IV pain meds with a blown vein?

[The_beat_goes_on]

I hope this question isn't silly! but I recently had surgery (vp shunt valve replacement) and my pain was never under control in the hospital.  I've had issues with this hospital being kind of slow to get my pain managed ... but this was the first time I was discharged without them ever getting my pain controlled even once.  Nothing helped.  

Here's my question ... my IV was really painful.  I told a couple nurses this ... and even begged them to stop the saline drip because my hand hurt so bad.  I don't think it was in a vein?  The last nurse had a hard time injecting everything, like there was crazy resistance.  My hand and forearm swelled up.  I didn't notice until after I was discharged.  Could that be the reason no IV meds worked after surgery?