Track marks

[IceCold]

For those of us that have real jobs having track marks can be a big problem. I know a couple tricks for not getting bad tracks in the first place.The first tip is to use a brand new clean syrringe every time. After using a rig only a couple times the needle gets really dull. Using a dull needle makes tracks much worse than when one uses a new needle. I use new needles every time and you can barely see any marks on my arm My second tip is to do whatever it takes to stick yourself as few times as possible. Know where your veins are and tie off if you need to. The fewer times you stick a needle in your arm the better. I would like to hear any other tips that you'll have to avoid track marks.

[Saint]

Well, I haven't used any illegal drugs for over 6 years but trackmarks are there for life. I have a steady job and a BIG problem with my scars. I feel very uncomfortable because of them, especially in summer time: I always wear long sleeves (thank god for airconditioning at the workplace).
I mean: ofcourse my trackmarks are all scartissue now, so not reddish or anything but anyone who pays attention will notice that I have a little 'hole' on the inside of my left elbow. My right elbow is even worse: I had an infection once which made some veins come to the surface, so yes, it doesn't look 'normal' and there's scars on the right as well ofcourse.

My BF thinks it's absolutely ridiculous that I'm so ashamed and fucked-up about it, especially now that I have been clean for so many years but I can't even stand to look at my own arms.
Camouflagecremes are no use either. I have never found one that covers it up completely. I guess I'll just have to deal with it or find another job where people will accept me for who I am, past and all.

I have even considered seeing a plastic surgeon about it but then again, they are probably too small to expect any improvement of that.

I have been hospitalized as a child for 6 months though and was getting daily shots and infuses at the time (infuses? intubations? don't know the right word in English), so sometimes I just tell people that my scars are a souvenir from back then..
But amongst most people I still feel like I have the word 'JUNKY' written all over my forehead. For example when friends want to go to the beach or stuff like that.

By the way: I have always used clean/new syringes and taken good care of hygiene but you simply can't get away with almost 20 years of IV-ing dope without leaving a single trackmark...
But you're right: the better you take care of them now, the less 'ugly' they'll become later on.

[phrozen]

You summed up the best tips.

-Avoid hitting deep veins. Hitting them leads to more bruising than hittin' superficial veins.
-Use creams for already present tracks. Vitamine E helps, as well as specialty creams for scars.
-Use smaller gauge needles. 29+ But, they are more difficult to use than 27/28.
-Apply a warm cloth to the area after injection.
-Do not apply alcohol after you inject, this leads to increased bleeding.
-If you use a tourniquet, make sure to release before you depress the plunger. Not doing so can cause blackflow and leaks, as well as vein damage.
-Make sure you do not hit a valve, which can lead to serious bruising.
-Rotate injection sites.

That's all I could think of right off the top of my head... :\

[dirtdog]

live and let learn
is all you can do
track marks are here to stay
Ive got a collaspped vein on my right
two noticeable scars on my left

friends ask what did you do(drugs)? I just show em my arm and that is the end of the conversation lol

[Ragdoll]

Arnica for bruises.

[ProdigalSon]

You summed up the best tips.

-Avoid hitting deep veins. Hitting them leads to more bruising than hittin' superficial veins.
-Use creams for already present tracks. Vitamine E helps, as well as specialty creams for scars.
-Use smaller gauge needles. 29+ But, they are more difficult to use than 27/28.
-Apply a warm cloth to the area after injection.
-Do not apply alcohol after you inject, this leads to increased bleeding.
-If you use a tourniquet, make sure to release before you depress the plunger. Not doing so can cause blackflow and leaks, as well as vein damage.
-Make sure you do not hit a valve, which can lead to serious bruising.
-Rotate injection sites.

