Meth Burning Pain During/ After IV Meth

[Dirtydruid]

i have searched forever for this exact thing and haven't come across it, so wondering if anyone could tell me why sometimes when i hit myself, and am DEFINITELY NOT MISSING, my arm will burn like CRAZY somewhere else? just now i hit myself on the back of my firearm and it burned, similar to a miss, on the outside of my arm. usually, it's just above my elbow when it happens if i hit myself in that spot. am i just steady fucking up that vein? I've been doing this for 13 years and it's recently become more common when i do a shot but i have been using the same area for a while now. tia!

 

[Nightwalker973]

Best (and most probable) case scenario? It's likely you're dehydrated. Alternate between sipping and gulping a couple glasses of cool water.

 

[Keif' Richards]

I'm guessing that you've experienced some damage over the course of your 13 year usage, even if you're doing a good job with rotation of sites and hygiene. Methamphetamine is pretty caustic to soft tissue relative to say, Heroin. I've known Methamphetamine users to slowly damage their larger veins, move to tributary veins like hand or forearm and then begin to experience symptoms like what you're describing as these veins become damaged. My understanding has always been that the drug is likely "leaking" out of these smaller, frailer veins and causing pain like you're describing.

I wish I had better news for you. I'm not aware of a practical means of restoring your veins. A lot of you who know me know my story with injection. I injected Heroin for a decade and had little to no damage. I would still regularly rotate from 4 primary sites, crook of elbow and one of the veins on the close side of either arm. After years of success, I got the bright idea to inject my take-home Methadone ~4 times. I completely destroyed almost all of the usable veins in my arms. It was absolutely horrible. I am years and years on from this now and on bad days, I still need the ultrasound machine to get a vein when I need blood taken.

My understanding is that it is possible for us to "create" new veins to replace damaged ones, though these "new" veins are often extremely small/fragile. It's good news that there is a means of replenishment for our bodies, though this doesn't help someone who is trying to inject. I would at least consider a different route of administration. This problem is likely only going to get worse.

 

[Dirtydruid]

I'm guessing that you've experienced some damage over the course of your 13 year usage, even if you're doing a good job with rotation of sites and hygiene. Methamphetamine is pretty caustic to soft tissue relative to say, Heroin. I've known Methamphetamine users to slowly damage their larger veins, move to tributary veins like hand or forearm and then begin to experience symptoms like what you're describing as these veins become damaged. My understanding has always been that the drug is likely "leaking" out of these smaller, frailer veins and causing pain like you're describing.

I wish I had better news for you. I'm not aware of a practical means of restoring your veins. A lot of you who know me know my story with injection. I injected Heroin for a decade and had little to no damage. I would still regularly rotate from 4 primary sites, crook of elbow and one of the veins on the close side of either arm. After years of success, I got the bright idea to inject my take-home Methadone ~4 times. I completely destroyed almost all of the usable veins in my arms. It was absolutely horrible. I am years and years on from this now and on bad days, I still need the ultrasound machine to get a vein when I need blood taken.

My understanding is that it is possible for us to "create" new veins to replace damaged ones, though these "new" veins are often extremely small/fragile. It's good news that there is a means of replenishment for our bodies, though this doesn't help someone who is trying to inject. I would at least consider a different route of administration. This problem is likely only going to get worse.

thank you so much for your response. that was kind of what i had figured it might be. im actually out now and my plan is to discontinue use. not unrealistically expecting forever so as not to disappoint myself but you know. for a while. i appreciate your thoughtful reply. thanks again!

 

[Deleted member 591170]

I'm guessing that you've experienced some damage over the course of your 13 year usage, even if you're doing a good job with rotation of sites and hygiene. Methamphetamine is pretty caustic to soft tissue relative to say, Heroin. I've known Methamphetamine users to slowly damage their larger veins, move to tributary veins like hand or forearm and then begin to experience symptoms like what you're describing as these veins become damaged. My understanding has always been that the drug is likely "leaking" out of these smaller, frailer veins and causing pain like you're describing.

I wish I had better news for you. I'm not aware of a practical means of restoring your veins. A lot of you who know me know my story with injection. I injected Heroin for a decade and had little to no damage. I would still regularly rotate from 4 primary sites, crook of elbow and one of the veins on the close side of either arm. After years of success, I got the bright idea to inject my take-home Methadone ~4 times. I completely destroyed almost all of the usable veins in my arms. It was absolutely horrible. I am years and years on from this now and on bad days, I still need the ultrasound machine to get a vein when I need blood taken.

My understanding is that it is possible for us to "create" new veins to replace damaged ones, though these "new" veins are often extremely small/fragile. It's good news that there is a means of replenishment for our bodies, though this doesn't help someone who is trying to inject. I would at least consider a different route of administration. This problem is likely only going to get worse.

Thanks Keith, I’m in the same boat as you. Ten years of H and I still had most veins. I started speedballing and all surface viens were gone in a couple of years. I think it was partly the harsher substance but also that I shook so much with anticipation. Too many misses….. I’ve not heard that we can grow new veins, but my doctor told me that I shouldn’t worry too much much about poor circulation from lost surface veins because the deeper, unhit veins increase in size to carry more capacity. Doesn’t stop cold hands syndrome though!