I recently had a blood test and now have shooting/tingling pains down my arm and hand particularly around the wrist/thumb area. The nurse involved supposedly inserted a needle into a vein at the elbow, but she must have done something wrong because I immediately felt intense pain in my hand. I'm guessing the needle either missed the vein completely or went through the vein, hitting a nerve directly below it. I thought the pain would be temporary because I didn't feel anything else later on that day, but now 4 days later I experience shooting/tingling pains when I extend the arm/twist the wrist and my arm movements are limited due to the pain. Will this pain go away and should I seek medical advice?
A nurse touched a nerve...what should I do? - Headway
A nurse touched a nerve...what should I do?
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AnthonyMs
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can you phone and speak to your gp?
at my practise you can foud around midday and speak to a doctor, or phone and explain to the receptionist and they will check it out with a doc and let you know whether you need to come in
i would say better safe than sorry just get it checked out
I'll visit the doctor next week if the pain doesn't go away over the next few days. I don't know if they can provide any treatment for this, but if it's something permanent, it needs to go on my record.
Did it get any better because the same thing happened to me and my parents just think It’s no big deal?
I had this happen to me about 5 years ago as well. I felt an instant electrical shock all through my arm when the needle was inserted, the nurse didn't remove it or even care when I told her. I tried everything, I couldn't straighten my arm I felt a pinch in my between my elbow every time I bent it or wore tight clothing. I started doing research on nerve damage from a blood draw, it is a thing and nurses just don't care, they're so uneducated about nerve injury during blood draw it's scary. I myself started doing lots of research because I wasn't getting better at all. Then a few years I found out about cold laser therapy which is acupuncture but with a laser, it really helped me. I started later than I should have because I didn't know about it, however i suggest taking action as soon as you see no progress in your healing.
Also, from my research I found these vitamins help repairing nerve damage; B12, ubiquinol, zinc-copper (get a mixed one, as zinc can cause copper deficiency). These were also all recommended by my acupuncturist. Lastly, muscle tightness around the nerve cause inflammation and pain as well. I found this amazing site in my hours and hours of research, I don't have the link ATM but when I find it I'll share it. Basically, you feel that sharp pinching pain because the muscle is actually tightening around nerve. From this site, I found doing specific stretches releases the pressure on the nerve from the muscle and relieves that sharp pinching pain. I have done all of these myself and I am speaking from my own experience, doing stretches, taking vitamins and laser acupuncture helped me. However, I am not a doctor and I am highly recommend you seek advice from a professional, although they don't know shit. I hope this helped someone out there!
Thank you for your advice! Happened to me 4 days ago too and I feel devastated reading all these comments and seeing how long it takes to heal (if at all). Did you find the link to the website later? I would really appreciate it if you posted it here.
How are you doing now? This just happened to me and I’m leaving for college in a week and I’m devastated.
Hi,it will heal, don't worry. It took my nerve about 2 months to heal, but the pain and the range of movement improved with every passing week. I tried to not move it too much, but I don't know if this contributed to the "faster" healing or not. Don't stress too much about it, I can promise you that it will heal, even if it takes a bit longer than that.
I'm sorry this happened to you, I felt horrible too, but people heal from much more serious incidents, you will too.
I wish you a great start in your college! 🍀🎓
Hi, my 12 year old is currently going through the same thing. Nothing is helping and she is unable to bend her elbow. Suffering from burning pain. Please let me know the name of the site with exercises or any other tips. Thank you
Recently, I was having a cannula inserted into a vein and, having had so many previous ones, the doctor was struggling to find a fresh site. The one he chose was quite near the bone and it hurt like hell and had to be removed when my arm went numb. It took a couple of weeks before the sensations you describe finally subsided.
I got an apology and was warned that nerve damage can be slow to heal. Hope it's better soon.
Well, it's good to hear that yours healed, it brings some hope. I always thought nerve damage was permanent but I'll wait and see. If the pain doesn't go away over the weekend I'll visit the doctor. Thanks
Minor nerve damage is not permanent fortunately. Try not to worry. It is very painful though and it does take sometime to heal. I don't think some nurses give this due consideration actually at times. If we were animals, it may be more likely to be deemed cruelty to animals. That's because animals can't rationalize, I suppose, but it still flaming hurts and is very anxiety provoking in some cases too
Update...thankfully the pain has gone away and my arm (at least) is back to normal.
