Injecting in the Hands – (and arms) and Tips for Taking Care
In diagrams, veins are always coloured in BLUE and arteries are always coloured in RED
We massively updated this section (Dec 2015) and I hope we have provided a really useful place from where to get a grip on this delicate process.
REMEMBER; Black Poppy DOES NOT advocate the hands or fingers as a reasonable place for regularly injecting but we recognise it is the most common site for people to use after the forearm. If you must, then learn to do what is a delicate and potentially dangerous thing, as safely as possible. There are 3 main things to keep in mind that are of uppermost importance when injecting in the hand area.
NOTE: Click here for our new section on images and videos showing details on the veins of the body above the wasit -with some great 3 dimensional videos , to show the safest way of locating and accessing veins.
Your Main 3 Considerations:
1) Hygiene: Sterile equipment (or your own clean equipment at least) – and hand washing. A lot of germs sit in between fingers and on our palms, thumbs and under nails. Washing your hands well before a hit is critical here because an abscesses that forms in the hand area can quickly become more dangerous than in other areas of the body, due to the lack of skin area here able to deal with added infectious liquids etc. Nerve damage can result, or even amputation of a finger. So always wash hands before and after, if you are a hand injector (see tips below).
2) ROTATION of sites is the key to longer lasting veins, so try not to overdo one place, just because it might be the quickest point of access for a while, tempting as it is to go to the easiest place. Ideally, if you use your hand, try and avoid them next time to let them heal -or at least use the other hand. Thy get sore quickly from overuse, so ROTATE, ROTATE, ROTATE -change hands, change sites, change limbs!
3) Needle size is the 3rd main point. Always, always and only -use a 1ml (or 0.5ml) insulin syringe in the hand area. The needle must be as fine and thin as possible, and boy, does it make a difference to how long your veins last when you use the smallest needle for the job. To buy needles and syringes in the right sizes from a great harm reductionist / user friendly company, click here.
OK, so there are many who’ve been shooting up in the hands, fingers and wrist for quite a while – after all, it is the place many of us go when our arms have finally given up. While all the literature tells us ”just say no’ – the reality is that many injectors said yes to using their hands long ago. If you do shoot here, there are a few more important areas to remember.
Your hands are full of extremely shallow and delicate veins and arteries that are inside every finger and thumb as well as the hand and wrist and a massive collection of nerves that could cause severe problems for you if damaged.
Scarring on the hand area appears to be more likely for women than men but injecting here is still a very risky and often very painful business yet one that is almost as common as a using site as the forearm. So, lets go through the stages, bit by bit and examine best practice around hand injecting. It can be done safely, and is probably okay if only done occaisionally – they do it in hospital all the time -(obviously not with street powders..) so learn as much as you can to do as best as you can -and always pass on good info to your pals. Like we do!
Preparation Issues -Before your Injection:
Hydration: We rarely talk about this but drink – drink as much water and is comfortable and a bit more maybe. It really helps vein care and actually hitting a vein if you are properly hydrated -and not dehydrated from drinking alcohol all night, using to much coke etc. If you have -use your head and hydrate -you will find your vein easier.
Never leave rings or slim fitting brace lets/bangles on while injecting in this area. If a ring is left on and you accidentally hit an artery your hand and inject into it, it will swell up rapidly and you may be unable to get your jewelry off in time –especially rings. Your ring or bracelet can then stop blood flow at a time when you desperately need to get blood to the capillaries. This can cause tissue to ‘die’ – basically what we know as gangrene. Just missing your gear will cause your hand/finger etc to swell, and a ring or bangle that obstructs any blood flow can still cause gangrene if you can’t get it off, or it takes too long to get off. So take your jewelry OFF if you must do your shooting in the hands -better not to wear any at all so you don’t forget to remove it. It only takes a minute and if you’ve ever seen how fast someone’s hand can swell after hitting an artery, you’ll understand why it’s a lot safer to ditch the rings full stop.
Then -wash your hands thoroughly in WARM water -be mindful of slimy (germy!!) soap -avoid it -and wash especially inbetween the fingers. Air /shake dry. Use alcohol swabs if hands are dirty or you have no water (see more on swabs in tips below).
If you have trouble getting a vein up -and if you are reading this, chances are you do, in order to make palpating /finding the veins easier – place a heat pack or hot washcloth over the area. It causes vasodilation as blood attempts to cool itself by pooling to the surface in your veins and hence makes palpating and injecting easier.
