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?

[EUNICE1916]

A few weeks ago I had blood taken at the hosp and I got what felt like an electric shock in my arm it made me jump and shout and I almost punched the nurse as my arm flew up in the air. She apologized and said she must have hit a nerve. Ever since my arm has been tingling and Ive have had two more bloods taken and I get a strange feeling in my arm. Its like Ive knocked my funny bone? This morning I was at the Drs and had some blood taken and as the nurse took the needle out I got the funny feeling again? It hurt a bit and I swore which I dont normally do!!

[intrussu2004]

Jase, and all others, the pain won't get heal by itself. At least not in normal time interval. So, just go to the doctor(neurologist), explain what happened and he/she will make some simple tests(pull the arm, the fingers, etc) and probably give you some pills(for the nervous system). Believe me, it's the wise decision to do this.

[JaseHurts]

Wow, so what happened to me was, I was donating Plasma, when they lady first stuck the needle, I felt intense pain on my forearm area. She said it was cause it my first using my right arm. I thought it would go way.  Half way thru the process she stopped it. I come home let my arm rest. The next day I feel this tugging(with pain) on my vien everytime I make sudden movements.. I can easily move my arm, but I can not exert any physical activity.. I can't even open a car door for **** sake. If it doesn't heal in a year I'm doomed..

[Buttimus]

This is almost a mirror image of my situation. I had blood drawn one week ago today. When the needle was inserted it felt like she had hit the bone. I said ow ah. I looked down and there was no blood coming out into the tube. She immediately pulled the needle back and blood started flowing. Before I could leave my arm was in excruciating pain stabbing, burning, pinching and pulling like a rubber band being stretched to the breaking point. Ever since then I've continued to have the burning, stinging and stabbing pains when I hang my arm down to my side, turn my wrest, or move my fingers I have these sinsationsmultiple times a day when I just hang my arm down

[Foggy2]

Thank you...and you feel better too. :-)

[intrussu2004]

After 10 days of treatment(pills), my hand condition is much better(70-80%) of what originally was. I went again to the neurologist and she gave me another 10 days of treatment, some other pills. I can say that I'm feeling better and I really hope that the problem will disappear completely. The pain I had was smaller that the majority of you describe here, but still the symptoms were the same, at a smaller scale. I really wish you guys health and hope you recover.