VEIN INJURY?

My battery on the laptop will die soon, so I just popped in to ask this question and will check back again later. I have an injured vein from the IV and it's hard and sore near my left wrist. My right was sore also, but it's not in a knot like the other. Anyone have this or know if it's serious or just something where I should let the vein die? I had edema in both hands for a couple days after surgery and all is better there now. There is no streaking or warmth or redness going on - just that really really sore knot, mostly right over my wrist bone. Any insight from anyone is appreciated! Dina

I did not have that this time, Dina...but I had it from a prior IV and the lump stayed awhile but finally went away on its own. But then again I am not a doctor, so probabably a quick call to their office is in order.

Sally - and everyone: Thanks for the advice and relating your stories. I will see if I can get in earlier to my PCP on Monday. Can't hurt to have it looked at.... Dina

BOY, OH BOY, Do I know how you feel!!!!!! In my right hand right above my rist is so tender, it hurts like hell. Both my arms were very swollen in the hospital. My husband says I look like a crack head because I have bruises up and down BOTH arms. My left hand doesn't bother me, but the right does. Very sore. The hospital said it was normal... Kelley

Yea me too! I have 3 bruises in "stripes" on one arm, patches of bruises on the other one, my thigh, and I had 3 shots in the belly for blood clotting that left marks and I even have one on my foot! Can't imagine where that one came from. But the IV was the best I have ever had this time....I have small veins and usually it is very uncomfortable but was ok and didn't even leave a mark and no hand swelling. A side note: My ankles are back! My ankles and feet have been swollen for years.

Oh Boy, My stomach looks like one big bruise, lol. I have HUGE bruises all over it. And big purple marks where I got my heprin shots in the belly. I hope they ALL disappear soon. Kelley

Dungeon Master... Yup. Been there, done it, have bruises and a numb thumb as a result. My 1st IV site was so swollen by the middle of the 2nd day I asked them to change arms. My original line was in my right upper hand...it was so swollen it looked like the skin would crack open. Every time they took my BP on that arm after it was removed, the veins hurt so bad I thought they were going to explode in my arm. Too scary. My 2nd site (where they re-opened a line at my request) was my left forearm. Wasn't a problem 'til they removed the IV when I was going home: BIG bruising, and "lines" of bruises outlining the actual IV tubing and cath-top where it entered my skin. Again, too strange. They happened to take a BP from THAT arm after removal, and that strange scary sensation happened...felt like the veins would just burst. Again, they said it was normal. The only one I THOUGHT was 'cool' was where they inserted the arterial line into my left wrist: the chief anesthesiologist did this when he drew my ABGs pre-op. Asked me if he could do the arterial line thing since my surgeon DID want ABGs, "...and as long as I'm in there...", so I let 'em put the arterial line in. Insertion wasn't a problem AT ALL...never felt a thing, actually laughed with the guy...and HOWLED when he finally hit the artery and my blood spurted all the way to the nurses' counter across the room...told him "...you hit the mother lode, Doc...". No problem with pain then, and I was REALLY relieved 'cuz that's the one thing I was scared of. Thru my hospitalization, no problems with the line, nor when they d/c'ed it. BUT...the second or third night I was home, I'd gone to bed and I was awakened from my sleep when I felt my thumb go TOTALLY COLD. Then about an hour or so later, it felt like "pins and needles", like when your foot falls asleep and 'wakes up'. I called Someone Who Was In The Medical Field years ago and asked them if this was something to be concerned about, e.g. a thrombosis or whatever, and they said they didn't think so. After a few more hours, my thumb went back to being ice cold, and to this day remains ice cold. Gotta be some kind of nerve problem. I'll be asking my surgeon when I see him...gonna ask him to "...would you please hold my thumb?..." He'll probably think it's that sick-uncle joke 'bout PULLING someone's thumb! But it's definitely a strange thing. I have a starburst yellow and purple bruise on my arm from one of my heparin shots, and bruising around the lap sites, but other than that, it's my thumb that's really got me scratching my head... Kimmer Queen of the Niners, Instigator to All Marchers, High Priestess of Giggles

I know why your thumb is numb. My friend the phleb always warned me about nerve damage if they leave the tur-a-ket (cant spell it so I did it phonetically, lol) on too long. Thats probably what happened to you. If it happens to be the same arm where they did your blood pressure thats another sign. HTH ya.

