Shooting in the Hands

[Paregoric Kid]

is it a bad idea to shoot on the top side of your hands? seems to work good but I thought I've heard that it was a bad spot to shoot before.

[exitwound]

From what I've heard, shooting that far out into the periphery of the cardiovascular system, in the hands where there are so many tiny branching capillaries, can greatly raise the risk of collapsed veins, abcesses, etc....

[bogumil]

You might also get the blue hands, which makes it then look very obvious that someone is Iving, or?

[ontario_opiophile]

I don't know why it's less safe to shoot in the hands and feet but I wouldn't do it very often. Injection isn't my thing though so I dunno.

[JunkYardSaint]

Well, I can only share my experience - but unfortunately nowadays, I have to pretty much shoot in my hands and wrists - I can't seem to hit anywhere else anymore! - I had 'old faithful' right in the crook of my arm for years until maybe about ten years ago and I haven't been able to hit it since - the problem I have with my hands is that it hurts like all hell and sometimes they swell a bit. I now go closer to the wrist and in fact have had pretty good luck with a vein that my watch covers on the same side as my the thumb of my left arm.

One of the reasons why I'm trying to stick to methadone is because it's getting so damn hard to shoot anymore - even now if I shoot daily by the end of one week I'm back to the old nightmare of not finding a vein or missing with half my shot left undone and mixed with blood. Nothing worse than being almost there, but stuck with a hundred dollars worth of dope in a blood clogged syringe. Ugh!

I remember one time I shot up in my hand before playing a gig and my whole left arm swelled up like a balloon or something it was horrid. I wore my suit coat to sort of hide my arm and luckily by the end of the night I was back to normal. I've had bad luck shooting up in my feet too, I remember many times it scared the holy shit outta me - never enough to stop. I remember when I was younger, expecially when I was in New York, I'd see older junkies shoot up in their neck alot, I swore I would NEVER do that - I never have - that shit scares the hell outta me to this day. I must say this whole post leaves me wondering, is it the eventual outcome of all IV drug users that eventually they will have nowhere left to shoot? Or can a person go indefinitely with new needles and harm reduction? I don't know the answer, but I know that it's not near as easy as it used to be, and that I'm actually getting to the point where I prefer my oral methadone just because I don't have to shoot it. I used to have a pretty solid attraction to needles, but not so much anymore - I just want to not be in pain all the time.

[exitwound]

I hear you there, JYS. What we really need is a replacement for IV administration that retains its advantages. Like the Star Trek hypospray, or some other kind of uber-efficient transdermal method.

Of course, we now know that requires incredibly potent medications like Fentanyl to work well....but maybe we'll find a novel kind of nanorobot that can not only carry meds through the skin into the blood, they can even carry meds across the blood-brain barrier with a near 0% loss rate :D

Keep on dreamin', I guess =/

I've played a lot of gigs, and can hardly imagine doing it with a ballooned arm! Yer a tough motherfucker, JYS :D

[Paregoric Kid]

don't they give IVs in that area of the hand? I don't see why it would be any worse than shooting in the arm but I don't know much about veins so maybe I'm wrong.

[skeletontea]

don't they give IVs in that area of the hand? I don't see why it would be any worse than shooting in the arm but I don't know much about veins so maybe I'm wrong.
Yes they do give IV's in the back of the hand. I have a friend, who just like me couldn't shoot even if he wanted to, because we have no easily locatable veins in our arms. Nurses often have great trouble trying to find my veins and for my friend all injections he's received in the hospital have been through a flexible catheter inserted into the central vein on the back of his hand. He says it's quite painful. (My guess is that the catheter is used rather than injecting when the needle is in because of the fragile nature of the veins in the back of your hands, but I'm not certain. Perhaps the Nurse on Opiophile can shed some light on this one.)

P.S. I was curious about the possible risks of injecting into the backs of the hands, so I did a websearch and found this "The veins in your hand are more fragile and smaller then the other veins in your arm. Try to use smaller guage needle and inject much more slowly than you would in a a big arm vein. The reason for that is that you inject too fast, you put too much pressure on your delicate vein which can burst. You always want to inject in the direction of your blood flow. Trying to inject against the flow will increase the chance of blowing out a valve, doing damage to your vein or wasting drugs." - neojoint.com (http://www.neonjoint.com/drug_recipes/chapter9.html)

[exitwound]

They do indeed, but that's for sterile, pharmaceutical-grade solutions.....tar/pills cooked up in a spoon might be better placed into areas with more immediate reach into the deep cardio system and of course shortly thereafter, the brain....in the hands or feet, you're as far from the brain as you can get -- and much closer to the small branching capillaries than you'd want to be, IIRC.

