Infiltrated bruised and PAINFUL... helpful advice anyone?

[Rusty]

While sticking my veinous return a few days ago, the tech pushed the needle through the vein and into the muscle of my bicep (my arterial is all the way down in my wrist). This is a 23 year old fistula, but it's in pretty good shape. I took the needle from her and pulled back until I felt it pop loose from the bottom wall, then re-threaded it properly. I then continued to bleed on and run with a BFR of 450... big mistake; duh! When I noticed my bicep swelling, I turned the BFR down to 350 and asked for an ice pack. Now, 4 days later, I have a painful hematoma and can't straighten my arm or curl it to my normal range of motion. Did I mention it hurts like hell!?
I am on coumadin therapy and I was afraid my pro-time was high, so I only iced (no heat)for several days. I now know my pro-time is okay so I've switched to applying heat once in a while, and doing bicep curls with no weight a few times a day, just to keep the blood flowing. It's still very firm to palpate around the whole bicep area, and beginning to turn purple.

Am I doing the right things? Am I doing the wrong things? Is there anything I can do to speed up the healing?

I really want to be surf fishing, flounder trolling, and catching bluecrabs in 2 weeks. I need to be re-starting my physical therapy excersises on my old arthritic shoulder in at least 1 week from now, so I'll be able to do all that fun stuff.

HELP anyone knowlegeable about such things.
Thank you,
Rusty

[Rerun]

If you can choke that tech with both your hands around her neck until she turns blue....then you will be doing ALL the right things. 

It takes for EVER for that to soften and go down.  You will notice a difference in about a week.  Best of luck and don't let her touch you again!

             

[goofynina]

Sorry that happend to ya Rusty,  the only thing that helped me was a little bit of time and alot of tylenol for the pain.  Wish i could've given you a better answer but i think i like Rerun's reply best anyways     I hope you get this problem solved and your able to catch crabs soon      Oh, sorry, i mean Bluecrabs soon    whew, that was a little embarrasing huh? lol,    Wishing you Godspeed my friend. 

[keefer51]

I had this problem a couple of weeks ago. Mine went down after about a week. I used allot of frozen corn and peas on it!

[Rusty]

I can deal with a week.  I started using heat and doing bicep curls with no weight (within my limited range of motion).  It seems to be uglier but less painful today.  If I can get back to conditioning my old arthritic shoulder in the next couple of days, maybe I'll be able to do my thing on vacation.
Thanks for the replies.

[bdpoe]

It might be a good idea to take a few pictures of your arm. Have you called the nurse manager explained the situation and asked for advice?  How about calling your doctor's office and asking him or his nurse.

In my case, the times I've been infiltrated, it has taken a month for the bruising to completely go away.

Seems as if this type of infiltration you experienced should be brought to the attention of the nurse manager
and your doctors.

[kitkatz]

I agree with Rerun. After you choke the tech blue, it will probably feel better.

[Rusty]

I agree with Rerun. After you choke the tech blue, it will probably feel better.

Actually I'd rather make out with her ... just kidding, I'm totally house-broken(see avatar).
But it is beginning to shrink.  My whole bicep is just a knot, hard as a rock, but i'm beginning to be able to straighten it out now.  I'm scared to force it because that could strain the bicep tendon.  I can, however, safely force it in the upward direction, like I'm bending it up towards my head.  That motion won't hurt the tendon and I can actually reach to wash my hair now, so it's loosening up too.  The doc says it's not really an infection hazard, so that makes me feel better.  I think it will be a while before my bicep can tolerate much weight though.  More that 2 or 3 pounds is still really painful.  Just a big ole wad of clotted blood in there.   It's been 11 days now.