I went for a colonoscopy yesterday. All I can remember is screaming because of the horrific pain at the Propofol insertion site. The Dr. Told me there would be " a little burning"! Had I not fallen asleep I would have pulled the line out. I am not a baby with no pain tolerance, but this was unbelievable!!! I need to go for more surgery and almost want to cancel because of only ?30-40 seconds of barbaric pain. Actually I am embarrassed for screaming like that but I couldn't help it. Anyone experience this, or know why it would have been so bad?? Thank you
Why does Propofol burn SO bad when injected?
Question posted by Rixiesmom on 7 Aug 2013
Last updated on 23 August 2024 (5 weeks ago) by CommanderLeslie
65 Answers Page 2
I answered this and it disappeared. Can you help? I put a lot of work into it and need a copy for my records. Please help if possible
I just had colonoscopy monday nov 25 and had the same experience. Horrific pain when they injected the propofol. I have had propofol before and did not have the pain, a little burning but not pain. My dr. Said something to the effect that the blood pressure cuff was to tight and the medicine did not move. My sister is a nurse and she said that messed up by putting the cuff on the same arm as the iv. I need another colonoscopy in 6 months and iam not sure iam going to go through that again. I have had several surgeries and never had that pain.
I experienced the Same pain today. I agree it felt barbaric. I have even given birth naturally and never felt pain in this sort.
Rixiesmom: I had the same horrific pain from Propofol 2 months ago. Since experiencing 30-45 seconds of the worst pain in my life, I learned the following. 1. The way to reduce the Propofol pain is to start an IV in a large vein i.e. antecubital 2. premedicate IV site with lidocaine 3. premedicate patient with opioids 4. premedicate patient with nitrous oxide if tolerated 5. Mix Propofol w/recommended amount of lidocaine before administering Propofol 6. Give Propofol in small doses i.e 20 mg per 10 seconds NOT a 150 mg bolus push 7. DO not administer Rocuronium, which induces muscle paralysis until patient is "fully" sedated. Rocuronium burns the veins as much as Propofol ! When Propofol and Rocuronium are given together in a push before you are fully sedated, get ready to go into a painful orbit ! IF they use a small vein i.e dorsum hand vein, all the premedication stated above should apply.
Different studies have shown applying a tourniquet to the upper arm when premedicating the vein with lidocaine is helpful, but the tourniquet must be RELEASED before they administer the Propofol or else the Propofol will be trapped in your arm causing indescribable pain. Anesthsiologist know how to avoid Propofol pain, and if they don't take the necessary steps so the patient doesn't suffer they are either lazy, or sadistic. I suggest anybody that experiences horrific pain from Propofol and Rocuronium injections should file a formal complaint with the hospital, or else this barbaric practice will continue and dismissed by the medical staff as simply "a little burning" at the IV site. Sorry this happened to you.
I had a similar experience with my colonoscopy a few days ago. The pain was far worse than the prep. I also screamed and I have a pretty good pain tolerance. Nice to know I’m not alone but there should be better way. I think this pain is only with the anesthetic used for colonoscopy.. i had a surgical procedure last October and had no problems with anesthesia.
Are you sure it was propanol? For like a day surgery procedure because I had an IV of fentanyl and some other crap that stung and burn like fire and I was crying and then I had a colonoscopy done a couple of months later and he use propanol and it was wonderful makes me wonder what they really gave you
Yes. I experienced this today and it does hurt like my hand was on fire or something. I was sedated plenty times for different surgeries but NEVER felt what I felt today. When I say Never I mean Never. I did ask once I was in recovery, I was told it’s different kind of propofol
Hello, I had the same experience with my sinus surgery today. When they put in the IV needle on the back of my hand, it stung for a minute, and went away. Then they put something in the IV that caused the most excruciating pain I have felt in years. It lasted for about 30 seconds or so, maybe a minute, until I fell asleep. Like you I don't usually whine about pain, but this was like battery acid being poured on my arm, truly unbelievable, and was not given much warning about. Why did they do that, and how come never before did anesthesia hurt remotely that much. I was not very impressed. Thank you, Keith Clarke
Patient.
