Heroin Ouch! Why is it hurting?

[hearty_opi]

Heya folks. So I've been IVing my dope for somewhere in the rang of around 3.5 yrs so I'm 99.9% sure I'm using proper technique. Well anywho lately while hitting the median cubital vein on my right arm, thats the one on the inside of the elbow on the inside of arm close to your body (I've been trying to insert a pic or link but I haven't figured that one out yet from my phone) it hurts. So needles in, I register - I'm in the vein - bloods draws in so I start to push the plunger. Everything's fine until about midshot where it starts to hurt, burn, so I re-register and I'm still in so I continue with the shot but it starts to burn even worse. Shots done and I slowely pull the needle out and that when it REALLY starts to burn and then itch... I don't get it, I'm in the vein, it gets me high but WHY does it hurt so bad? The same vein on the other arm doesn't hurt like that. Am I in fact wrong and actually missing? Any ideas would be appreciated. It's such a big fat vein so that's why I insist on figuring out what's up. Thank in advance!

 

[madog11]

Take a look at this, it may offer some useful advice!

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/...d-Info-MEGATHREAD-amp-FAQ-III-vs-I-Want-Blood

 

[hearty_opi]

@madog11 thank you, tons of good info! Anyone have this happen them? It's so weird to me cause I register and re-register both times indicating that I AM in the vein... idk, I don't know. I'm switching injection sites so... at least Im doing that. TY

 

[effie]

^ Hmm that is strange, especially if you have been shooting for that long with no problems, but there are a few things that could have happened..

Sometimes you can have a partial miss, where you register but the needle is only half in, or it partially passes through the opposite wall of the vein, so some of your shot leaks into the tissue next to your vein. This can cause pain and sometimes leave a lump, depending how much of your shot was missed. Treat it like a standard missed shot - warm compress, watch for signs of infection (redness, swelling, heat, pain) and get it checked out if you are at all concerned.

Sometimes the needle can be bumping up against a valve, which can cause pain too. Sometimes if a vein is becoming thrombosed or scarred then you can get shooting pains as you try to force liquid into it, but if that was the case there would have been resistance..

The other possibility is that you hit an artery. Your brachial artery runs along the medial asoect of your arm at your antecubital fossa (crook of elbow) but it is usually pretty deep and I would be surprised if you had hit it by mistake when you are used to hitting that vein..

Injecting into an artery is painful as the arterial walls have their own nerve supply. The colour of blood when you register is not a reliable indicator at all, but arteries will be pulsatile so best bet for anyone shooting is to always make absolutely sure beforehand. It doesn't sound like you hit an artery though, but it is a cause of a painful shot. so I thought I should mention it for anyone else reading. If you do hit one you need to immediately stop and remove the needle, apply firm pressure and get it checked out at the ER - arteries can spasm, cutting off the blood supply and you can potentially lose a limb.

Switching sites sounds like a plan, it's good rotate anyway and maybe the vein had become slightly damaged or inflammed (phlebitis) and needs to recover. Does the vein still feel absolutely normal?

Make sure you always use a fresh needle too, even if you miss - they become blunt after just one or two times and can damage your veins.

Scary needle pic:

I hope everything is okay!

 

[tricomb]

That picture gives me the creeps everytime I see it.

 

[Tommyboy]

OP, have you ever IV'd morphine? The reason why I ask that is because I have heard of people having similar reactions to morphine, and since black tar heroin (which I assume you are getting in Texas) can degrade to morphine over time, especially in the presence of moisture, your reaction may be to the morphine content of the heroin.

Here is interesting information about it:

The DEA Southwest Laboratory (Vista, California) recently received a request for an analysis on a ten year old black tar heroin exhibit. The original seizure was made in late 1995 by U.S. Customs Service (USCS) personnel at the Nogales, Arizona Point of Entry, but was not analyzed at that time because the suspect escaped back into Mexico (he recently returned to the United States and was apprehended). The evidence originally consisted of a single package of suspected black tar heroin, wrapped in clear plastic and black electrical tape. USCS agents opened the package (in 1995) to conduct field testing (positive for heroin) and the evidence was re-packaged in two portions: Most of the sample was left in its original wrapping, but the small portion that was removed for field testing was re-packaged in a separate evidence envelope. Upon submission for analysis (in 2005), the two portions were analyzed as separate exhibits. The smaller portion (total net mass 6.4 grams (see Photo 7)) had a dry texture; analysis by GC/MS and GC/FID confirmed 22 percent heroin and 51 percent O6-monoacetyl-morphine (both calculated as the hydrochlorides). The larger portion (total net mass 204.7 grams) was still gummy and moist from being sealed in its original plastic packaging; analysis (same techniques) confirmed 4.1 percent heroin and 63 percent O6-monoacetylmorphine (again, both calculated as the hydrochlorides). This is believed to be the first analyses of ten year old black tar heroin exhibits by the Southwest Laboratory.

(source)

I know that quote is about heroin that had been sitting around for 10 years, but you never know how long ago your heroin was manufactured before finally making its way to your veins. Also, it's still going to have degraded over a shorter period of time, although to a lesser extent.

The other possibility is that there is a cut in this batch that is causing this reaction. Try a new source and see if it still happens.

 

[hearty_opi]

Still Normal

^ Hmm that is strange, especially if you have been shooting for that long with no problems, but there are a few things that could have happened..

