length of capsaicin burning sensation?

[nostatic]

So I've diced many a jalapeņo in my day, and cut one up for guacamole last night. I typically de-seed under running water, then dice on the board. Sometimes I'll get a bit of a burning sensation around the cuticles of the thumbs but not bad. Last night's pepper was pretty hot, but no terrible burn. I work up at 5am though and my thumb was burning - thought for a minute that I was having some cardiac event. Now both thumbs have some burn and are very heat sensitive. From my inter webs research it seems that a capsaicin burn can last a couple days so I'm wondering what the Pelican Experience™ is.

Longshot alternative is that my back/disc is flaring up and it is some neuropathy but I'm going with Occam's Razor for the time being...and next time I'll use latex gloves.

[GH85Carrera]

Wow, if it burns you fingers and thumbs the day after it must be brutal to eat.

[stomachmonkey]

Just make sure you wash your hands really well then wash them again, and again, and again before you pop in your contact lenses.

**** hurts so bad you can't get your eye open to get it back out and it just continues to sear and burn as you scream and writhe in agony naked on the cold bathroom floor.

[flipper35]

Before you pee as well.

I haven't had any issues with it ever bothering me. Then again, nettles don't bother me really either so there might be a correlation.

Are your hands dry and cracked a bit? That may cause some issues.

[Don Ro]

Not good, nostatic.
Jalapeņo peppers...I have to watch those. I like them but they don't like.
.
I ate lots of Jalapeņo-stuffed olives last night...and this morning...oh, never mind.
I'll take care if it myself.

[masraum]

my guess is that it's from the peppers, but wow, those must have been some good peppers

[matt f]

Your thumb is innervated by spinal nerves c5-t1 and coalesces into the mid and lower branches of the brachial plexus that then forms the median nerve.This is both for motor and sensory components.

If one of the discs related to the above levels show pathology, MRI and EMG/NCV confirmed peripheral neuropathy, of bulge, herniation or protrusion, it may cause burning in your thumb.
Also, the pathology could be more distal I.e. Carpal TS.
In the a absence of sensory symptoms in the next 2 fingers and lateral aspect of the ring finger, it would point to a more localized cause. Unless you had trauma to the thumb distal to the bifurcation of the sensory branch of the median nerve that innervates your thumb.

All that being said, you are probably correct in thinking that the peppers caused it.

Matt

[Don Plumley]

You have oil on your hands, so you need a solvent to remove. No different than oil from working on your car, soap and water have a tough time. Try automotive hand cleanser - or rinse them in high proof clear alcohol (everclear, vodka). I've read that ice-cold gin is quite refreshing (use the cheap stuff!).

[JavaBrewer]

My jalapeņo experiences are widely varied - but never more than 15 minutes or so of noticeable burn. There's a killer grilled chicken place that includes grilled jalapenos on the side. Generally they are petty mild (I eats them with seeds raw/grilled/stewed/whatever) but have encountered a few that feel like habanero scoville levels. Never experienced any burning to skin but +1 to avoid eyes and privates.

I'd say it's related to your back.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by matt f

Your thumb is innervated by spinal nerves c5-t1 and coalesces into the mid and lower branches of the brachial plexus that then forms the median nerve.This is both for motor and sensory components.

If one of the discs related to the above levels show pathology, MRI and EMG/NCV confirmed peripheral neuropathy, of bulge, herniation or protrusion, it may cause burning in your thumb.
Also, the pathology could be more distal I.e. Carpal TS.
In the a absence of sensory symptoms in the next 2 fingers and lateral aspect of the ring finger, it would point to a more localized cause. Unless you had trauma to the thumb distal to the bifurcation of the sensory branch of the median nerve that innervates your thumb.

All that being said, you are probably correct in thinking that the peppers caused it.

Matt

Hmm, maybe it is a bit from column A, a bit from column B. Both hands are very sensitive to heat at the moment, palms in addition to just thumbs and fingers. Last night I did extra laps with the kick board in the pool and mildly wrenched my mid back. I iced it when I got home and it still feels a bit tight. Looks like more ice, easier swim and some jacuzzi tonight and see how it goes.

I haven't signed off on the settlement from getting rear ended a few weeks back as I've been waiting for the last repairs to my car (waiting on exhaust tips) and also worried that something physical would pop up. Hopefully this isn't the latter...

[legion]

Closing up at a restaurant years ago. The last thing I did was dice up jalepenos, put them in the cooler, took a leak, then washed my hands.

My junk burned for a day.

Went to Quaker Steak a few years ago with Speedracing944. He ordered 50 "insane" wings. I could feel the burn go all the way through my digestive system over the next day.

[matt f]

Nostatic,

Feel free to PM me with any concerns/questions.
Be happy to provide cel# and discuss your symptoms.

Your mid back(t7) about the level of the inferior tip of the scapula would be too low to effect the median nerve but may have a secondary relationship.

Matt

[Don Ro]

Man, when your back goes out, you're screwed.
.
Last two years of having my business, my back was always killing me.
Left CA and went up to Portland to care-take an older couple, the wife was a retired Chiropractic Physician. She cured my back in a few treatments and showed me how to adjust my back solo.
No problem since.

[vash]

maybe put a roll of toilet paper in the freezer. jusincase.

[Don Ro]

Have heard that diary products work.
I know that milk will cool down the mouth - too late for that.

[javadog]

I don't know why you'd ever de-seed a jalapeno, since it would be useless afterwards, but you can de-seed them with a spoon made for this purpose, or a grapefruit spoon, or any small spoon. Your hands don't need to touch anything "dangerous", nor do you need gloves.

Don't overthink this...

JR

[Tobra]

Oil up your hands really well, lather, rinse, repeat. Like dissolves like, so the oil will help to get the capsicum mobilized a bit. Soap and water to rinse it away.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by javadog

I don't know why you'd ever de-seed a jalapeno, since it would be useless afterwards, but you can de-seed them with a spoon made for this purpose, or a grapefruit spoon, or any small spoon. Your hands don't need to touch anything "dangerous", nor do you need gloves.

Don't overthink this...

JR

De-seeding (and removing the other interior structures) makes for a better tasking guacamole imho (and less spice). My basic technique is to slice off the stem, cut in half, then "gut" the pepper half under running water (to keep airborne capsaisin down). Then I do a fine dice on the remaining pepper. Adds a nice pepper flavor with some heat that isn't overbearing.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

There's a reason capsaicin is called a "chemical agonist".

My wife "burned" her fingers on a particularly hot jalapeno once; the pain lasted 3 days. She wears food-prep gloves whenever she is handling them now.

[JavaBrewer]

This girl thinks we're all wimps.