[Paregoric Kid]

it was painless, but wasn't shooting tar or pills just powdered h
think the rigs are .29g

[Coddfish]

I have never shot the hand, but my friend did for a while until he ended up with a dangerous abcess. He saw the black stripe goin' up his arm and everything. After a pretty significant surgery to fix the 'spider bite', he ended up ok. There is actually a cute little song about this particular incident from a fairly well known band, but I should not mention names. If any of you have heard it, then you may know of whom I speak.

[candy]

The back of the hands is one of the preferred sites for IV's by nurses. It is easy to stabilize the site and easy to watch for infiltration. The best way is to start at any peripheral site and move up the arm.

After long term use, veins will become hard and sclerotic.
Some ways to avoid this from happening to soon; Rotate sites with each injection, use a new needle with each injection. One of the most common ways to develop scarring and missed injections is using dull needles.
Use of a tourniquet will help to view veins, bringing them to the surface and will help to avoid missed shots.
Try and use clean techniques. Cleaning the site before injection, handwashing, this will help prevent infections, such as phlebitis and abscesses, which can make injection difficult.

While some do use the lower extremities, it is not advised as circulation is slower in the feet and legs and there is a higher risk of developing clots, phlebitis, and sclerotic veins. Phlebitis is an inflammation of the veins and symptoms include; redness and swelling along the vein, painful to the touch. Applying warm and cold compresses will help decrease swelling and pain and taking an antiinflammatory such as Motrin is also helpful. Phlebitis is more common in the lower extemeties.

[bogumil]

... wondering, is it the eventual outcome of all IV drug users that eventually they will have nowhere left to shoot? ...

Two older junkies, who are in the business for a long time, like 20+ years each, told me that it is like this. You at some point dont have any space left and go back to smoking or snorting. I think many iv users just dont get old enough to be in the need to switch back to snorting/smoking.

[poppy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by JunkYardSaint
... wondering, is it the eventual outcome of all IV drug users that eventually they will have nowhere left to shoot? ...
______________________

I hope not JYS, I really hope not!! As someone who also struggles with veins I've found that if I cut down on how often I inject I generally have less trouble injecting (does that make any sense?) I'm talking quality of the injection rather than quantity of injections! For me the hit thats involved blood, snot, not to mention tears is far less pleasurable than the hit thats gone in first time.
Having said that my boyfriend with a heroin habit of some twenty plus years duration has no problem whatsoever finding veins. For the first five years of our relationship he used the same vein!!!!
Take Care. Laters Poppyx

[sick_girl_64]

Any time I have tried to shoot in my hands, especially opiates, my veins literally balloon up and can be quite painful for up to a day later. I have much better luck in my feet although I find that both areas seem to have very small veins that seem to move around a lot so you have to be pretty steady handed to start if you plan on using either one of them. Some people though have no problems what so ever although I have heard that later on down the road, you may experience circulation problems. To each their own though. ;)

[shaunclo]

Sick Girl, what you are talking about sounds like your not actually in the vein. If you start to push the plunger and you see a bubble or any kind of pain, than you are not in the vein. When you inject, it should be painless.

There is also a chance that you are injecting too fast or your needle is too dull. You can be in a vein and push the plunger too fast and make the needle fall out of or break the vein open. Try very very slowly pushing your shot in. The slower the better. Mostly if you are injecting in the hands or feet.

I once (and only once) tried shooting in my foot. I guess I completely missed but was so sick I just didnt care. I pushed the whole plunger down and got it all in there with excrushiating pain. For the next 2 days my foot was so sore and swollen I could barely walk. I have never shot in the feet again.

[candy]

Yeah, the feet can be painful and I too have used my feet when all else fails.
I have however injected in the hands and had pain and swelling, even with a good blood return. The veins in the hands and tops of the feet tend to be smaller and closer to the surface. They do tend to blow and their can be pain involved.

Best to use the larger veins and these are the radial and ulnar veins and the antecubital vein, which is in the bend of the arm. The brachial vein and the cephalic vein, both larger veins and run into the upper part of the arm at around the bicep muscle.

For those who are more experienced and have used the veins in the neck, be careful. It is easy to hit the carotid artery when trying to hit the jugular. While I don't even recommend this site, I have done it myself when there was nothing left to hit.

There are sites and lots of information on this site as well as others with helpful hints on finding veins.
Whatever works best.

[devilsdrug]

i always worked with my hands so strong hand which promoted large veins never any problem just did it to mix it up. never went to the neck amazoningly though ive done many others

[blackdog]

oh yes the hands,on top up just over the wrist you got that big fat roller that wont stop moving around.funfunfun

[jab]

Indeed, that is a fun place, just over the wrist. I get great hits there, but I have to be very carfull about it rolling, and missing during the shot; well after I've registered. Unfortunately, I'm not intersted in risking hitting in my legs too often, so there aren't many places left to hit. Oh the perils. ;)

To the OP, hands are fine and dandy, as long as you adhere to safe inejecting technics.