Sometimes you can have a partial miss, where you register but the needle is only half in, or it partially passes through the opposite wall of the vein, so some of your shot leaks into the tissue next to your vein. This can cause pain and sometimes leave a lump, depending how much of your shot was missed. Treat it like a standard missed shot - warm compress, watch for signs of infection (redness, swelling, heat, pain) and get it checked out if you are at all concerned.

Sometimes the needle can be bumping up against a valve, which can cause pain too. Sometimes if a vein is becoming thrombosed or scarred then you can get shooting pains as you try to force liquid into it, but if that was the case there would have been resistance..

The other possibility is that you hit an artery. Your brachial artery runs along the medial asoect of your arm at your antecubital fossa (crook of elbow) but it is usually pretty deep and I would be surprised if you had hit it by mistake when you are used to hitting that vein..

Injecting into an artery is painful as the arterial walls have their own nerve supply. The colour of blood when you register is not a reliable indicator at all, but arteries will be pulsatile so best bet for anyone shooting is to always make absolutely sure beforehand. It doesn't sound like you hit an artery though, but it is a cause of a painful shot. so I thought I should mention it for anyone else reading. If you do hit one you need to immediately stop and remove the needle, apply firm pressure and get it checked out at the ER - arteries can spasm, cutting off the blood supply and you can potentially lose a limb.

Switching sites sounds like a plan, it's good rotate anyway and maybe the vein had become slightly damaged or inflammed (phlebitis) and needs to recover. Does the vein still feel absolutely normal?

Make sure you always use a fresh needle too, even if you miss - they become blunt after just one or two times and can damage your veins.

Scary needle pic:

I hope everything is okay!

Yes the vein does still feel absolutely normal, maybe a lil soreness the day after but fine now; no redness, swelling or anything that would alarm me. I'm just not going for it as I have a couple others... I was blessed with large plump veins, as I think I think I have mentioned before, maybe verbatim lol. Anyways I failed to mention before which I think will be a big red-flag for you alls idea is... I used to IV meth into this vein and almost dried it up, went to jail, vein recovered somewhat, (still isnt as protruding as it used to be but when I apply a turni it pops out) now I'm out n shooting only H again but this vein always hurts n It's so big. I'm certain I'm hitting it...

 

[Znegative]

OP, have you ever IV'd morphine? The reason why I ask that is because I have heard of people having similar reactions to morphine, and since black tar heroin (which I assume you are getting in Texas) can degrade to morphine over time, especially in the presence of moisture, your reaction may be to the morphine content of the heroin.

Here is interesting information about it:

The DEA Southwest Laboratory (Vista, California) recently received a request for an analysis on a ten year old black tar heroin exhibit. The original seizure was made in late 1995 by U.S. Customs Service (USCS) personnel at the Nogales, Arizona Point of Entry, but was not analyzed at that time because the suspect escaped back into Mexico (he recently returned to the United States and was apprehended). The evidence originally consisted of a single package of suspected black tar heroin, wrapped in clear plastic and black electrical tape. USCS agents opened the package (in 1995) to conduct field testing (positive for heroin) and the evidence was re-packaged in two portions: Most of the sample was left in its original wrapping, but the small portion that was removed for field testing was re-packaged in a separate evidence envelope. Upon submission for analysis (in 2005), the two portions were analyzed as separate exhibits. The smaller portion (total net mass 6.4 grams (see Photo 7)) had a dry texture; analysis by GC/MS and GC/FID confirmed 22 percent heroin and 51 percent O6-monoacetyl-morphine (both calculated as the hydrochlorides). The larger portion (total net mass 204.7 grams) was still gummy and moist from being sealed in its original plastic packaging; analysis (same techniques) confirmed 4.1 percent heroin and 63 percent O6-monoacetylmorphine (again, both calculated as the hydrochlorides). This is believed to be the first analyses of ten year old black tar heroin exhibits by the Southwest Laboratory.

(source)

I know that quote is about heroin that had been sitting around for 10 years, but you never know how long ago your heroin was manufactured before finally making its way to your veins. Also, it's still going to have degraded over a shorter period of time, although to a lesser extent.

The other possibility is that there is a cut in this batch that is causing this reaction. Try a new source and see if it still happens.

This is a real good point Tommyboy brought up. Their have been several times where I have bought batches of heroin (usually of the brown, more sticky variety which is rarer in NYC), and I've had similar reactions. Burning, pins and needles up the arm etc..It could also be the cut. In all honesty it sort of sounds like IV diphenhydramine too, but this is all speculation.

 

[hearty_opi]

Same junk as always...

This is a real good point Tommyboy brought up. Their have been several times where I have bought batches of heroin (usually of the brown, more sticky variety which is rarer in NYC), and I've had similar reactions. Burning, pins and needles up the arm etc..It could also be the cut. In all honesty it sort of sounds like IV diphenhydramine too, but this is all speculation.

The dope I'm getting is from the same guy and virtually it's the same shit. It's fine when I hit any other vein wit it, it's just this one injection site that burns really bad then itches afterwards and often times turns into a small rash around the injtction site which only stays for 5-10 mins. Now that I think about it the BIG vein which runs up the back of my forearm does the same thing n I used to hit that one too... Like I mentioned earlier I used to shoot meth into these two spots n might of damaged them but on that not I shot meth n speedballs into all my veins n I'm still able to hit the others just fine: no pain. I dont get it... it doesn't make sense. I've come to the conclusion that I'm either not hitting the vein correctly (even though it registers n re-registers) or theres some sorta trauma I'm now noticing which causes pain during injecting.... IDK