Hey, it's a relief to hear that your pain has gone and that it went back to normal. 5 days ago I had my blood drawn on the elbow side of the arm. Immediately when the needle was inserted, I felt an electric shock on my hand near my wrist and under the tumb area. I felt pain and sore on my whole arm through the first and the second day. Three days later, I felt shock like an electric current at the same spots when I extend my arm. Same feeling like you have had. How long till it all went away and your hand back to normal?
Hi...I am going through the same after a blood test gone wrong. Whenever I extend my arm I feel an electric shock in my forearm till thumb. Can you kindly let me how long did it take to become normal.
Hey, my arm got better in about a month. Just be careful with it and not to lift any heavy things. Hope you will feel better soon.
Marirsks, i just had this happen 5 days ago, as soon as the lady stuck me an electric shock immediately shot down my arm, the lady looked at me and said, what!! I said a shock just went down my arm, she goes i didnt go in deep!! Really!! I told her im a phlebotomist and when i was in school we were amateurs just poking eachother and NEVER once did this happen... When did yours feel better??
The same thing happen to me she hit my nerve 5 times my fingers are now numb cold pain in my arms i screamed in pain in she continue to do it i said whats that are you shocking me she said oh im probably just hitting the nerve like it didnt matter this happen Sept 27,2018 the hospital sent me a letter stating there conducting there investigation im now waiting on my EMG to see if theres severe nerve damage i deal with enough health problems everyday i dont need extra pain it hurts so bad moving it or twisting it feels like im being shock
My lab tech kept saying the same thing-- "I didn't go deep!" Maybe she should have gone deep. I kept telling her the pain wasn't at the insertion point but down at the wrist. I know now that she should have immediately withdrawn the needle. She should have known that she hit a nerve. If she did know it, she didn't care. My blood draw was just 4 days ago. I already reported it to my doctor. She said to take Tylenol or Advil to reduce inflammation pain, and if the pain doesn't go away, they can do a nerve conduction study/EMG, although I'm not sure how that helps.
Same thing happened to me.
Hi Yuzaina - I had the same thing happened to me. It's been two weeks and I still have the sensations. How are you treating it and are you better now?
I am better now. It took about a month for me to get better. Just be easy with it and not to lift any heavy things. try not to extend your arm. hope you will get better soon.
Did you see a doc or got MRI done? I am worried! Any medicine?
I know how you feel. It will get better. Just wait it out and be gentle with it. no medicine, just eat healthy and look for food that can help replenish cell faster.
I had the same thing happened to me in 2011 except she struck a nerve I lost feeling in my pinky and the finger next to it took a year for the Va to finally see me at this point I lost a lot of muscle mass and blockage in my left arm I explained to the doctor he pretty much told me I was a liar that I banged my elbow to hard and my nerve for the funny bone was seized up ended up getting surgery five years later still have trouble with it. So be careful when having blood drawn and speak up no one else will and thanks OKC VA
Isn't the VA wonderful? They never listen to vets, treat us like flea dung, and think every last one of us are liars. I actually had blood drawn at the VA today and the phlebotomist hit a nerve and it hurts like crap. Hopefully the pain will subside soon
Hi Brad983, I’ve just experienced the exact same thing, last week I had a blood test and had to ask the nurse to remove it because of the shooting pain down my arm. I’ve seen that this was 23 days ago, so I just wondered if your pain has gone? I’m getting a little worried as the pain in my arm seems to be getting worse.
Thanks
Hi. I am feeling this same as all of the above. How is your pain? I just had it done 4 days ago and seems to be getting worse. Especially when I lift anything heavy, extend my arm or go to the gym. Hoping it won't take a month to feel better!!
Hey man, I lift also and I just had this happen to me last Tuesday. I feel it when my arms are down, but it’s slightly painful when stretching it. When she inserted the needle, I felt a super sharp pain in my left upper forearm area by the hand. Let me know how your healing has come along, as I feel like it’s irritating worse as I go to the gym.
Make sure you report this to your GP, if only strengthen any compensation claim should this turn out to be a long term injury like mine.
That is exactly how I felt with the stretching it down and the pain towards my thumb when she instered the needle. From what I got talking to the nurses, she hit a nerve. It took me about 3weeks before i was able to fully workout omwiyh no pain. I used deep blue cream (doterra essential oils) and that really seemed to help. Good luck!
Me too last a Friday at hospital the needle went in to my wrist at the side just above my thumb, when I came off the ceiling I thought that hit a nerve! It’s such a strange painful sensation now down my thumb
If I move it or touch where the needle went in. Just hoping it eventually gets better.
