Risk Factors And Causes Of Plant Thorn Arthritis

September 30, 2023

Many of us think gardening is among the safest hobbies to do. We look at other hobbies like mountain climbing and tend to believe they are riskier than gardening. However, every activity comes with risks and benefits. Gardening, for instance, has the danger of contracting plant thorn arthritis, which is a non-infectious inflammation of the joint. The condition arises due to the plant thorns that may get stuck in joints of the body. A small injury such as a plant thorn piercing the skin can cause fatal consequences if not appropriately addressed. Most gardeners who get hurt by a plant thorn would most probably remove it and ignore. However, when left for long without medical help, it causes a severe health risk.

Reveal the risk factors and causes of plant thorn arthritis now.

Thorn Producing Plants

Photo Credit: Gulley Greenhouse

Thorn-producing plants are the primary agents that cause joint inflammation. Plants with thorns are the ones that pose the most significant risk to developing plant thorn arthritis. Many individuals who garden do not consider this when farming. There are types of plants whose thorns are deadly. Some of the thorn-producing plants include palm trees, blackthorn, shrubs, bougainvillea, cacti, and yucca.

Take care when working in your garden. It is also critical to determine whether you want to have the thorn producing plants in your garden. When you have children who can easily fall victims to the thorns, it is good not to plant them. Sometimes the piercing can be so small that you remove it and ignore. However, make sure to visit the hospital for a checkup before making assumptions.

Reveal the next risk factor of plant thorn arthritis now.

Gardening Without Gloves

Photo Credit: HuffPost Canada

Gardening without gloves brings about the risk of unknowingly getting cut by a thorn. Most gardeners would prefer working in the garden using their hands. The act of touching the sand and getting your hands dirty can be appealing. It is, however, essential to put your health first before other factors. The soil contains the thorns that fall from the trees. Farming without gloves exposes your hands to all types of infections and thorns present in the ground.

Some individuals who garden always forget or disregard the use of gloves until they undergo surgery to remove a small thorn. Gloves are especially useful when you are recovering from plant thorn arthritis as they protect wounds from further infections.

There is a wide variety of protective gardening gloves you can choose from. Select the type of gloves with a sturdy material that can protect your hands. The models range from traditional, leather, cotton, and rubber gloves. Select a durable material for your gardening to prevent against contracting plant thorn arthritis.

Keep reading to learn about more risk factors associated with plant thorn arthritis.

Exposure To Thorn Bearing Plants

Photo Credit: Huffington Post

Many parts of the body are vulnerable to exposure to thorn-bearing plants. Protecting every part of the skin is mandatory, as it will enable you to prevent against accidentally getting your joints bruised. The thorns are usually small in size, but even after removing them, small fragments will remain in the body.

Wear protective clothing from your head to toe to avoid exposure to thorn-bearing plants. The feet are also vulnerable to thorn cuts just like the hands. It is good to wear protective gumboots when walking in the garden or walking around the compound.

Thorns bring about puncture wounds that are usually small. It may be hard to notice them, which may leave them prone to all kinds of additional infections. Find puncture resistant gloves and gumboots. Other parts within the body such as the joints also need to stay covered. The joints at risk of getting plant thorn piercings include the elbow, ankles, knees, and hands. Make sure you have protected all the vulnerable parts from potential cuts.

Get to know the next risk factor of plant thorn arthritis now.

Improper Clothing When Outside

Photo Credit: Mirror

Well, if you thought the garden is the only place you can get plant thorn arthritis, you are mistaken. Every area around the home is prone to have small pieces of thorns. Practicing general safety precautions around the house is good. Wear protective clothing as long as you are not inside the house. Put on your sports shoes when you are playing outside the home. Improper clothing when outside can lead to exposure to multiple infections. You can hurt yourself when you trip and fall while playing. Without proper attire, you can injure all your joints at once.

Wear protective clothing all the times. Pulling out the thorn is not the solution. It onsets the inflammation process as you will begin seeing symptoms. Whenever you find yourself with swollen, reddish, or painful joint, see a doctor immediately.

Continue to discover more risk factors of this condition now.

Open Wounds When Gardening

Photo Credit: Dreamstime

Open wounds when gardening possesses a significant risk. You are leaving yourself vulnerable to other bacterial and fungal infections that will worsen your condition. Whenever you have an open wound, it is good to take some time off gardening. When it is necessary that you do, cover your injuries with the recommended dressing using the correct procedure.

Use gloves if your wound is on the hands. The gloves should have a strong and thorn resistant material and should be clean to avoid further infections. A suitable material of the gloves will provide comfort to your wounded hand and protect you from new injuries. Gumboots are useful when the open wound is on your leg. It will protect against any thorns you may happen to step on in the ground. Open sores on other joints such as the elbow will require proper wound dressing.

Even the smallest wounds attract dangerous bacterial infections. Take care of the wound as instructed. After finishing your gardening, wash the wound using the recommended antiseptic liquid and cover it.

MORE FROM HealthPrep