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?

[Nicolachurchill]

The same thing happened to me recently while in hospital on holiday in cornwall and now i have severe pain in my arm radiating both up and down the arm and into my neck. I cant straighten my arm and or turn it. Do i need to seek medical attention or will this just get better on its own? It seems to be spreading by the day can it be dangerous?

[roma248]

Same thing happened to me.  Its been a week to the day and the pain is worse than before.  Mostly blow my thumb, base of wrist, and draw site.  Getting dark thoughts if this doesn't heal and is permanant.  

[rajanusn]

did it heal?

[Gilly451970]

Wow , its not just me then, this happened to me on Friday,I have prominant veins and have never had any problems before, i just dont like to watch. As the needle went in the pain was that intense that i jumped and pushed the nurses hand away, as the needle came out,it scratched my arm and blood came  pumping out, i asked what the hell did you do? and she replied, i dont know why you reacted like that cause i found the vien no problem! no way that felt very wrong, ive never felt antthing like it. she cleaned me up, took the blood from the other arm and i thought that was it but by sunday im no longer Able to fully extend my arm as i get a shooting pain down my arm, which then causes spitful pins and needles in my hands and fingers. Also typing is difficault and causes the same sensation in my elbow, wrist,knuckles and fingers and gets very painful the longer i type, will be seeing Dr Friday!

[karmita]

Horrible situation, I think you should establish a legal action, since it's clear negligence  of the person who did the procedure.  She should stop and try again on the other arm, or you could just step away.  That injury is something serious that might affect you for life.  Take an action because is the only way  we can protect ourselves from any kind of negligences.

[mushu15]

The same thing happened to me 2 weeks ago and when I screamed the nurse just said, ohh it's ok, we just never know where the nerve endings are and just stroked my arm. She didn't even take the needle out when I told her how much pain I was in. I had a huge bruise for a whole week and now everytime I stretch my arm I have a tingling sensation inside my palm and it wakes me up at least 2-3 times during my sleep, because it goes numb when i lie on it. I went back to my GP and he referred me to a hand surgeon but god knows how long it'll be before I am given an appointment. It's my dominant arm so I am really scared that it will be permanent, because there's no improvement so far. How long does it take for it to heal? Has anyone's arm completely healed? :(

[Megha44]

Can anybody tell how long did it take for the tingling to go away? I went through exactly similar situation and every time I stretch or rotate my arm I feel the shock and tingling and pain..