Okay, I'm a baby. Bruising and strange pain after blood being drawn

[OceanAnnie]

This is just weird to me. I'm not one to complain. I know stuff happens sometimes. But this has me kind of stumped. I went to the doctor last Friday. Got my blood drawn and I still have pain at the site! It's just sore as a toothache! Dang. It didn't hurt right away. But I did put ice on it later that day.

But it's still sore after almost a week? I have never had that happen! The blood was taken from the crook of my arm. There is bruising about the size of a 50 cent piece. There is some pain running upwards, but it goes around the back of my arm? If I apply light pressure, it does seem to follow a short roundabout line. It isn't red, or swollen, or hot to touch. No bruising further up, that I can see. It's just odd. I haven't injured my arm. I wonder if it's related.

I did look up the symptoms and it seems I should've applied pressure longer. I'll do that next time for sure.

Has anyone had anything like this happen before? Especially with distal pain? Just curious. If it continues, I am going to the doctor about it.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I had something like that happen the last time I had blood drawn, although it had mostly healed within a week. It usually doesn't bother me, but I couldn't believe how much it hurt when the nurse stuck the needle in that time! I got home and took the bandage off... and I had a large bruise in the crook of my arm. The bruise got bigger throughout the day and stuck around with some arm pain for a few days afterwards. I think the nurse just did a bad (or rather aggressive!) job of sticking the needle in.

If it's still bothering you a week later, I'd call your doctor and ask. It sounds like what happened to me, but mine was definitely on the mend within a few days.

 

[thumper*]

This is just weird to me. I'm not one to complain. I know stuff happens sometimes. But this has me kind of stumped. I went to the doctor last Friday. Got my blood drawn and I still have pain at the site! It's just sore as a toothache! Dang. It didn't hurt right away. But I did put ice on it later that day.

But it's still sore after almost a week? I have never had that happen! The blood was taken from the crook of my arm. There is bruising about the size of a 50 cent piece. There is some pain running upwards, but it goes around the back of my arm? If I apply light pressure, it does seem to follow a short roundabout line. It isn't red, or swollen, or hot to touch. No bruising further up, that I can see. It's just odd. I haven't injured my arm. I wonder if it's related.

I did look up the symptoms and it seems I should've applied pressure longer. I'll do that next time for sure.

Has anyone had anything like this happen before? Especially with distal pain? Just curious. If it continues, I am going to the doctor about it.

After working in healthcare for 25 yr's I feel I can recommend applying a hot pack as needed for pain....cold pack helps w/ swelling which you don't have anymore. Probably had some blood leak out in under the skin if you didn't hold pressure long enough. Not to scare you but I would recommend calling your DR. office and talking to a nurse about it just to be safe, maybe you can ask them if you can just pop in and have someone look at it real quick w/o having to make a Dr apt. Not common to have pain a week after but it does happen sometimes. Good Luck

 

[OceanAnnie]

Thanks Sarah and Thumper.

I'll try some heat. And keep an eye on it.

 

[Acklander]

I had that happen after having an IV in. Sort of a throbbing pain that radiated upward. It ended up being a blood clot, so if it doesn't go away definitely check with the Dr. They can do a quick ultrasound just to make sure everything is ok.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Acklander, I'm glad it worked out for you. Scary stuff!

Of course, I'm hoping that isn't it! That was my concern. It's not really throbbing. It's just a constant ache. It's not the worst pain, but kind of on par with a toothache. Still not great.

I'm keeping tabs on it.

Thanks!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Since you say as sore as a "toothache" I would say to go and have them look at to be on the safe side.

 

[golfgal]

Basically you have a bruise from the blood draw and that is probably what the pain is, the same as if you whacked your shin on something. I agree that heat will help more than ice right now.

 

[pixiewings71]

I have bruising and pain like that but usually only if they go all the way thru the blood vessel when they stick it in the first time. It hurts for a week or so and bruises for abotu 2 weeks on me. If it's a "normal" draw then I still bruise but only for about a week and it hurts for a day or two tops.

 

[AmazingGrace]

Sometimes I'll have pain in my arm if they tie the tourniquet too tight.

 

[C.Ann]

This happened to DD the last time she had blood drawn - never before.. (And believe me, she has had TONS of blood taken!!) She called the doctor after a few days and they made some of the same suggestions you've been given here - but if it continued to be a problem she needed to come back in..

Luckily it went away without her having to be seen.. Probably just a fluke in the way the nurse drew the blood..

Hope yours turns out okay too!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Thanks again, everyone. It's feeling better. Not as sore. Still bruised but changing.

The pain around the back side of my arm is gone. I think a pp hit the nail on the head. It was probably from the tourniquet.

I really didn't want to go back to the doctors. Didn't want to get the nurse in trouble. I appreciate my doctor and his staff so much. They are a great team.

 

[Pakey]

I've been dealing with cancer for almost 4 years and get blood drawn frequently. I've never had an issue with the blood drawn at my oncologist's office but I've occasionally had horrible brusing when I've had to have it done at an outside lab or at the hospital. It doesn't seem any different at the time of the draw, only after. I've gotten so used to having blood drawn that I've always figured it was me rather than them.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Pakey, Your post really puts things in perspective. My problem was really minor in the scheme of things.

I hope everything is on the upswing for you, that you are healing and winning against the dreaded disease. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.