Try not to worry. Such injuries do tend to heal. They are painful and take a while put the damage tends not to be permanent. I do think some nurses make too little of it. They don't seem to get the level of pain and discomfort they are causing let alone anxiety. I feel some need some re-training too as well as some patient care improvements
A nurse inserted the needle in to my tendon, intense pain, even though I was on morphine, I had a tingling sensation, which lasted 3 days. Months later I began to feel a severe aching pain in the crook and down my arm, enough to wake me up during the night. Now 14 years later it's a weak point and on occasion has flared up. I've had Physiotherapy, which hasn't resolved the weakness and if I have to lift a heavy object there's always a risk involved.
The same thing happened to me 21 yrs. A yellow jacket got me good. So the nurse giving me steroids hit a nerve. I've been to the hospital numerous times. I hope my arm doesn't take that long. I'll have to have my arm taped to my side.lol
Hey Anthony. Same exact issue happened with me this past Monday (4 days ago) and the pain is still there when i stretch my arms. Do you remember how long it took till your pain went away?
I am same as you. It is a week. How is yours now?
I had this happen to me Tuesday this week and now being a Saturday The electric ping feeling happens when i extend my arm. When i feel where the needle went in i find I can bring on the ping. Im glad im not the only one to experience this pain. Im back to the Doctors next Tuesday so I shall report it.
Yeah i just had my blood drawn last week mid week. When the blood draw started I felt a immediate shock on my left arm. She drew 3 vials of blood so and I didn't feel dizzy so I commenced with my workout later that day. Fast forward the next 2-3days I keep feeling a shock sensation when I stretch my left arm. I thought it would go away by day 3 but it's still prevalent. It definitely has gotten slightly better than the first day but still it healing as I thought it would.
I suspect the nurse did struck a nerve on my arm to. I'm going to contact my GP about this and update this.
I was having my blood drawn yesterday but the phlebotomist couldn't fill the last vial so she called a nurse in; the nurse told me that she was going to go under the 1st draw site - when she stuck the needle in it felt as if my wrist up to my elbow was on fire (like alcohol being poured into a large open wound) accompanied by pain. When I exclaimed to the nurse about the pain she told me that she must have hit a nerve (but she made sure she filled the vial first). Well it's well over 24 hours later and if I try to extend my arm or move my fingers I get a horrible electrical shock. I'm hoping that mine doesn't last 3-5 days like yours and I will be looking out for your update.
Im going through the same thing right now what was your outcome
I have had that happen many times and usually a week later it goes away. I credit it to sloppy needling.
bailey2406 in reply to
I feel its negligence
in reply to bailey2406
Other times I get a nice bruise, which always makes me question how hard this can be.
The hospital sent me a letter stating there conducting an investigation
I'm a regular blood donor - gave blood back in June and the nurse hit a nerve. 5 months later and I still have half a numb forearm/half shooting pains when I use that arm. Sometimes it's just a terrible throbbing ache when it's not even moving.
When it first happened, I went to the docs and they advised it would take a long time to heal and I should be patient. Think it's time to go back!
Have you healed? I’m nervous mine will be permanent, I had the same experience as you.
I had a blood test quite a few months ago. When having it done i felt an instant burn down my forearm. I hadnt had a blood test for over 10 yrs, i commented to nurse " Gee i dont remember blood tests hurting this bad ". She continued on getting viles of bloody n schrugged my comment off. The pain was getting worse and worse, like a burning rod in my arm. If she hadnt finished when she did i was about to ask her to take it out. That day my arm ached, the next few days i could hardly use my arm. Months on, i have lost strength in my arm and a dull ache comes and goes during the day AND keeps me awake some nights. I dont want to go back as i dont want another blood test to check my nerve damage!
I know this is an old post but is your arm okay now? Similar situation happened to me and I’m scared
The same thing happened to me and it’s been five days since the blood was drawn. I suffer from anxiety so this is really stressing me out. I hope it heals soon. I keep massaging with icy hot but it still gives me a shooting pain when I raise my arm. I hope you are better now.
Hello! Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing? I just had this happen to me this past Wednesday and my arm is actually getting worse. I get the electrical shock more frequently and if I push on the blood draw sight it’s an immediate trigger. Looking for some hope, I have 2 little girls and am pregnant with my 3rd and lifting them up right now is excruciating and breaks my heart.
Have you recovered? I had the same thing happen and I’m pregnant with a toddler and I’m terrified it’s permanent.
Have you recovered?
Have you recovered? I’m experiencing the same thing.
Yes! It took a few months to go away though.
That’s great, thanks for getting back to me! Did you see any doctors or try any home remedies? My GP wants me to start physical therapy, but I think that’s a little extreme.
