I started to have some blood drawn the other day and the moment the nurse stuck the needle in pain lanced down the radial side of my arm and into my thumb and first two fingers. It was some of the most intense pain I’ve ever felt. My first reaction was to tell the nurse to take the freakin’ needle out. After a brief moment she did. The pain eventually subsided but the tip of my thumb was numb for about an hour.
I assumed she hit a nerve.
Anyway, I rescheduled to get the blood drawn today (friday) but had to call to cancel. Over the past two days, whenever I try to stretch out the arm (extending if fully like trying to stretch out the forearms) the pain again shoots down to my thumb and first two fingers. The pain is not quite as intense but it’s still pretty uncomfortable.
It’s a little disconcerting to say the least.
I called and left a message for my nurse practitioner but she was out of the office today.
My question is am I jumping the gun? Is the nerve simply still a little tender and the act of stretching it is agravating it or should I be more concerned about this and really get her to look at it come beginning of next week? Wanted to get a second opinion so I can be ready when I do see her.
Sounds like she hit the radial nerve. Free medical advice is worth what you paid for it, but I’m not sure there’s much to be done besides letting it heal on its own.
BTW, when you say your interests include Lone Wolf are you talking about this guy?
Thanks jhc. I’m curious to see what they say when I have my appointment to get them to look at it.
And, it’s actually Lone Wolf and Cub that I’m interested in. sorry about that. Although that Lone Wolf looks pretty cool to. Lone Wolf and Cub are often referred to as the Baby Cart Assassins as well.
I thought you meant drawing pictures of blood components, like a medical illustrationist would do!
Sure SOUNDS like a nerve injury. If that is what it is, it will probably heal up just fine in a short time. The myelin-sheathed nerves have a very good ability to regenerate and heal.
(Note, my edit removed the word Radial…deke, et. al., corrected my mistake, always good to have experts in the field checking in!)
Not that it really makes any difference, but if the tip of your thumb is involved, this would be the median nerve, not radial. If the sensation was on the radial side to the palm rather than the back of the hand, this would confirm this. This makes more sense from a blood drawing point of view, as the median nerve is closer (behind) to the most common vein to draw blood from, whereas the radial is a bit lateral to it.
In any case, there is not likely any treatment indicated; it will probably go away on its own.
Gotta agree with Beke on this one. I vote median nerve. Where was she drawing blood? I’m guessing she was drawing blood from the bend at the elbow - on the pinky side…
I suspected it was probably the median nerve (and yes, Dave, it was from the pinky side) I just didn’t know if that kind of thing needed some sort of outside assistant in healing or if it would heal up itslef over time. This helps ease my mind a great deal despite the irritation of getting a jolt everytime I stretch my arm.
sorry about that. Although that Lone Wolf looks pretty cool to. Lone Wolf and Cub are often referred to as the Baby Cart Assassins as well.