Nerve damage in forearm after blood test

[Shelly76]

5 weeks ago I had a blood sample taken. When the nurse inserted the needle the pain I felt down my arm was like an electric shock and I screamed at her to remove the needle, which she didn't do without probing for a vein first!

Since then I have had extreme pain when I straighten my arm, and it constantly feels like when you hit your funny bone except its all down my arm. I have tingling and twitching nerves in my thumb, fore finger and middle finger and randomly the top of my ring finger! I have been told I just have to wait and see if it heals or if its permanent but the pain is unbearable at times and when I can just about cope with it, its extremely uncomfortable. I cannot drive at the moment and I am a teacher so carrying out my job is becoming increasingly difficult. At A&E the doctor said I had median nerve neuropathy and my GP has prescribed amitriptyline, but its not doing much.

Is this likely to heal? What can I do to make it any better or bearable?

[Cruzn626]

Hey Nichelle and everyone else,

Glad to find this site, since we're all in the same boat, from what I'm reading, with similar symptoms following the unprofessional drawing of blood.    

This is, in my case, an offshoot of Obamacare, that has forced many people to lose their own doctors and thus go to lesser practices with minimally experienced people taking blood.  

I have the same symptoms 2 months later after a bad June 2015 blood draw to the side of my vein during a routine physical....and they're not going way.

These include:  Severe pain, arm feels heavy to lift and extend, it is uncomfortable to fold my arm, there's the continued sensation of stinging and pinching on the vein/needle insertion point and that something is still stuck on the vein, numbness of fingers, reshaping of points of my side vein, and interference with sleep.  There was an initial hematoma, with the formation of black and blue marks, and unexplained fever.  

The reaction by LIJ/Great Neck NY (where the blood draw occurred): If I have circulation of blood, what's the big deal?      

There was no monitoring by a doctor of the technician - not even a nurse - who did the substandard blood draw, and no plans to help me with any cure.   When I asked the doctor why he would not do the blood test himself, he replied, "I'm not Dr. Welby!"

What specialist does one go to for the resulting nerve damage, and is there a therapy to repair the condition everyone on this site is sharing?   What type of xray or scan shows this nerve and/or vein damage--since a sonogram apparently does not?    Do we have to deal with the underworld of personal injury lawyers for help on this?     If so, are there any honest ones in Queens/Long Island NY?

Thank you,
***@****

[Nichelle88]

This happened to me too. I screamed and the nurse asked if I was ok. I told her I felt a shock in my wrist. This has never happened to me before. These posts make me want to go to the hospital and kick her ***.  My arm hurts every time I try to pick something up. It's not an awful pain but it sure is uncomfortable. I hope this isn't permanent. If it is I will definitely sue.
'

[Curt2]

  I was also injured in a normal blood draw two weeks ago. Initial pain down to my hand, I had no idea how long this would last.
In two weeks there is basically no change. Substantial pain from my shoulder to my index finger. Normal resting of arm at side causes pain and any extension of the arm is painful. Pain is shooting, intense, worse in forearm. Hard to believe one missed stick can cause all this.
   The doctor I saw last week says I must wait 6 weeks before a neurologist will see me. I have also been told, that this may be a permanent injury.
  Glad to see, that some say this will go away. thank you

[krizzeykay]

i had blood drawn the other day and i had a sharp electric pain down to mt wrist and thumb. every time i move i fel like i am getting shocked i hate it can barely stand the pain my shoulder hurts all the way to my hand. i broke out in a rash today. on the forearm what can i do to stop this pain i already have tendanitis in both arms and hands and this pain is making things worse.   help!

[bymon]

Same thing happened to me a couple years ago during a blood donation. I had electric/burning sensations down my forearm for about a month before it started to subside, but it completely healed eventually. I guess how long it takes just depends on the extent of the nerve damage. Thankfully, in most cases, it seems needles just nick or graze the nerve, and don't cause permanent damage.

[Gagial]

Hi I had the same think over a week ago
After 2 times in walk in clinic they send to ER where after a ultrasound they give me the diagnosis of NEUROPRAXIA
HOPE my symptoms will go away but can take 6-8 weeks