Table of Contents
Delicate nerves are located near the veins in your arms. So a phlebotomist must “aim” with care. When a nerve is poked, patients often feel a “bolt of electricity” or intense, shooting pain. Another sign that a nerve has been damaged is constant tingling, burning, and muscle weakness.
How do I know if I have nerve damage from a blood draw?
Types of nerve injury sharp acute pain at venipuncture site. sharp shooting pain up or down the arm. sensation of pain that changes in severity depending on needle position. “pins and needles” sensation or an “electric shock” feeling traveling down the arm from the venipuncture site.
How long does nerve damage from blood draw last?
At the time, the literature was reviewed and the patient was reassured that most commonly, 70%, 90% and 96% of venipuncture-related nerve injuries resolve within 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively.
Can you get nerve damage from giving blood?
Anecdotal reports of difficult access requiring multiple attempts often precede the nerve injury. When reviewing the blood donation population specifically, the incidence of nerve injury was found to be between 1 in 21,000 and 1 in 26,000 venipunctures.
Is it common to hit a nerve when drawing blood?
There are no studies showing how often patients are hurt during routine blood draws, but a 1996 study of blood donors (a larger needle is used in blood donation than in routine venipuncture) found that 1 in 6,300 donors suffered a nerve injury.
Can a phlebotomist hit a nerve when drawing blood?
Damage to the nerve happens, unfortunately. When inserting the needle, if the nurse or other person drawing blood is not careful, they may accidentally puncture a nerve. If they extract blood from the bottom of your wrist, the ulnar nerve may be damaged.
What happens if a needle hits a nerve?
When a nerve injury is caused by a needle, most patients report immediate pain at the time of injection,11 as our patient did. Neurological sequelae can range from minor transient sensory disturbances to severe sensory disturbances and paralysis.
What are the side effects of getting blood drawn?
Side effects bleeding. bruising. lightheadedness (especially after donating blood) rash. skin irritation from tape or adhesive from an applied bandage. soreness.
What does nerve damage feel like?
Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can be as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. People with neuropathic pain are often very sensitive to touch or cold and can experience pain as a result of stimuli that would not normally be painful, such as brushing the skin.
How long should arm hurt after blood donation?
Bruising and pain This is a normal reaction and should go away by itself within 1 week . People may also experience some pain or tenderness at the site of the needle insertion, and possibly some minor swelling.
How do I know if I have nerve damage?
The signs of nerve damage include the following: Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. Feeling like you’re wearing a tight glove or sock. Muscle weakness, especially in your arms or legs.
How do you detect nerve damage?
A nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test — also called a nerve conduction study (NCS) — measures how fast an electrical impulse moves through your nerve. NCV can identify nerve damage. During the test, your nerve is stimulated, usually with electrode patches attached to your skin.
When is a vein blown?
Blown veins occur when a needle injures or irritates a vein, causing blood to leak into the surrounding area. In some cases, IV fluid or medication may also leak from the vein. Blown veins are usually not serious and will heal with treatment. A doctor or nurse may use pressure or ice to reduce any swelling.
What happens if a needle hits a vein?
A blown vein occurs when a needle punctures through the vein and causes it to rupture. It may sting and bruise, but it’s generally a minor injury that clears up within a few days.
What are 3 complications that can occur with a venipuncture procedure?
Complications that can arise from venepuncture include haematoma forma- tion, nerve damage, pain, haemaconcentration, extra- vasation, iatrogenic anaemia, arterial puncture, pete- chiae, allergies, fear and phobia, infection, syncope and fainting, excessive bleeding, edema and thrombus.
Can phlebotomists be sued?
That said, there are a number of things a phlebotomist can do that is a breach of the standard of care and these can be very viable cases. Many phlebotomy lawsuits follow when the phlebotomist stray without a good reason from the median cubital vein.
Can an IV in your hand cause nerve damage?
IV infiltration can also result in damage to the nerves in the arm or hand, wherever the IV has been inserted. This can result in a loss of hand function or numbness or tingling. Complications can be results of both improper placement and insertion, as well as inadequate staff monitoring.
How do you know if you hit a nerve while injecting?
Unlike some veins, nerves are not visible from outside the body, although you will definitely know if you’ve hit one while injecting because you’ll experience extreme pain and no blood will enter the syringe when you pull back to register. You may feel an electric “burn” along your limb.
Can a nerve be damaged by an injection?
Nerve injuries from injections are fairly common occurrence in medical practice, although their exact incidence remains unknown. Many procedures, including intravenous line placement, joint aspiration, nerve block, phlebotomy and intramuscular (IM) injections place patients at risk of the injection injury.
How do you feel after a phlebotomy?
What To Expect After Treatment. Some people feel tired or dizzy after phlebotomy. You might get relief from these symptoms by resting for the next 24 hours and drinking plenty of fluids. You may want to have a family member or friend take you home after the procedure.
What is the most common complication of phlebotomy?
Hematoma: The most common complication of phlebotomy procedure.
How long does it take to recover from a phlebotomy?
You should begin to feel better 24 to 48 hours after the procedure, but this will vary from one person to another. Call your physician if you are concerned about how you feel after the procedure.
How do you fix nerve damage in your hands?
Nonsurgical treatment of nerve injuries can include rest, splinting, icing, and physical therapy. If the nerve has been severed, then surgery will be necessary to rejoin the disconnected ends and restore function and feeling.
Can nerve damage heal itself?
Damage to nerves may result in reduction or a complete loss of sensation, weakness and dry skin. When one of your nerves is cut or damaged, it will try to repair itself. The nerve fibres (axons) shrink back and ‘rest’ for about a month; then they begin to grow again. Axons will regenerate about 1mm per day.
Can you fix nerve damage?
Sometimes a section of a nerve is cut completely or damaged beyond repair. Your surgeon can remove the damaged section and reconnect healthy nerve ends (nerve repair) or implant a piece of nerve from another part of your body (nerve graft). These procedures can help your nerves to regrow.
