com with . Thank you all!
Scott Bolhack
Wow that is so cool! 🙂