That's all I could think of right off the top of my head... :\

Can someone sticky this post(or the thread), with an option to add to it if its just phrozen's post. Its true as the balls in my hand right now

[turdkenedy]

always use a new, sharp needle.

dont hit the same spot until it heals (least a day)

aim the needle towards your heart because thats the direction of blood flow

use small needles (31 guage)

wash hands and try to be clean while injecting

make sure not to miss vein

I follow these tidbits and my arms are usually fine. i also avoid my "mainline" or big veins near the fold in my arm because they bruise very very easily and leave marks

[Saint]

friends ask what did you do(drugs)? I just show em my arm and that is the end of the conversation lol

It would probably be the end of my job if I did that ;-)

[tui]

I had very light, inoffensive tracks until i started shooting coke. toxic crap. that and speed will really eff up your veins... cause abcesses etc.

hirudoid cream is like magic. all needle exchanges in nz sell it- not sure about overseas. i have to use at least 26 gauge picks as my blood clots and clogs the needle otherwise, and i can't rotate as i only have two (vaguely) willing veins.

i'd be interested to see if a cosmetic surgeon could get rid of them. don't want to be wearing long sleeves forever.

after 10months-ish my wrists have healed- just looks like i have scratchs. but my crooks of arms, the most *suspect* spots are thick purple scars.

problem was, when i was using a lot i really didn't give a fuck. it's now that i actually do the hirudoid cream etc. and i think it's all a bit late.

t

[Saint]

problem was, when i was using a lot i really didn't give a fuck. it's now that i actually do the hirudoid cream etc. and i think it's all a bit late.
t

Same here. I started worrying about it when the damage was long done.. Somehow I couldn't care less when I was still IV-ing.
I have seen a plastic surgeon about it but he told me the area where the scars are (at the inside of both my elbows) is too thin and plastic surgery won't improve things that much, if at all.. Also, because your skin moves all the time at that spot, when using your arms, it's a very difficult place to treat/heal.
(btw hope you're doing ok Tui)

[tui]

^^ Thanks Saint, I'm ok.
Staying with my 90 year-old nana. Guite grounding actually. She has some wild tales. Calls our generation "the moderns".... heehee

Oh well, i guess you saved me a trip to the plastic surgeon. Damn. That sucks eh. Have they faded much in 6 years? I keep hoping mine will fade... but I always scar easily in general... too delicate, pale... annoying skin.

t

[akizum]

i grinded all my veins in my body in two and a half years of H ok i was up at 1/4 ounce or more tar a day
i have used clean and fresh needles all the time (not saying its not important )
i havent touch H
in 9 months but the scars look like i've been on H for 20 years
now i know is important to know th PH what u have been shooting that what is ruining your veins not really the
way of shooting (still important)
i had a surgery a month ago and could not find a single vein on me so they had to go to the neck
i don think they ever go away sorry

[JMill420]

i was up at 1/4 ounce or more tar a day


Jesus Christ.

[Dominick]

A & D ointment, I got the stuff from my tattoo parlor when I got inked. The ointment works great to put on you're arms when there still fresh marks. I have virtually no signs of IV drug use.

[Saint]

^^ Oh well, i guess you saved me a trip to the plastic surgeon. Damn. That sucks eh. Have they faded much in 6 years? I keep hoping mine will fade... but I always scar easily in general... too delicate, pale... annoying skin.
t

Generally they will fade a little and become white instaed of red over the years, I had some ugly little scars near my wrists for example (always wore tons of bracelets to cover them up ;-) and they're as good as gone now.
They're not worrying me anymore but the big ones inside my elbows do. They're white but definitely recognisable as scars, and if people don't notice them at first sight the collapsed vein on my right will show them the way.
So scars do get better a little bit but my scartissue isn't smooth + a little crater here and there. I also have a very pale and thin skin so that doesn't help much either. Guess I'll just have to live with it.

Ah well, it's some fucked up generation those moderns ;-)

[house]

I shoot very rarely but still worry about tracks since my poking skills leave much to be desired. I see several large veins on the top of my feet could those be used instead? What about "shooting between toes" I hear people joking about, can you really hit veins in there?

[IceCold]

1/4 ounce or more tar a day


I feel bad for those who have to shoot tar because I'm sure that tar is much worse on veins than good powder. I shot a few grams with one of my buddies when I was in california and the spots where I shot were much more fucked up than they normally are after shooting that shit. 1/4 z a day has got to be torture for veins. My aunt is a nurse and she said that a guy came in who shot a bunch of tar over 30 years. His arms and legs were both black (he was a white guy). Also, the guy had an abcess in his dick from shooting tar in his dick veins.

[Saint]

My aunt is a nurse and she said that a guy came in who shot a bunch of tar over 30 years. His arms and legs were both black (he was a white guy). Also, the guy had an abcess in his dick from shooting tar in his dick veins.

Ouch! That sound absolutely horrifying.