Kimmer - Just wanted to mention that while looking for info on the internet this morning I read about this and it is when they hit a nerve. It can cause long term problems and requires physical therapy for about a year if it's the same thing....don't want to scare you but I just remember thinking "Boy - I'm glad mine isn't that bad...." This is what it said at this site http://nsweb.nursingspectrum.com/ce/ce94.htm: A common, but infrequently reported IV insertion-related complication is nerve injury due to direct needle contact with a nerve. With each insertion of an IV device, nerve contact is a risk. The radial and medial nerves are most often injured. When a needle point comes in direct contact with a nerve, the patient will immediately experience an electric shock sensation that radiates down into the fingers. The appropriate nursing intervention is to immediately remove the IV cannula. The resulting injury may be a neuroma, which may require extensive physical therapy and possible surgery. The inner aspect of the wrist and the area just above the thumb are the two locations where nerve injury is likely to occur because the nerves are superficial in these locations. A possible sequelae to nerve injury is reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which produces a cold, mottled hand that sweats excessively. Injury to the median nerve can result in carpal tunnel syndrome. Nerve injury is easily diagnosed by means of nerve conduction studies. I would definitely get YOURS checked out asap. Reading this site sounds like this is something you might want to get a lawyer over too... Dina -always the bearer of bad news.....

Nah, you're not the bearer of bad news. I was kinda thinking it may be something like this (having nerve damage in several parts of my body...ankle, finger [from lacerating a tendon and the resulting surgery} and long term CTS in my right hand/wrist). It figures... I didn't feel a thing on the insertion, which was a BIG relief for me. I was really scared of having the ABGs drawn, and needless to say, the arterial line inserted there. The head anesthesiologist was "my" anesthesiologist that day, and I had full trust in him. I didn't feel a thing locally, just pressure - he'd somehow numbed the entire area. I was a bit freaked when they started off by taping my arm to the table with a rolled-up surgical towel directly under my wrist...I knew this wasn't gonna be fun. When I felt him 'poking' for what I felt was too long, I looked (I'd looked away 'cuz I didn't want to watch this, but when I felt no pain, I got much braver ) and it was kinda ooky watching him TRY to penetrate the artery. (I'd already had my IV inserted into my other hand earlier, and for the first time EVER, the nurse kept "rolling" my vein...I was taken aback as I've got great veins and had NEVER had a problem before that...). Anyway, that's when I was joking with "Dr. Snow" (I asked him if I could call him that 'cuz I couldn't pronounce his name...he was pretty neat.), laughing 'bout how if he keeps digging like that, I may just have to re-neg on my approval for the arterial line...THAT was when he finally hit it and it pumped out like nothing I've ever seen -- GOOD thing stuff like that doesn't bother me. He capped it immediately, the nurses cursed and mopped up the floor, and I thought all was well. I never felt anything 'electrical', but I DO remember feeling a VERY strange sensation go thru my entire hand at one point...like a vacuum down to my fingertips or something. Maybe that's when "it" happened...I dunno. Yeah, I intend to ask my surgeon when I see him. Even as I type my thumb is ice cold. I'm used to the feeling in my right middle-finger from a 95% laceration of the tendon over my knuckle...slit it washing the blade of my mini-chopper a few years back. That finger is always cold, and is very painful in the cold weather. I'd just prefer NOT to have another iced digit. I'm a FREAK, I tell ya...a FREAK!!!! T'anx for looking it up, Dina. That'll give me more to go on. I'm just kinda stunned that it happened, and even more stunned that it's what I suspected it may be. I'll let y'all know the outcome. Kimmer Queen of the Niners, Instigator to All Marchers, High Priestess of Giggles Can Now Hitchhike In Sub-Zero Weather Sans Gloves