See how the lower you have your hands -below waist height -how much more the veins stand out? Left Pic: Hands at waist level Pic right: Hands out at eye level Click link for more on injecting from a medical student -thanks to him for this pic.
In other words, hang over the side of your bed, arm hanging down over the side -pointing towards the floor, let it fill up with blood, THEN put the tourniquet on lightly but a little tight, THEN lift your arm up into the shooting position. You want to trap that blood while its hanging down filling up your arm, think gravity! THEN put the tourniquet on in the right position and NEVER to tight, then lift the arm up and voila! It should help a lot.
Locating a Vein: A Nurses View
Watch this really helpful video below (8mins) from a nurse about how to find the best veins in the arm and hand, the ones they use in hospital and why, how to avoid a rolling vein, and other useful advice.
Always use a spike that is thinner in diameter (gauge) than the vein you are using.
showing all the blood flow to the hands
As mentioned, for women and men this really means sticking with a one ml (1ml) or half ml (0.5ml) insulin syringe for all hand veins.
Inject much more SLOWLY in the hand area than you would for the arm and check out a venous chart to get to know your hands well from the inside. Be gentle, go slowly, never over knuckles, and never go too deep or you could hit an artery. Keep your syringe at approx 10 -30 degree angle (for hands) and don’t push deeply downwards! Use your fingertips to FEEL the vein, that can be as or more important than actually trying to see it.
Choosing/readying your site:
(Thanks to Nichilthegrizzlybear.blogspot.co.uk for a large part of the following tips -its slightly medical language, but we have edited and tried to make it more user relevant)
- TAKE YOUR TIME.
2. When looking for veins, always try and rely on your sense of touch first. Seeing veins is always a good hint of where to go, but a vein should feel soft and spring back – even more so when the tourniquet is placed above it and other preparation measures are applied – and often sight can be deceptive as less suitable, superficial veins will seem more appealing.
3. For regular venipuncture, the cubital fossa is often a good place to look first (see vein pics). Care must be taken not to inject the brachial artery, but the veins are often large and always closer to the surface. However, sturdier and/or more promising sites are the forearm, the dorsum of the hand and a vein on the radial border of the distal part of the forearm (although the wrist veins are usually small, painful and restrict movement). The cubital fossa is more susceptible to kinks but it is ok for injecting into.
4. There are deceptive muscles and tendons in your hands that will feel like veins. So get the patient to flex a few times if you’re trying to differentiate between a vein and muscle.
5. Forked veins seem to roll less but remember – they often have valves by the forked area. So instead of going in, go slightly proximal to it (in order to avoid valve yet still get a vein that is less likely to roll).
6. Place the tourniquet about 20cm proximal to a promising site. Too far will not ensure enough pooling and too close may just constrict your entry point. It is generally considered safe to have a tourniquet on for five minutes maximum before ischemia becomes an issue – though I wouldn’t risk getting too close to that time, and wouldn’t tighten it too much. Remember you need to stop the vein blood flowing back up the arm -so it stays in the limb area -but it MUST NOT be so tight that you stop the arterial blood flowing to the limb. In other words -the blood needs to go out -but not back. Too tight -and it is stopped flowing -and the veins will disappear even though your hand is swollen.
7. Look for already straight veins. Pulling the vein straight won’t do anything when choosing a sight or when injecting, as it will revert to its original position.
8. Vein Valves can be tricky: All the veins in your body have valves. You can find the valves by running your finger slowly along a vein. A valve allows blood to flow in one direction only. When shooting up, if you locate the valve, inject either above it or below it, never into it. However, they are feel-able as small dips as you pass along a vein. Avoid hitting these at all costs as they are very hard to navigate out of and injecting may damage them.
Look here for your vein road map -and check out the other image near the end of the article. We are still hunting for the best image of hand veins, arteries and nerves in one, easy to read image.Let us know if you find one?
9. Tap the vein gently in order to vasodilate the veins. Doing so will cause slight stress in the vein to release NO which is a vasodilator as well as histamine from mast cells which have the same effect. Rubbing gently has a similar effect and is actually more effective on cubital fossa veins.
10. When sterilising the skin with alco-wipes, allow at least 30 seconds for it to air dry. Not only will it allow more bacteria to be properly dealt with, it’ll mean the stuff won’t sting if it gets pushed into the vein. Fanning or blowing it will only increase chances of infection and cause the alcohol pool up in areas, potentially increasing the stinging as you inject.
