swim "missed shot". hard to extend elbow next day

[SobrietyBinge]

h first, then c

missed c in one arm and there's most pain at that elbow the next day. no dark colors have come from bruising in my arms but arms are surprisingly sore, hot, in pain. at what point do I have to make a decision about getting this checked? how long can I wait for it to take care of itself?

[nick]

Jesus,I hate folks asking for serious healthcare advice.If in ANY doubt get to an er/doc-NOW.

I'd wait 48 hours and if it's no better,I'd seek medical help.If it gets worse go sooner.

It may be nothing,but why risk it? Better to see a doc than lose a limb.


Hope you're OK.

[Duckfeet]

That's *always* best advice. We are not doctors. What might go away w/one of us, might kill someone else...depends on so many factors...not the least of which is *youth* and general health, etc.

Having said that, what I usually do, when I fix, and it just doesn't feel right, is just keep an eye on it, see if it get infected, feverish, hot, red, swelling, anything like that, then eventually I'll pop into the doc. sooner is always better than later. I've had abcesses and such, get lanced, and I've also missed coke, and had it *feel* like crap, and then go away after a few hrs. Tar, missed, is always nasty....

Best wishes...


Jesus,I hate folks asking for serious healthcare advice.If in ANY doubt get to an er/doc-NOW.

I'd wait 48 hours and if it's no better,I'd seek medical help.If it gets worse go sooner.

It may be nothing,but why risk it? Better to see a doc than lose a limb.


Hope you're OK.

[SobrietyBinge]

ok thank you. thanks for all of your responses. Just trying to determine how bad missed coke is

[nick]

We can't say for sure-we're not docs.All we can do is tell you what to look out for and encourage you to seek medical treatment if in ANY doubt.

Much luck man.

[Synack]

I think I missed recently, large swelling bump, and bruised like crazy -- applied ice non stop for two days and now it's minor bruising - and now I've applied head and the "bump" has almost flattened out :)

Seriously, if you're in doubt, hit the ER - I wonder if one it's possible to "lance" it yourself? - I remember having an absess as a child from an ingrown hair or something, and my dad had a large needle and cleaned it out daily -- took about a week and hurt like hell ..-- it's better than losing a limb.

[flipside]

I think I missed recently, large swelling bump, and bruised like crazy -- applied ice non stop for two days and now it's minor bruising - and now I've applied head and the "bump" has almost flattened out :)

Seriously, if you're in doubt, hit the ER - I wonder if one it's possible to "lance" it yourself? - I remember having an absess as a child from an ingrown hair or something, and my dad had a large needle and cleaned it out daily -- took about a week and hurt like hell ..-- it's better than losing a limb.


NO NO NO DO NOT EVER LANCE IT YOURSELF! That is almost a surefire way to obtain the opposite of what you decide.instead of saving your limb...you could vey well end up with a much worse infection, septic and lose your limb. And I'm telling you this as a nurse who has seen the end result of mistakes like this.

[OxyContinuously]

Yeah man everyone here has given good advice: Use your head, if it doesnt improve, please, by all means, see a doctor. No insurance? Don't worry 'bout that now. Er's have to treat you, then worry about the bill later.

ME, I give fake names and addys, but whatever.


much luck
Oxy

[candy]

With a missed shot, the best thing to do right away is apply heat.
Apply heat will help the swelling go down as the body absorbs the liquid you injected.
I know it often seems that there shouldn't be that much swelling with a small amount of liquid injected, but depending on where you inject, most likely it will also cause an inflammatory response.
If your injecting in the antecubital vein which is located in the bend of your elbow, it is a joint and injecting in that area and missing a shot, will be painful and swell from an inflammatory response from the body.

Of course, watch the sites and apply heat a few times a day.
I know most will want to apply ice to decrease the swelling, but you want that shot absorbed as quick as possible so that the fluid is not just sitting in the tissues, which leads to abscesses.

Ice is better for when you blow a vein and want to avoid bruising and swelling. But, you need to apply that ice immediately!

If you don't have a heating pad, wet and fold a small hand towel and pop it in the microwave for 3 minutes. Be careful removing it, it will be hot. Place it in a ziplock bag and wrap in another towel.
And now you have a heating pad.. It will usually last about 10 minutes or more, which is enough. Do this 3-4 times a day until the swelling is gone.

And as Flipside said...Never lance an abscess yourself. And don't let an abscess go. I know going to the ER or a clinic may not be your first choice for treatment, the worst possible thing that could happen is that you lose a limb. And that bacteria causing your abscess can get into your blood and then you are really gonna wish you went to the ER when it wasn't oozing green pus!