Donating plasma and bent my arm slighty forgetting about the needle. It hurt but not terribly. After my arm was sore around the donation site. The pain has since moved more up my arm. My whole bicep area hurts. Feels more like a bad bruise with some jolts of pain. Maybe nerve related. I don't want to over react but could it be a blood clot? There is no discoloring of my arm.
I would appreciate any advice you can give.
While donating plasma 9 days ago, I forgot the needle was in my arm and slightly bent my arm?
Question posted by TLG3 on 19 Sep 2016
Last updated on 31 January 2018
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Answers
Windchimes123
19 Sep 2016
Hi TLG3,
Let me explain about the needle first. The metal part is removed immediately, leaving a flexible catheter in place for the blood.
You need to see the doctor tomorrow. Any adverse effects from a transfusion needs to be important until all complications are ruled out.
I doubt it's a blood clot. Are there any temperature differences in your fingers?
The nerve may have been "bruised". My thinking is your complaint of pain jolts and it moving up your arm. Nerve pain is usually described as an electrical sensation and burning.
If this is the case, their is a med called Gabapentin specifically for nerve pain. The sooner you get started the better the outcome.
Perhaps it's an infection? Do you have a fever?
Perhaps it's not related at all. :)
Like you said you don't want to over-react but you DO want to be proactive with blood transfusions especially.
Tomorrow is Mon. Please call in AM to hopefully get seen that day.
You may want to call the blood bank/center where it was done just to notify them.
Good luck to you and thanks for your contribution of life.
Let us know...
Aleah913
9 Jan 2018
Windchimes123 your statement about the needle being removed and there being a catheter isn't fully true i donate i biomat USA and they leave the needle in your arm they dont use a catheter like an IV i wish they did though.
Windchimes123
13 Jan 2018
Oops! My bad!
I thought it has become standard to stick with a needle and advance the catheter. Last step is withdrawing the metal.
I’m curious about THLG and if there has been any further problems.
Thank you for correcting me.
Take care
:-)
Aleah913
22 Jan 2018
No problem I wish they used those i asked last time i donated why they didnt because I ended up throwing up while the needle was in my arm (my BP dropped really low and it made me sick) and the whole time i was sick i was terrified of moving my arm and blowing my vein, but they said they have no clue they've tried to change it to catheters but corporate wont approve.
Windchimes123
31 Jan 2018
Just my two cents...
Don’t take blood drawing lightly.
In 2003, I had my blood drawn by an inexperienced very young tech.
I could tell by the way she was setting up that she had not done it many times.
Her attitude stunk because she did not even say hello as she entered and was busy chewing gum.
I figured everyone has to learn so I kept quiet.
I didn’t watch as she inserted the needle.
Suddenly I felt like my finger was in a socket extending up my arm.
I couldn’t even talk to tell her to stop.
I was able to move my eyes and saw the needle (the long metal type) inserted straight down in the bend of my arm.
She quickly gathered her things and left. I was so stunned I walked out without checking out. I got to my car and vomited. It took me 30 min of sitting in my car before I was mentally aware enough to drive.
For the next month, every time I stretched my arm I got a shock.
One of the doc’s I worked with saw me grimacing when I passed her my paperwork. She told me to take it seriously even though it wasn’t a big deal at the time.
Wow, was she right!
I won’t go into the gory details over the next 15 years (presently because it doesn’t go away) but it changed my life.
A complication from venipunctures is hitting the nerve and causing a chronic pain syndrome called RSD (Reflux Sympathetic Dystrophy). It’s now called CPD (?) Compartmentalized Pain Disorder. It destroyed my quality of life.
I’m not saying this to scare anyone.
The point I want to make...
speak up if you see someone about to do something invasive to your body who appears not to know what they are doing.
Who cares if they get insulted !
Btw... the prognosis is better if you start on Gabapentin ASAP even is it is not bothering you at the time because it can become incapacitating down the road.
You can check under venipuncture complications to read more about this topic.
Thanks for allowing me to vent!
Best wishes
:-)
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