Bee Sting on Ankle

Triathlon Forum
1

A bee stung me right below my ankle last night during a slow recovery ride. I should have been going faster but that’s beside the point. I am not severely allergic to bee stings, but my ankle has swollen up nicely and is stiff. I am running a 1/2 marathon this weekend and even though I am supposed to be tapering I still wanted to get some light runs in today, tomorrow and thursday. Anyone have suggestions on how to minimize the swelling/stiffness quickly other than Benadryl?

I am lucky bc I flicked it out from btwn my eye and sunglass lens and that’s when it landed on my ankle- I think I ticked it off.

Thanks

2

As you eluded too - Benadryl. A topical steroid (like hydrocortisone: OTC strenght is 1%) over the area will help as well. Ice may be useful, but keeps that stiff feeling around. Should be fine by race time.

3

Baking Soda + water right after the sting to attempt to leach out the poison. Then hystamine blockers (i.e. benydryl, etc).

I once was stung in the arch chasing my niece around the yard. Now that hurt! But after 2 days, there was no pain or swelling.

4

good deal, thanks to you both.

5

Look at the positive side, you got your bee sting quota out of the way pre-race.

I managed to get stung in IMC…twice. Two years in a row, and in nearly the same location on the course (out and back section for those curious). Go figure.

Long term, I won that encounter.

6

I once had a bugger manage to find a direct path into my helmet and of course it stung my noggin. That sucked.

7

i was stung on the kneecap during a pretty brutal uphill climb, not fun.

8

Should be fine by race time.

This is a remedy coming from a real expert and it is fine from a first aid point of view but… be careful with some of that stuff as it may require a therapeutic use exemption by the WADA.

Inadvertent doping is a real risk. Some eye or ear drops can get you in bad trouble. Even you putting that cream on your child that got an encounter with poison ivy can trigger a positive test.

Some items on first aid kits are not safe for athletes that may be tested.

Sergio

9

Good point … but, an OTC topical corticosteroid on a small area around the ankle for less than a week isn’t likely to have much systemic absortion. A TUE could always be sought, but the OP is simply running a 1/2 marathon … :wink:

10

as a final update and thanks to all who replied: turns out it was a bacterial infection from something on the stinger (or my sock or skin when stinger entered). It caused massive sweeling almost above my calf, as well as extreme pain and heat with some oozing puss.

Was put on antibiotics and the majority of swelling was gone by Saturday. I was worried about the race Sunday, even though it was “just” a half-marathon because I didn’t have full flexibility of my ankle as of Friday and it interferred with my planned taper for the week. Luckily my ankle seems to be at 90-95% now and I didn’t notice any problems on Sunday from it. Ended up for my first 13.1 race finishing 70th out of approx 1600- 8th in AG 30-34 with a time of 1:37:24. I wanted to be sub-1:40 so was very happy with this.

Thanks to all for the advice of race-legal (and not so legal) fixes for my injury; I will definitely be wary of bees from here on out.

11

I once had a bugger manage to find a direct path into my helmet and of course it stung my noggin. That sucked.

Same thing happened to me, except the bastard got in my helmet and I thought I got him out (hadn’t stung me). I continued on my ride, and once I got back to my car I took off my helmet and promptly got stung on the head.