Infected Arm - IV "Needle Slip"

2010-01-17T23:17:28Z

Whilst having IV chemo on 21 Dec 09, I had a "needle slip" which meant that for a short period Cetuximab was going into the tissue of my arm instead of into the vein. Ever since then my arm has been swollen and uncomfortable and about two weeks ago it became red, hard and really painful.

I'm currently on the third type of antibiotics, none of which have helped. At my insistence I've been prescribed codeine for the pain, which I am taking every six hours along with ibuprofen and paracetamol. Sometimes this works, sometimes not.

The hospital doctors seem pretty casual and unbothered and don't seem to particularly know or care what is the right treatment to get this sorted. It's so painful and my arm if almost useless, which makes the simplest everyday tasks difficult and driving impossible. I'm so frustrated and scared, will this ever get sorted?

Please, does anyone have any experience of this or know how it should be treated?

Sminky

Infected Arm - IV "Needle Slip"