Heroin Long-lasting bumps and lumps under the vein. Why?

[SunflowerCake]

I used to panic about these lumps that sometimes pop up under my veins, but now that they've stuck around for over a year, they seem to be benign. I know they're not abscesses. I've missed shots a couple times before when I was first starting and they would just absorb into my skin, leaving nothing behind.
I also don't believe it's just scar tissue of the veins (although mine are a tiny bit ropey in the elbow crook spot) because these lumps seem to be under the vein, and larger.
If I press around on the inner crook of my elbow under my vein, it feels like an air bubble, or a fatty mass of some sort.
The air bubble one I have feels flat and shallow, but last month one formed that feels more fluid filled, with the size and shape of a gobstopper candy, but with a little tenderness- perhaps on that one I accidentally slipped through and plunged into a muscle?

What are these? Why do they happen? How can I prevent them from happening? I ask for harm reduction purposes, and pure curiosity on my part, haha.

And an added question, the typical elbow spot is now off-limits as I damaged them with my horrible technique when I was first starting. I crave the rush more than the actual heroin buzz itself, would I still be able to get a rush if I were to use the forearm veins? They bulge out frequently now, I'm assuming due to pressure from my partially collapsed elbow vein. Or would this be a bad idea as they're already under enough pressure and are too fragile?

 

[burn out]

You can get a rush from hitting any vein, even veins that are screwed up from poor technique and not flowing properly can still give you a rush in my experience, though much less intense than a proper rush.

I have those lumps in my veins too. I got one from shooting into one vein one time, so they are not from damage over time. I have no idea what causes them.

 

[Jabberwocky]

this is kinda scary. if nothing else weird. although I certainly had my fair share of time doing it, and would not ever look down on IV users, iono... this is just one of the many reasons I try to stay away from IVing street drugs, specifically heroin. the closest I'll get these days is IMing my suboxone... and even then.

 

[SunflowerCake]

It is really weird. And I use a brand new needle every single time, and always with a 29g or 30g so it's less damaging.

I heard once that sometimes if you miss a hit or poke through the vein, if there's any bacteria in the shot (which is almost guaranteed), your skin kind of creates an enclosing around it so it can't spread, creating a type of cavity or possibly "bubble" around it as it fights off the bacteria. Pretty plausible explanation. I didn't know if anyone had more information on that.

As for the fluid bump under a vein... I'm lost on that one, haha.

 

[Jabberwocky]

maybe ask a doctor about it next time you see one? if they're not giving your any trouble I wouldn't worry too much, but as I said, still kinda scary and super weird. the only thing like that that ever happened to me was a histamine reaction, but that only lasted a couple hours tops, but fucking years...