IV site is painful!

Hi all!
I am 2 and 1/2 weeks post op. I am having trouble where they inserted the needle in my wrist for the IV. It is not infected, but the is a knot just below where the needle was inserted. To touch this area or if I bump it, OUCH! I see stars. Has anyone else had this? I have been putting a homeopathic ointment on it to relieve swelling and all, but it just takes the edge off.

Any similar situations or advice?

Jannyteach

Not that I want you to have problems! Mine was in the back of my left hand ( I am right handed) and it was very sore 'til about 5 weeks post op. Everytime I bumped it ( I swear, I must walk like an ape the way I swing my arms!) it hurt really bad. Never knew I walked like that! Doctor did not have any fast remedy, just time. Seems to be the standard answer~ Your wrist should feel better in a few weeks. Hope you do too! Have a great day!

:dance2:

jannyteach i too had IV pain and a lump, once when i had my carotid artery op. they had to put a blood pressure line in my wrist...and it took them an hour to put it in...course i was out when they were doing it but when i woke up hours later ...both wrists were bruised and had holes where they were trying, talk about sore...it was like that for weeks. even one of the holes was infected. as for the one i had for the hyst. the nurse put it on the back of my hand at the wrist so every time i bent my wrist it was pushing and pulling the needle in and out. eventually it started to bleed and pooling on the sheet...asked the nurse if she could move it but she took it out instead. try putting ice on it, that should help with the sweeling if any or it will help with the bruising too. take care

Jeanmarie,

Is the "bump" at all warm? Often this is just your tissues recovering - like a bruise, but once in a while a hard lump, especially if it is warm can be a sign of phlebitis - an inflamation of the vein used for the IV.

The treatment is simple, but you should call your doc.

Hope you feel better --

Dorrie

I had the same thing happen to me in one of the many IV sites after my hyst in June. The Dr called it phlebitis, it was very painful. I was told to alternate between hot and cold compresses although neither one ever seemed to help any. It has been better here lately, although (and this is weird)....I can't have my blood pressure taken in that arm anymore. I still have a bruise there and some tenderness but if they take my blood pressure in that arm it causes that area to swell up again and the bruise to get larger...this is still happening 7 months later. I have brought it up to my Dr a couple of times and he doesnt seem to think it's important. Seems strange to me after all this time though. Even when I went back into the castle for more surgery in Dec, I wouldnt let them use that arm because it still hurts.

Good Luck, I hope it gets better soon.

Dawn

I had "traveling IVs", it started out in right hand, nurse didn't like it, moved it to left hand, then it infiltrated, got moved back to the right hand in another location. The right hand has been just as you described. The pain is sort of like an electric shock, sort of "buzzy" and painful.

I had that also. Mine was from my IV infiltrated. And when I was home from the castle, it hurt so bad and there was a bump. So I went and saw my GP and he told me that if there was any redness or feverish, to come back in as that is a sign of infection. Otherwise, I was suppose to alternate between ice and heat and keep it elevated when I slept or was sitting around.

I empathize. My IV site was sore for a few weeks. If you had Morphine or Phenergan through the IV, that can make it painful. Also if it is close to a nerve, or it infiltrated, it can be even more sore. I agree with the heat/cold compresses. It should go away soon. I still have a numb sort of sensation where I had an IV a couple of years ago, because it was too close to a nerve. Hope ya feel better soon... s