Nerve Damge from Blood Test??

I'm not sure if this is the right area, but if not, it can always been moved.

I was wondering if anyone could help me with this one. I had a Blood test yesterday and the nurse stuck the needle in my left hand, right between my thumb and index finger (i don't have many good veins and the good ones were still healing after being used while i was in hospital with my appendix and my treatment i had earlier this week). She was poking and prodding for about 5 mins or so i reckon anyway. (She couldn't get it there and ended up trying somewhere else), but i now think that she has done some kind of nerve damage to my hand because ever since, my hand has been feeling like it has pins and needles and my hand is really starting to ache and swell up. I just wanted to know if anyone has ever had this from a needle stick before and if so did it heal on it's own or did you need some kind of medical attention to fix it? It is the hand i write with too, so i am concerned that it will get that bad i will have trouble doing things with it. If it is still bad in a few days, i'll go to the doctors though anyway, to get it checked, but i thought you nice people might have some thoughts on things i might be able to do in the meantime to help.

I had an IV at the hospital a few weeks ago and had a nerve problem too. They ended up trying to get the IV in four times, missed and started the IV, but it just went into my skin and puffed up. I couldn't straighten my arm for about two weeks, and every time I bent it, I felt a feeling like a rubber band snap....weird. Anyway, it took a few weeks to go away, but it finally did.

Give it some time and if it's still there when you see the doctor next, mention it.

I've never had blood taken there - from the back of my hand, and an IV in the back of my hand, but not in the area you mentioned.

How does the area feel to touch? My concern with the ache and swelling would be infection, could it have become infected. Me - I'd call the office to let them know what is happening and ask if you should be seen.

Is it bruising? I think our bodies have a way of telling us is something is really wrong. Know what I mean? So, if your really concerned about it , call!

Get it checked out to be safe. Any needle can cause an infection.

Thanks for all the advise, it is starting to feel better, not even really hurting at all now. If it starts to get worse again, I will for sure go to the doctors and get it checked, but I am able to use it fine now, so might leave it be for now

Yes, there is a nerve right where she stuck you. My father in law is an orthopedic surgeon and strongly advised me never to get a needle stuck there. It's called the "intern's vein" for doctors, but there's a nerve right in the area.

DelnStyle wrote:

Yes, there is a nerve right where she stuck you. My father in law is an orthopedic surgeon and strongly advised me never to get a needle stuck there. It's called the "intern's vein" for doctors, but there's a nerve right in the area.

Yeah, I'll make sure nobody ever takes blood from there again, if i had know it was gonna cause issues, i would have been more vocal about not taking it there the first time.

It is still bruised, but not sore at all anymore, so must be healing on it's own