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?

[CrysDonovan]

Mine was toward the end. There was a sharp, painful, twitching in my left wrist like the needle was inserted there when he put it in my arm. I told him about it, that it was weird. He stopped. Then he did it again. I don't know why I didn't stop it. I guess part of me felt like he knew what he was doing, and that he seemed like a nice guy (not trying to hurt me). And, truthfully, I didn't know this could happen. I've always had "difficult" veins, but I've never had this happen.

[bon560]

Most of these posts seem to have the pain at the beginning of the draw, mine was at the end. I just had a routine blood draw on Friday and after she was done taking all the tubes she needed, I felt an electric shock run down my forearm into my thumb and index finger....I screamed and she told me not to move! I told her what I felt and she removed the needle and asked if I needed some water and to calm down. I told her I never experienced anything like that in 30 years of blood draws and donations. She just blew it off and asked if I wanted more water. Its been 7 days and the tingling has not gone away and is pretty consistent. I am calling to make a doctor apt today. I hate this feeling. Any words of wisdom?

[dlmanning]

While donating blood, the phlebotemist hit my radial or median nerve. I had limited use of my arm for about 5-6 weeks. Now I feel I'm about 90% healed. It keeps getting better every day. To be honest, after reading many of these comments, I was afraid it would never heal. So grateful it is.

[sissypreston]

I donated blood and as soon as the needle was inserted they all panicked and ripped the needle out and started apologizing saying sorry but we hit an artery the bag was full immediately..... they had ice on it right away to deaden it and stop the bleeding I now have severe pain from my shoulder all the way down my arm and my fingers are numb what was explained to me the artery they hit is right next to a nerve that is causing the pain and numbness in the fingers and until the artery heals the pain won't go away...I will never donate blood again this has been a really bad experience

[desirable]

I had a blood test a week ago. Normally they are fine. The nurse pricked me in my left arm opposite elbow.

As soon as the nurse pricked me I felt a sharp pain down my arm to my thumb. The pain was incredibly sharp. I screamed in pain.

I went home and didn't think to much more of it. My arm started to get sore on Saturday night. It now hurts more then ever (getting worse)

I can't straighten my left arm and when I twist it certain ways it hurts.  The pain is about an 8.5 out of 10. It feels like I am pulling something in my arm.

I went to the Dr and got told it was my tendon and it should heal in 2 days.  I didn't. It's been a week and it's so sore. I went back to the Dr yesterday and was told my tendon would be infected amd gave me antibiotics. I then went to another Dr and got a second opinion and he told me it was my nerve.

I don't know who to believe.  Does anyone know and how did your injury heal?

I have heard it is is my tendon then an ultrasound or ct scan will help?

Please help.

[EUNICE1916]

A few weeks ago I had blood taken at the hosp and I got what felt like an electric shock in my arm it made me jump and shout and I almost punched the nurse as my arm flew up in the air. She apologized and said she must have hit a nerve. Ever since my arm has been tingling and Ive have had two more bloods taken and I get a strange feeling in my arm. Its like Ive knocked my funny bone? This morning I was at the Drs and had some blood taken and as the nurse took the needle out I got the funny feeling again? It hurt a bit and I swore which I dont normally do!!