creekland Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Tuesday hubby and I donated blood - very typical for us. However, this time when the nurse pricked my finger for the anemia test she slipped and got it about 2 millimeters away from the nail. It was extremely painful all day. My only guess is she hit a nerve pretty directly. It's now Saturday and still hurts, especially when I accidentally put (slight) pressure on it from everyday activities (picking things up, moving things, etc). This is majorly noticeable (to me) and can practically put me in a swearing mood when it happens. There's no redness or swelling so I doubt anything is infected. I've occasionally wondered if a small part of the tip broke off inside my finger, but figure that's nigh onto impossible. So... I wait out the nerve healing (as my best guess). I just tried to google how long before I can expect that to happen and got nowhere - so - I'm turning to my Hive "experience" engine. ;) Any ideas? This can't be the first time this has ever happened even if it's my first time dealing with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 Ouch! Sorry, that's all I got. Yeah, I've reached that stage. :lol: It was the worst prick ever - even immediately after it happened. The fact that it hasn't gotten better in 5 days is :cursing: and :banghead: . I have my life to live and I use my right hand quite a bit. I'm learning to not use that finger, but it's not easy and I forget too often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 If you have a thimble that fit that finger, use it. I had a bad cut once at the fingertip and the wound kept reopening on slight pressure. So took one of my aunt's thimble to use. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 That's an idea to consider. I'll have to see what I have and if it will fit inside my gloves (for outdoor work) without putting pressure itself on that spot. As I think about it, I could even try splinting over/around it with a bandaid. Thanks for the idea! There's no cut in my case. I can feel the spot (pinprick sized, of course), but it's tough to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Having done similar with a sewing needle, I would give it two more days of rest. If the nail bed is showing signs of damage, it will be longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I cut the very tip of my finger off. It hurt for weeks. So it took a very long time for it to heal. Bad news - sometimes that finger tip still gets super sensitive 5 years later. I sincerely hope you have better luck and yours heals quickly and permanently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 If you have a thimble that fit that finger, use it. I had a bad cut once at the fingertip and the wound kept reopening on slight pressure. So took one of my aunt's thimble to use. Good news. We did a similar type of splint using a thin piece of cardboard and some tape - fits in my gloves - and performed wonderfully. So... I want to thank you again :hurray: and totally ignore the fact that the temporary solution is so simple that I should have thought of it myself. :glare: Having done similar with a sewing needle, I would give it two more days of rest. If the nail bed is showing signs of damage, it will be longer. I plan to try at least a couple more days (sigh), probably more if it needs more as it seems pretty trivial to head anywhere about (other than feeling like I'm being painfully pricked all over again each time I accidentally hit it). Fortunately there's no sign of nail bed damage. I cut the very tip of my finger off. It hurt for weeks. So it took a very long time for it to heal. Bad news - sometimes that finger tip still gets super sensitive 5 years later. I sincerely hope you have better luck and yours heals quickly and permanently. OUCH! I could not add a like to your post... but it's good for me keeping my wee issue in perspective. I'm just glad it wasn't the first time I donated blood. It would be a major turn off if I thought this was normal - not to mention anyone I talked with about it would think I'm crazy being so affected by a pin prick :lol: (though I feel certain she had it set on "lethal" or at least "make it though older calloused man's hand"). If I were to join the conspiracy theorists I'd assume they implanted my microchip. :closedeyes: It sort of does feel like a splinter the way it keeps getting annoyed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I've had one hit in my arm during a blood draw, and one hit in my hip getting an injection. I'm sorry to say they were both sensitive for about five years, any time I stretched out that arm or that hip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 I sewed through my finger with the sewing machine. The neighbour had to use pliers to remove the broken needle from the pad of my finger. It definitely did take a while to get back to normal, although it went from an "every time I use it" sort of hurt to random moments where I hit it in a particular way. I really can't remember how long it took, though. A couple of weeks total, maybe? I'm pretty sure the worst was over in a week or 10 days though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeLovePassion Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 (edited) That happened to SIL just a week ago. Was it red cross? Call