Why does having a needle put in your arm to draw blood cause so much bruising?

[Ross MwcFan]

I had a bloodtest a couple of days ago, the mark where the needle went in is very tiny.

 

Bizarrely it has caused quite a very large area of bruising around it. Some of the bruising actually goes part way down the side of my arm and is almost black.

[mark982]

not sure in your case, but for me the closer to the inner arm that they draw the blood the more i bruise.

[denise_xo]

You could get some blood work done to see if your platelet levels are low. That's a common reason for bruising. Unless it's extremely low, it's not actually much to worry about:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiopathic_thrombocytopenic_purpura

[FitChick]

It sounds like you got an inexperienced tech drawing blood. Avoid aspirin for a week before, take vitamin C regularly if you don't, even take arnica which prevents bruising. I have low blood pressure so I always drink a small bottle of water before having blood drawn so there is more blood volume.

[cerridwen]

Put some egg yolk on it. It'll clear right up.

[carhill]

I always use windex

 

OP, if there's no pain, and the area has stopped growing, it'll resolve. Usually it's venous leakage into the surrounding tissues. It should turn color from black to purple to yellow and resolve like other bruises. Each circumstance and point of entry is unique, so you might not bruise at all with one phlebotomist and point of entry and markedly so with another. I usually keep pressure on the entry point for a few minutes after withdrawal and haven't had any issues so far but I don't get poked that often. Also, I don't do anything strenuous with that limb for a couple hours.

 

Hope it resolves

[Forever Learning]

get in the habit of knowing where a good vein is and telling the person where to put the needle.

 

might as well get good at this, you'll be able to use this technique the rest of your life -

 

sit down and hang your right arm down. make a fist, open and closed, open and closed, for about 30 seconds. Close your fist and use your left index finger and tap lightly on the inside crook of your arm (opposite side from your elbow). (duh - sorry, I am writing this to be Forest Gump friendly folks).

 

anyways tap in the middle area and look for the 'bouncey' spot. that's your vein. get accustomed to finding this in a jiffy, so you will be able to find it and point it out to the blood drawing technician.

 

SOMETIMES they just look for a green vein under your skin and that's what they stick. that wll bruise and hurt. and it's not bouncey in that area. the bouncey area is the good vein they should use. but, you cant always SEE it under the skin, like you can see the green vein.

 

Another way to find the bounce is first start on the top of your hand or somewhere on your body where you can see a vein - feel it bounce under your finger.

 

now that you get the concept, find this on your inner arm and make sure they stick you there next time. no bruising and less pain during stick also.

 

most blood drawing technicians are happy to have the vein located by you for them if you are cheerful and polite in pointing it out to them. if not f*ck 'em its your arm they can go kick rocks if they don't wanna be told how to do things properly. LOL cheers

Edited August 2, 2011 by Forever Learning

[Arikel]

Dear Forever Learning,

my stomach turned at your detailed and graphic descriptions.

 

Love

Arikel

[Els]

get in the habit of knowing where a good vein is and telling the person where to put the needle.

 

might as well get good at this, you'll be able to use this technique the rest of your life -

 

sit down and hang your right arm down. make a fist, open and closed, open and closed, for about 30 seconds. Close your fist and use your left index finger and tap lightly on the inside crook of your arm (opposite side from your elbow). (duh - sorry, I am writing this to be Forest Gump friendly folks).

 

anyways tap in the middle area and look for the 'bouncey' spot. that's your vein. get accustomed to finding this in a jiffy, so you will be able to find it and point it out to the blood drawing technician.

 

SOMETIMES they just look for a green vein under your skin and that's what they stick. that wll bruise and hurt. and it's not bouncey in that area. the bouncey area is the good vein they should use. but, you cant always SEE it under the skin, like you can see the green vein.

 

Another way to find the bounce is first start on the top of your hand or somewhere on your body where you can see a vein - feel it bounce under your finger.

 

now that you get the concept, find this on your inner arm and make sure they stick you there next time. no bruising and less pain during stick also.

 

most blood drawing technicians are happy to have the vein located by you for them if you are cheerful and polite in pointing it out to them. if not f*ck 'em its your arm they can go kick rocks if they don't wanna be told how to do things properly. LOL cheers

 

This is extremely good advice, actually.

 

I'm betting on a poor tech who scarred the vein, if you don't have any other symptoms.