• 💊 OTHER DRUGS 💊 Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules
    Notable Threads 1 Notable Threads 2
    Dangerous Combos Addiction Support
    Emergency Services Benzo Guide v.1
    Addiction Stories Scary Case Studies
    Biology, Pharmacology & Drugs 101
  • Select Your Topic Then Scroll Down
    Alcohol Bupe Benzos
    Cocaine Heroin Opioids
    RCs Stimulants Misc
    Harm Reduction All Topics Gabapentinoids
    Tired of your habit? Struggling to cope?
    Want to regain control or get sober?
    Visit our Recovery Support Forums

Opioids Pain in hands caused by IV?

PendulumAM

PendulumAM

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Messages
264
Location
New England
I first tried a needle last November but didn't start using it regularly until January of this year. At first I was IVing Roxicodone and sometimes Oxycontin (I never used a micron filter) and after 2 months I started IVing mostly heroin. I didn't stop IVing until around June, about 6 months after I started. I would use unsafe IV practices a lot, like not loosening the tie on my arm before injecting, reusing syringes a lot (like until all the numbers had faded off the side from using them so much), not rotating injection sites enough and not washing my hands properly.

I've noticed that now, about 2 months after I stopped using the needle, I have aches and pain and stiffness in my hands and wrists sometimes. Clenching my fingers into a fist feels painful because my fingers feel stiff. They also fall asleep (pins and needles)(no pun intended) more frequently than before I IV'd. Is this because of my months of unsafe IV practices? Is there anything I can do about my wrists and fingers now?

EDIT: I forgot to add that I only shot up in the veins in my inner elbow, never in my hands or my wrists. The aches are not constant at all, they are very random. The stiffness happens more often but I think it is worst when I wake up because right now it is night time and I have no stiffness. I don't get pins and needles most of the time but Ive noticed it will happen in my fingers when I'm holding my cell phone to my ear. Sometimes it happens when I wake up but I sleep with my arms under me sometimes.
 
Last edited:
I IV'ed mostly heroin, and sometimes oxy, etc...for around 2 years. And I never was especially "safe" about the process, aside from never sharing needles. I never loosened the "tie" on my arm before pushing it in, I often resused syringes for weeks(because of lack of money), and rarely used alcohol or sterilized anything. Also, I would use the same injection site over and over again lots of times. (I was a drug addict, what can I say)

Yet I have had none of the symptoms you have describe since getting clean about two and a half months ago.

But, too me, it sounds like you possibly have damaged one or more of your veins, which is very common with IV drug users. The extent of the damage would be hard for me to tell but from what you said(stiff fingers, pins and needles on fingers), I would say its possible you have some serious damage. Atleast enough damage worth going to the doctor for.

I definitely reccomend going to a doc, telling him the truth, and hope for the best. Either way, more than likely over time the damage will heal itself and you should start feeling better(as long as the damage isnt too great).

Hope you figure this one out man,

jamesBrown
 
I would go to the elbow pit for IV, a lot more forgiving. But re-using syringes makes the needle dull. Most likely you just tore up the tissue in the top of your hand making it sensitive. Look for the red line going towards your heart.
-Euphoria
 
maybe you damaged some nerves from digging around so much with a dull needle, or you damaged the main hand veins and there isn't proper blood flow. How long has the pain been there ever since you stopped using? is it constantly in pain or is it just occasionaly? edit- Oh wait I thought you said you were injecting in your hands, what veins did you normally use to shoot in? also if your pain just started recently then it probably isn't related to the shooting because it shouldn't take 2 months for that to happen it should have been hurting since you stopped. Also shooting pills a lot without micron filters can cause the fillers to clog your veins. Just throwing some suggestions out there but honestly I have no idea how any of that would cause the pain you are describing, and none of us can really say for sure if you are that concerned you should go to the doctor.
 
IVing drugs can fuck up your circulation. One symtpom of "poor circulation" is numbness or pain in the arms, hands, feet, or legs. Im guessing your circulation is not as good as it should be.
 
The hands are wicked sensitive man. I haven't experienced pain or numbness like this chronically after shooting in my hands but I'll admit it's not really surprising. It'll probably improve or subside give it time
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top