Good luck!

oh yes the hands,on top up just over the wrist you got that big fat roller that wont stop moving around.funfunfun

[poppy]

Not everyone experiences painfree hits,certainly not me anyway,even when I am 100% sure I'm in a vein. Although I have to admit that this was not the case when I began my injecting career, so I guess its the result of abuse.....
You men with your great big rolling veins (jab & Blackdog) don't know how lucky you are!!( as if us gals don't suffer enough through the hassle of periods,not to mention childbirth!!!) Just jesting, no offence meant.
Take care. laters Poppyx

[blackdog]

yo poppy these big rollers are a pain in the wrist man they wont hold still.aint no luck at all lol haha wish i had a partner just to hit my forearm on the backside thats a nice traveler peace da/dawgg:cool:

[vanilla_mlkshake2007]

don't they give IVs in that area of the hand? I don't see why it would be any worse than shooting in the arm but I don't know much about veins so maybe I'm wrong.


i always use my hands aznd much easier too.I have no veins that are visible in my arms,so I think the hands work well

[blackdog]

another thread back from the dead allright vanilla
ps no vein no pain ?????ohhhhh no brain no pain. who bad?

[Zoop]

ay yay yay.

I missed yesterday. the vein on the back of my forearm, like on back just below the elbow. it's a big one, but deep. I just go in and it registers like a mutha, so I went ahead and started pushin all the sudden, I was out and I could see a little bubble swelling up there. Ahhh - had to abort! 'sall swole up now- like a little knot there. Hurts.

Old faithful in the left antecubital vein is gettin all scarred up and I couldn't hit it today I guess he needs a rest. Been usin' one on the top of my right forearm, but that one needs a break. so, today, I found a new friend. First I figured "DUH" need a new needle. REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE!! Anyways, hit a new one, on the LEFT down a bit from my wrist, on the inside. Nice.

I get a damn good buzz from bupe if I wait 12 hours and then slam it. Works every time.

[devilsdrug]

the back of my forearm was always my fav. shit there still is 4 in, of dark scar there and i havnt use it in over 12 yrs, it was always a safe wear short sleeves place in my lab tech days yep a little coverup makeup , gotta kinda get it tight so it dont roll

[vanilla_mlkshake2007]

Yes Blackdog I guess I did some remembering today and forgot that when I posted sorry bout that ok u r right u r right blackdog.Not that I live in the past.I was UTFSE actually,but i shoulda remembered that.Damn its those good fuckin opiates.Yup blame them!

[devilsdrug]

thats as good an excuse as any that we have around this here joint

[nick]

Been using my hands for years with no real problems.The actual injecting is only part of the problem if you are using junk with impurities (street dope) this screws up your hands where circulation is poorer.
There are studies of the dangers of shooting in the hand.If you check out UKHRA you should find something or contact me direct and I'll see what I can find.

[blackdog]

Yes Blackdog I guess I did some remembering today and forgot that when I posted sorry bout that ok u r right u r right blackdog.Not that I live in the past.I was UTFSE actually,but i shoulda remembered that.Damn its those good fuckin opiates.Yup blame them!

number one fact: the blackdog just loves vanilla milkshakes and he is rolling on his back with his big fat belly jigglin all over the place and his jewels are jigglin too!
and the blackdog would do anything just for a lick of an empty van milkshake cup, well almost anything and so blackdog sez: that he dont mean no big thing when he talk cause everybody knows.....that blackdogs bark is worse then his bite!!:p :p peace and love vanilla,dadawgg

[zombiewoof23]

This is kind of radical and maybe not realistic, but what if a user had a semi permanent IV where they could administer their DOC through that site. This would keep you from having to search for veins constantly. Last time I was in the hospital with an IV, I pondered this question. Is there a spot other than your hand that would be less obvious to the general public. Not that a body full of track marks, pin point pupils, itching and nodding aren't an indicator anyway. Obviously you wouldnt be hooked up to a bag, but you'd inject directly into the site. I could see the IV shown being used with the fingerless gloves like Layne used to wear. I realize that this would automatically be considered paraphenalia I'm sure, but lets say we lived in a more progressive society, would this idea work?


http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_SM/0015-0603-1407-5747_SM.jpg

[nick]

Like a canula?heard a story one of the jefferson airplane had one.Probably an urban myth,there is a lot of them around.The problem with canulas is there is a much higher chance of infection and damage to the vein.What we really need is a hole in the head to pour the medicine direct.

[zombiewoof23]

The problem with canulas is there is a much higher chance of infection and damage to the vein.

I could see that being a problem considering most ppl are up moving around in their daily life, as opposed to somebody laying in a hospital bed with one.