Infected Arm - IV "Needle Slip"

Less than one minute read time.

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?

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi..................the same thing happened to me but has soon has my arm blew up the nursing staff went into action, I can't tell you what they used but they had a pack made up ready in case this type of thing happened. They injected something all around and into the swollen area, which hurt like hell but I did the trick and I had no further problems there after and non since....sorry I can't give you the name of what they injected, I was seriously ill at the time and I was on 3 different types of chemo, so that procedure may not apply to all chemo. I suggest when you next see your medical team you give them what for and maybe it will be taken seriously. Good luck....love Carol x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Thanks Carol.  I can't believe how casual all at the hospital were about it!  I spent most of January in a daze of pain, the best bits were that the codeine made me so sleepy!  Months on there is still a bit of discolouration and I get the odd twinge just to remind me!  Thanks for replying.  x