I did laser therapy at a local chiropractors office. It’s been shown to speed up nerve regeneration. I noticed a big difference after a few sessions and then I went a few more times and then it’s been gone since. I’m not sure your situation but its worth looking into if your injury is nerve related.
I will definitely look into that - thank you! And yes, my injury is nerve related. The phlebotomist struck a nerve during my blood draw and all she said was, “I must’ve not wiped off all the alcohol.” Two days later, I woke up with pain in my left palm, unable to fully extend my arm, not to mention the throbbing pain that comes when I try to move it. It’s very irritating, and all I’m being told is that it will heal in time.
Wow, that’s exactly what happened to me! The nurse even made the same comment about the alcohol. I was told it would heal in time too but using my arm was excruciating and with a toddler how could I just not use my arm? It was awful. I would definitely look into laser therapy, after 5 sessions over the course of two weeks the pain was almost completely gone and then over the next month the rest of the pain just slowly went away. I think the laser therapy definitely helped speed it up. I hope yours gets better soon!
I'm having the same problem. The clinic actually tried to deny that the needle could be moved around in my arm. I have a problem with blood so I was looking away. But I felt the same pain like my arm was on fire and the electric shock pain. I sucked it up for a few seconds because I tend to be a big baby about seeing blood and needles. But, after hearing a comment from my mom that she was moving the needle around too much, that's when I told her to stop. She never ended up drawing any blood because she couldn't find a vein. She recommended me to a blood draw clinic and I was in and out in 5 minutes. I didnt feel any pain and I was literally dancing around like, "thats it?!!?". I figured it was how it was suppose to go for the first one. I hadn't had a blood draw since 6 years, so I knew something was wrong after the sensation from the doctors office. I can't extend my arm to a certain point and the area is still sensitive. It is week two already and I still feel it. I have a job as a waitress/busser at a busy resteraunt so I've been having a hard time working because I have to lift heavy things everyday. For a while I kept my arm glued to my side, but the doctor kept telling me everything was fine and that I didn't have a major injury and that it happens all the time.
Same thing happened to me this past Tuesday. At first, I thought it was one of those situations that you'd see on “Untold Stories of the ER” and the IV needle broke off. But when I saw my PCP on Thursday, her nurse said the ER nurse hit a nerve. My PCP said it would get better in a couple of weeks.
There is a huge bruise and some of the veins/nerves were discolored like a bruise. I literally cannot use my left arm (from the elbow down) for anything!! When I bend my wrist to hold the phone or text and then unbend it, I have excruciating pain. This is in addition to the shooting pain and numbness I'm already feeling. Here's what makes it worse...I have Multiple Sclerosis and my nerves are weak and sensitive.
I've tried OTC pain relievers, Ice, heat, Bio-Freeze, Lidocaine ointment and nothing works. I really don't need anything else fall apart on me medically.
Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, How is your arm? Any improvements?
I am having the same problem. During the blood draw I felt the nurse hit the nerve with needle. Now when I extend my arm or rotate it, I feel the sense of electricity going down my arm. I'm going to consult with a GP.
Thank you for your post! I have had the same unpleasant experience 5 days ago when I had a blood test. I wonder how long the pain and this weird feeling of pain and elwctrcity shock will last. It afected my wrist and thumb, especially when stretching my left arm. It seem not uncommon when I saw the posts. 😩🤦♀️
Hello Cristalinda, it happened to me 2 months ago. I had the electric shock feeling going down my left arm. Now I don't have that feeling anymore. But lifting weights cause uncomfort/small pain in my arm. So, I try to be very gentle with it. I feel I'm getting better (very) slowly. I hope you get well soon.
Hi there, this happened to me on Wednesday, lab tech just brushed it off like she hit the vein which from what I have read in this post, she hit a nerve. The pain subsided quickly when she took the needle out and I went about my day. I didn't feel the electric shocks of pain until I woke up Thursday. I cannot extend my arm downward to my side without huge electric shocks on pain in my wrist. I am seeing that some on here have recovered but other haven't posted an update. Can anyone post updates on how long it took to go away? I am already dealing with chronic pain but this is so much worse than what I already deal with. I am very angry and very scared. Thank you!
How long did it take you to recover??
Have you recovered?
hi, i realize this thread is old but 5 months ago i had blood drawn and wound up with bruising that did not go away for 5 weeks.I returned to the same doctor 3 times during that period due to numbness and tingling in my hand and forearm which everyone was dismissive of. Now i am working and more and more frequently, the numbness is happening...anyone else have this?
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