I'm new here & slowly typing with one hand. I am hoping you know what road I should take at this point, here is what happened....

I moved to MN in July from Iowa. I initially was determined to find a new Dr. But unfortunately after a few visits to a few Dr's I decided I missed my Dr's from Iowa so I decided that with the exception of routine care I would just travel back twice a year. I could visit friends any ways. So on Tuesday I head out. By the time I get to my Dr's office I have already had a chipped windshield, driven through a snow storm & had to purchase a new battery for my truck, so not the best trip. So I get to the Dr's office, we talk & he wants to get some blood for some routine tests. No problem, the nurse comes in, binds up my upper arm & sticks the needle in. About 30 seconds in I get this white hot searing pain about half way down my arm, I start to make a noise, I loudly exclaim "OMG that HURTS"!! I am yelling at her, I become frantic, I start kicking the table. She kept the needle in & told me to bear it she only has 2 vials left. I start sweating & getting quite panicky as the pain is reaching unbearable status. She finally pulls out the needle and looks at me like I am a complete wimp. "Do you think you hit a nerve?" I ask her. "No, you would have felt it immediately and the pain would have been too severe for me to continue" She stands there for a minute & then leaves. My arm feels like it is on fire.

So now it is Saturday & the painis getting steadily worse & my hand is drawn up like a claw, minimal movements send white hot pain up my arm. My index finger & my thumb are numb. I know the first thing I will do on Monday is get an appt with a neurologist but what do I do now? If this is an inflammed nerve than should I take some ibuprofen or put ice on my arm?

Anyone know a good Neurologist in Minneapolis?

Oh & to top off my little trip to Iowa my truck broke down on the side of the road, needed towed, spent the night there & had to get a new fuel pump. It was just not a good trip.

Juls

You should visit an urgent care facility this weekend and have them give you a better anti-inflammatory than ibuprofen, hopefully. Sounds like the median nerve got nicked or at least you have a hematoma-induced compression of the same. Ice may or may not be a good idea. Absolutely the neurologist for you on Monday!

Yikes i can feel your pain from the blood draw. I ask for a pediatric needle for everything if they can. I learned that thorugh the forums. Unfortunatley most people dont know about rsd and that makes it rough. This week i went and she missed my vein yikes even with the pediatric needle. Im not sure if you said you have rsd or not. And yes no ice....

Jolene

yikes

That sounds painful, is your RSD in that arm? and I am shock that you drove all that way and its so cold and snowy and then you brake down,
I feel so bad for you right now, and I agree with Dubious
why wait,
please let us know how you are doing and if they can tell what happen
I never been afraid of blood work, and never hurt me, but now it dose,
and I have yet to have any blood work done scene I was told that I have RSD and it is full body, I did have blood work done one time just before being told what I have, and she could not hit a vain, to tiny, she said, and then she went to my outer arm, and gave that one a try, and gave up and got a new nurse to come in,she did get it, but after that, my left arm, the 1st one she was pocking on, flared up, and that is really how they found out about how I had RSD,
my pain Dr seen my arm and it was all swollen and red and sported blotchy looking,
but after reading what happen to you, OUCH I am sure the next time I have to get blood work done I am going to be thinking about you
and pray

best of luck and really let us know what happen please
peace
kelly

Hi Juls and Welcome to NeuroTalk,

I am so sorry you had that awful experience. If you end up diagnosed RSD from this blood draw, it will not be the first case as a result of damage to the nerve causing RSD.Again, I am so sorry. Did you see the Dr. after this event and tell him what happened. I would get a tablet and start documenting times and dates, names, everything, including phone calls. I agree with getting help as soon as possible. Neurologist, especially one with experience with RSD. There is a national organization RSDA, name the state you are in and zip code or larger city and start getting names with experience in RSD. It's better you don't self diagnosis. you can also try to get name of RSD support group and get name of a good neurologist from the leader. The name and number should be on the website. It is the understanding of those with RSD that ice never be used on an effected limb. The hot burning pain is a typical symptom. The withdrawal of the hand in a claw shape is also typical of RSD. I don't any Drs. in your state, sorry.

Drs. will shy away from you as soon as they hear your account. They just don't want to be drawn into a possible lawsuit. My daughter is a court reporter and has done deposition for lady getting RSD from medical procedure. Dr. omitted letting her know of risk of possible RSD from the procedure.

Hope you find a good Dr. Could also check Pain Management Group of Drs. and ask if they have one experienced in RSD. Hopefully you don't have it, like someone mentioned, inflammation. I hope so. Important to get diagnosis and treatment soon. Please let us know what you find out. Sincerely, Loretta

I already suffer from Charcot Marie Tooth CMT and take Methadone for pain. More pain is just not welcome. I know because of the CMT my nerves don't heal all that well, so this is very frightening.
I have read your stories, you are a brave group of people.

I don't know if this is RSD but I have read enough accounts to know it could turn into it quickly or has already caused it.

The nurse ran out of the room pretty quickly & the sharp pain subsided so I thought all was OK, I didn't say anything to anyone. She so treated me with disdain that I figured something happened that had never occurred before. It wasn't until I started searching on the internet did I discover that her actions may have caused RSD & I should have been immediately evaluated. I can't even tell you how angry I am, especially when I read that they are supposed to withdraw the needle if something like this happens. I sent my Dr an email & plan to call him on Monday & only talk to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will go to Urgent care when they open, thank you for the advice, the pain in my arm is over the top, and reaches 10 levels very quickly. My right hand is very numb, I am very scared as I am the breadwinner of my family & work may prove very difficuly without my right hand. I will update later..

Juls

Hey Juls. How are you doing? Did you go to Urgent care on Monday? If so, what did they say?

I hope you'll get some answers quickly and begin whatever treatment may be needed asap. I'm quite appalled at the way you were treated by that woman. Things like that really tick me off and wonder what happened to the "Do no harm" oath!!

Hugs,

Karen

I also had a problematic blood draw 7 months ago. No severe pain but a big hematoma, and arm pain that has gotten worse.

Based on my research on the net, when the insertion of needle causes pain, the needle should be removed right away in order to minimize the damage of the nerve.

In this site, I've read many cases of nerves damaged by venipuncture. Every single case involves a non-removed needle despite the severe pain. Is it because the nurse wasn't following the correct protocol, or the protocol they follow is no good?

Wow that's horrific. Sorry you had such a nightmare time of it. I'm glad you have followed it up with the surgery whereit happened. It is essential that you complain about this nurse before she doesn't to someone else. She should have read your notes and be aware of any major health concerns before doing the draw, and she certainly should have reacted immediately you started yelping at the pain. It is not acceptable to have reacted as she did with a patient with CRPS, and the surgery need to be held accountable for not educating their staff adequately.

Grrrrrrr. Sorry, but it makes me so angry when idiot medics make things even worse for us with simple procedures that should be 'routine'. Sadly there is no routine procedures for us, and your doc should have written on your notes that you a very susceptible to further pain and should be treated with great care and only paediatric needles....

I do hope this settles quickly for you. See your doc ASAP, complain, ask for treatment for this, and do everything you are able to yourself. I'll be hoping that your pain can be managed quickly. Take good care of yourself in the meantime, and good luck

Bram.

Good grief, can't believe the nurse. She should have stopped if something was wrong....Like that much pain.....
Seek out a neurologist. I sincerely hope that the pain can be dealt with, and that it subsides. ginnie