them. They will pay for your medical bills. She just saw a neurologist and is having a test done then will follow up with them again. Eta, hers was from the actual draw. S Edited October 2, 2016 by LifeLovePassion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto3innc Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I had that happen about 6 months ago during a blood draw in my arm. The initial pain when she pricked it was awful (besides the fact she kept reassuming me it was normal...ah...no...take the needle out of my arm now). It was pretty bad for about 2-3 weeks then gradually better. Totally healed by about 5-6 weeks out from hitting the nerve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 I've had one hit in my arm during a blood draw, and one hit in my hip getting an injection. I'm sorry to say they were both sensitive for about five years, any time I stretched out that arm or that hip. I don't want to "like" this, but I wanted to say that if it is a hit nerve, I had the same thing. It took about 3 years for the sensitivity to go away. My nerve in the crook of one arm still seems to randomly spasm a few times a year, and it's 9 years out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 Tuesday hubby and I donated blood - very typical for us. However, this time when the nurse pricked my finger for the anemia test she slipped and got it about 2 millimeters away from the nail. It was extremely painful all day. My only guess is she hit a nerve pretty directly. It's now Saturday and still hurts, especially when I accidentally put (slight) pressure on it from everyday activities (picking things up, moving things, etc). This is majorly noticeable (to me) and can practically put me in a swearing mood when it happens. There's no redness or swelling so I doubt anything is infected. I've occasionally wondered if a small part of the tip broke off inside my finger, but figure that's nigh onto impossible. So... I wait out the nerve healing (as my best guess). I just tried to google how long before I can expect that to happen and got nowhere - so - I'm turning to my Hive "experience" engine. ;) Any ideas? This can't be the first time this has ever happened even if it's my first time dealing with it. That's happened to me a few times. The worst took almost a year before I didn't have intermittent numbness in my hand, pinky and ring finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted October 2, 2016 Author Share Posted October 2, 2016 (edited) Ouch! Those of you with BTDT experiences lasting years... can't "like" those and sure hope I'm not in that category! Nonetheless, I appreciate your sharing - just in case. It helps to know what could be normal, but still ouch! And :grouphug: for you, :cursing: for it happening. I sewed through my finger with the sewing machine. The neighbour had to use pliers to remove the broken needle from the pad of my finger. It definitely did take a while to get back to normal, although it went from an "every time I use it" sort of hurt to random moments where I hit it in a particular way. I really can't remember how long it took, though. A couple of weeks total, maybe? I'm pretty sure the worst was over in a week or 10 days though. I could live with this. I'm voting for my experience to mimic yours in length, not in what actually happened though. That sounds far more painful to start with. That happened to SIL just a week ago. Was it red cross? Call them. They will pay for your medical bills. She just saw a neurologist and is having a test done then will follow up with them again.Eta, hers was from the actual draw. S Not the Red Cross. Around here they send all blood to Baltimore. We opt to donate through Central PA Blood Bank instead since that stays local. However, I'll keep in mind the part about medical bills - just in case, because I expect that would be the same. Donating blood is not supposed to cost money (except that hubby and I eat out that day ;) ). I honestly can't imagine what Urgent Care would do other than say, "Sorry, don't use it until it gets better." I can try that without a visit there. I had that happen about 6 months ago during a blood draw in my arm. The initial pain when she pricked it was awful (besides the fact she kept reassuming me it was normal...ah...no...take the needle out of my arm now).It was pretty bad for about 2-3 weeks then gradually better. Totally healed by about 5-6 weeks out from hitting the nerve. I had a similar deal happen once when they went for an IV in the arm. That did not go well and is the only time I almost passed out from a needle. Like yours it got better in a similar time frame. I'm seriously hoping this one will be shorter with healing time. I guess time will tell. By typing I can tell it's not gone yet, but I've no idea if direct contact is as bad as all the previous days. I'm too big of a wimp to check it "just because." Sooner or later I'll forget (get on autopilot doing something) and find out. :glare: Edited October 2, 2016 by creekland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 2, 2016 Share Posted October 2, 2016 from what I'm understanding - I've had it take from several days to a couple weeks. for other nerve injuries - I've had it take as much as six months. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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