I had the same feeling of such a intense burning sensation of it traveling up my arm i starting screaming to. How did you react to it when you woke up because after i woke up the anaesthesia was burning my chest and back and legs the worst but my whole body. I was in terrible pain did this happen to you?
I read up on propofol when a barbaric anesthesiologist tortured me, too. It's very acidic - which explains the sensation of molton lava slowly sizzling up your veins. Then he went to my other hand and 'pushed' it up that vein, too. I am not one who normally yells or swears {either}, but torture is torture. Also, my legs were involuntarily kicking the table. No words at all from the self called anesthesiologist. A shocking , lasting experience that I'd like to prevent humans and animals from going through. Very sorry that you experienced this nightmare, also. They're supposed to numb your veins first with lidocaine and/ or dilute with a saline drip. Your note was years back, but maybe someone reading these will demand lidocaine if they're going to have propofol as their anesthesia.
I had an endoscopy yesterday and had a very similar experience with the burning feeling upon administering the drug. I wasn’t warned at all that it would burn and when I complained it was burning the nurse just said “we will keep an eye on your IV” then I passed out. My question is, further up my arm by my bicep is sore today. Has anyone else had a sore arm the following day?
Today I went for a scope and it took 3 people and eight sticks to finally find a vain with a dopler. When he started the IV to knock me out the pain was so bad I screamed and he said it will quit when you go to sleep. I woke up screaming. The pain was worse than all five childbirths put together. My arm was bright red and he said that the drug had infilterated the flesh. They put hot clothes on it and I was there for another hour until it went down. I was shaking for hours. They had the nerve to call me on my way home to schedule another scope to check if the meds helped. I told her even if someone put a gun to my head would I do that again.
I just had surgery yesterday. I experienced the same amount of horrorific pain that was unbearable!! I had lower lumbar back surgery last year, I also had back surgery again three weeks ago. Yesterday I had right arm carpal tunnel surgery and that was the first time I received that medicine thru the IV.. I asked every nurse when I woke up what that was, and why they had to give it to me. They said every anesthesiologist doctor is different. We can ask to never receive that again. And I really do not know why they would even give that to anybody, the pain was terrible it hurt worse than all of my back surgeries put together !!! They need to not give that to anybody. You are right ,it did not hurt just a little bit , it hurt a lot!!!
Rixiiesmom.
I went through the exact same response when having an Endoscopy and Colonoscopy on January 10, 2019. I felt like they were cutting my hand off. The pain was more than severe and I screamed to have it taken out. Two nurses ran over to massage my hand where the needle was inserted. No one from the hospital or my doctor who performed the procedure would tell me what happened. I even picked up the hospital and anesthesia report. They lied saying that I was informed of the burn. It was only three days ago that I got the real truth. The needle was inserted in my left hand and pierced the ligament instead of continuing through the vein. The nurses ran over to adjust the needle not to just massage my hand. The hospital said I signed a release so no wrong doing. But, I never agreed that I wouldn’t write a scathing letter to the editor. All I wanted was the truth as to why I went through such pain.
The most agonizing pain of my 80-year life! Barbaric anesthetist! 20 seconds of 'flames' coursing through my hand, arm, and across my chest. I was screaming "Stop! Ow! Why? Why? WHY?" before I got knocked out.
This method of induction of Propofal without being preceded by Lidocaine is UNCONSCIONABLE. As a result of that ordeal I wake up remembering the pain and I cry, every day. Talk about Post-traumatic stress! Never again will I return to that hospital.
Related topics
anesthesia, pain, propofol, colonoscopy, burning
Further information
- Propofol uses and safety info
- Propofol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Propofol (detailed)
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