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Nerve damage during routine blood draw?

I recently went to get a routine blood test done - The nurse stuck the needle in my forearm near the elbow and suddenly I felt an huge painful electric shock run through my forearm (she hit my nerve but I thought it was just muscle pain (I'm not knowledgeable in health related things))... it was so painful especially in my wrist... my hand lifted itself so much pain I was in.

Went to see 2 different doctors they both said "mother nature" will fix my arm with time (how much time?).

It has been 2 months, my arm is feeling only slightly better, I still have pain in my wrist and I'm wondering if this caused carpel tunnel? - And if my arm will indeed fully recover?

Any thoughts? I feel like I'm the only one that has this problem
Best Answer
2190999 tn?1504988891
Hello Pat,

The same thing happened to me a couple of years back after an IV in the top of my hand. My hand and wrist developed some minor swelling with significant pain for several months after. I cant honestly remember how long it took to go away, I just remember I figured at some point it was going to be chronic. It definitely took months to subside, but it did eventually fade and go away all together.

I would just try ice and ibuprophen when its bad. Carpal tunnel shouldnt be a concern. That is more related to nerves being compressed through long term repetitive movements than a onetime incidence of nerve damage. Also, carpal tunnel usually affects the pinky and ring fingers (I think the thumb as well, but not sure about that one), because the carpal nerve is the main nerve for these fingers.

Hope your wrist feels better soon. Sometimes the "little" things are most bothersome of all.

Take care :)
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Avatar universal
Finally saw the plastic surgeon today. He won't be doing anything anytime soon. Its largely a waiting game. The nerve was nicked pretty good by the needle, but not severed. The surgeon said he doesn't think its going to be a big deal as peripheral nerves (anything but spinal cord) do indeed regenerate.
Per the surgeon, its likely not carpal tunnel at all - the pain in my wrist is associated only with the pain at the injection site.
Even though the surgeon was quite young, he said he hasn't seen this case before - its rare.
I am not fully healed yet but its ever-so-slowly fading. I have seen numerous other doctors, one of them told me that the healing should take up to 1 year so that would bring us to October. A few of the other doctors did not express an opinion on my condition.
Its just really frustrating - to go all this way, graduate in accounting with magna *** laude, and get injured - my past 6 months have been a living nightmare, I haven't been the same person, I've had dark dark thoughts sometimes, this is really a test of patience. I could type a bit better now tho!!!

Just a waiting game at this point tho! - no medications would work and surgery right now might worsen the pain rather than fix it.
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Avatar universal
Hey, how did it heal?
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2190999 tn?1504988891
Hi again Pat,

Thanks for the kind words. Ill becurious as to what the plastics guy has to say. Keep me posted.

You made me lol about an injury despite being "desk-bound".

Have a good one
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Avatar universal
Thank you Midijane...

I printed your message and it helps me think positively everyday. A true inspiration!

My arm and wrist has been getting better but not fully recovered yet... I am wondering if there is a point when it stops recovering?

The nurse hit the median nerve, and it does pass through the carpel tunnel, therefore, I may not have carpel tunnel itself, but the symptoms are exactly the same.

I went to see my doctor the other day and he is referring me to a plastic surgeon of all people... so we will see if the nerve has been permanently damaged - hopefully I will be fully recovered by the time I see him/her.

This is one of the worst situations though because it wasn't even my fault, I have been sitting at my desk for the past 4 years studying for my Bachelor's degree...barely any exercise, and I still manage to get injured, its astounding when you think of it.

Thanks for your kind words,
Pat
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