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Harm Reduction Track Marks MEGA Thread v 1:Human Pin Cushion

I never shot up & never plan on shooting but if im not mistaken, if you use a brand new needle every time you shoot up, you wont get many bruises, correct me if im wrong?
 
itty bitty insulin ones. wasn't the needle. they're scarred from the inside out, sorta like burns from coke being such a harsher thing (the processing?) than dope. i know a lot of people with the same marks
 
bruises result from technique, a new needle definitely helps, but if you go right through or blow out the vein, it happens. new needles and good technique together prevent visible marks. i'm another who breaks the tip after so that i can't be tempted into reusing a point

I never shot up & never plan on shooting but if im not mistaken, if you use a brand new needle every time you shoot up, you wont get many bruises, correct me if im wrong?
 
My tek must suck cuz my arms are brusied like a mf
Got any good tek tips
 
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yeah i was gonna link to that.

i'm an emt so i could certainly answer any questions but check out captain's post and http://www.anypositivechange.org/bvcsi.html .

i want to emphasize though, i know it's mentioned, keep hydrated and do a little bit of weight lifting or something to keep them healthy and to ensure that you get a good draw. if i didn't do that, i could get it dead on and get no draw, and while i know that i did in fact get it and don't NEED to see blood for confirmation, it's quite unwise even with medical training to just go for it.
don't push too fast, it could blow out, and alcohol and medications such as NSAID pain relievers (tylenol, etc) thin your blood so sometimes no matter how good your technique was, some blood will find its way out of the vein.

Oooh, gotcha, thanks for the clarification. :)



Go back a page and read my big long post.
 
I'd use the wrist, but there is something about iv coke that just plain irritates the skin, and I do understand the phenomenon of 20 shots in an hour. We are all insane.
 
Arnica for track marks!

I have finally found a use for Arnica. It's the only herb known to clear bruising and help with sore muscles. You can buy it in health food stores as a gel or a cream. I have found the cream works the best. It is amazing! I can't believe no one has mentioned it in regards to track marks and bruising. Also, always cleanse the area with alcohol first, then afterwards apply pressure til there is no bleeding. then cleanse it again with alcohol and apply arnica cream soon afterwards.

ARNICA!
 
neck works well, has multiple big fat veins that are easy to hit and hard to miss. just flex your neck and kinda strain your head/neck and you should see them bulging out.
 
neck works well, has multiple big fat veins that are easy to hit and hard to miss. just flex your neck and kinda strain your head/neck and you should see them bulging out.

The neck is one of the most dangerous places to IV and really shouldn't be recommended to anyone, especially, if they have viable alternatives. Dangerous areas like the neck that are prone to complications should be used as an absolute last resort.
 
Track Marks MEGA

Wanted to make this thread as a central database for any and all posting regarding trackmarks/scarring as there have been many duplicate threads created over the years with the same questions.

Here we will talk everything tracks/scars, like how to get rid of them, prevent them, etc. Do not start another thread regarding this topic pleae, just post your questions here.

Some quick tips on how to avoid bad scarring and tracks:

-Rotate injection sites frequently
-Use smaller gauged needles like 30-31G (especially important for hands, wrists, and other small fragile veins)
-Always use a FRESH needle for every injection. Dull needles even used once or twice cause much much more damage to your veins/lead to heavier scarring
-Use things like vitamin E oil and other anti scar creams (if you have one that works well for you, bring it up in the thread)
-Use overall gentle/proper technique (Check out our IV Megathread for more info)
-Apply pressure to site immediately after injection to prevent bruising

Like I said, we wanted to create this to make a central hub for this info and prevent unnecessary clutter on the forum with multiple threads talking about the same topic up at the same time.

Thanks.

-OD Crew
 
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Vitamin E will work wonders.

Judging by your picture, they don't look that noticeable as track marks.
 
scars are permanent man, unless its a very minor one, then over time (months or years, it will go away) i have a scar on my forearm where i 1st started shooting up years ago, it looks like a little line, and its wide, its quite nasty looking if u really take a look at it. i have "burn looking" track marking also , mostly from shooting crack and pills..use a fresh needle everytime, perhaps a 31gauge, dont go in the same spot, and maybe u wont have bad scars, and dont miss
 
i certainly wouldn't get another tattoo over it.

To be honest, the existing tattoo is more of noticeable drawback for a naive employer.

It's hard to tell how bad the scar tissue looks because the pic is a giant closeup of (i assume) the inside of your elbow.

A decent resume and presenting a clean-cut image for the interview is your best bet. They aren't going to scan you for scars.
 
You will be wearing a long sleeve shirt and tie for the interview anyway. After you have the job and prove you are competent the employer will care little for tattoos or conspicuous looking scars.
 
Unless you have scars all over, literally running up and down the length of entire veins, most people do not know they are tracks.

And, yeah sorry man I wish there was a good way to get rid of them because my arms and hands are covered in scars, but it's just what happens. You can't expect to jab yourself with a needle over and over again for years and not get marked up.
 
it will never completely go away but will fade into something looking nothing like a track after a couple years unless they are worse than what you showed like mine which i have spots i haven't used in half a decade that still look bad
 
s pretty noticeable. I was using my tablet to take a picture. I never used the same rig more than twice....in new York state pharmacies sell you needles for three dollars for ten. I never understood why people couldn't afford a fresh one or wanted to use one of my used ones.

On topic. This is after a year....I don't think its getting any better, hence my idea of getting a tattoo. Any ideas
 
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