Going In and Getting it Right:
You’ve picked your spot and have it fully prepared. You are comfortable, and your hand is balanced safely. Now all you’ve gotta do is get in there.
11. To stop vein from rolling away, pull the skin and muscles a few centimetres from the vein taut. Do not attempt to straighten the vein overtly, as, as I’ve mentioned before, it will retract to its usual state as you inject anyway, causing tissuing and more pain.
12. As you inject, the best angle, in my experience (and that of the best jabbers I’ve talked to) is anywhere between 10 and 30 degrees. Also, a quick jab as you pass through the skin is most effective in reducing pain – although taking it slow after you hit the vein wall is essential. You don’t want to jab through the other side. It is critical to make sure your syringe is NEW -sterile, sharp and yours!
Don’t forget to point the bevel up towards you!
13. If you do not see the flash of blood, do not immediately remove the needle. Attempt to withdraw the needle a few millimetres in case you went to deep. The needle may be resting on the opposite vein wall, so doing this will ensure quicker blood flow into the needle during the injection in particular.
14. Palpate, or press your fingertip around the needle to see where the vein is and where you should go if you need to adjust it further. Though painful, in our experience (and injectors will know this), “digging around” for the vein after you’ve missed is less torturous than having the needle reinserted elsewhere -but in the hands -never dig deep and be gentle. If you are using a 1ml -in the back of the hand -it will help you avoid doing this as the spike is so short. If you must go again -make sure your syringe is sharp -new preferably. It makes a world of difference to a good outcome. Stock up from your local service.
15. If you do happen to miss, remove the needle as usual and immediately press down with tissue (not swab) to prevent blood seeping into tissue. Alcohol swabs are for before injections -not after -the alcohol slows the clotting process, making the site heal slower. (see our updated abscess page).
16. If you have missed, try the other hand, or choose a spot that is proximal to the elbow on the arm as it will not be impacted by the miss further down on the vein as severely.
TAKE THE TOURNIQUET OFF AS SOON AS BLOOD IS DRAWN and you start pushing your liquid in! Enjoy!
Fingers and the End of the Injecting Road
There is more than one artery in every finger. There are also a lot of nerves too. We have known people to do permanent damage to their hands from hitting nerves, especially when using a larger spike, so best keep it to a 1ml insulin sized needle.
Pic by Dr Sobotto of the arteries and nerves in a finger
We are regularly warned to avoid fingers, and when you see the pic above and the small area for arteries and nerves sitting next to our finger veins (see below), you can see why. As the BP crew are ex and current users just like you, we know that when times are tough, we use fingers, thumbs, palms and hands, and that’s just being honest. But, you can really see how careful you have to be -why it is sooo important to be clean, steady, have the smallest spike and syringe, use your tourniquet properly -and rotate injection sites regularly.
Veins in fingers -looking hand side – with fingernail
Avoid fingers -there’s no doubt its dangerous territory -if things have got that bad re finding a vein -consider the French -and stick it up yer bum! Suppositories are extremely popular in many parts of the world -as the next quickest acting way to administer a drug bar smoking. You can even get a slow rush -ok it is slow but it is a rush -if you put it in the right place in the anus -approx 1 inch up (squeeze it in or lie on side ) And don’t forget friends – put it in another syringe -without the spike!
Up Yer Bum –links Good info on how to do it with your drugs -this is especially good if you have blood clots in your syringe
fascinating look at the arteries of the hand -there is info from us in the comments section on what to do if you hit an artery as well as other info and advice.
Creams and Hand Care
Long term injecting in the hands leaves circulation to the hands hampered and you can suffer terribly from cold hands. Keep them warm, moisturised with a good hand cream and if you can, use a cream for healing scars. There is a really excellent one called Huirodoid which is specifically for injecting/thrombosis and brusing issues, healing the vein area itself from the inside first and we can honestly vouch for it working really effectively -as well as being great for varicose veins!. Calendula and arnica are also a terrific natural creams that also work well, for healing scars and bruised or inflamed sites. There are also special camouflage creams that (mostly) are prescribed by doctors, and are fantastic to help cover track marks; it’s all about getting the right tone in your camouflage cream, and needs to be chosen correctly to cover where it is either red or blue discolouration (for example) that you are trying to hide.
showing the network of arteries and veins in the arm to hands
Needle Length and Thickness
It really is worth finding out more about the huge variety of length and width of needles – especially regarding the gauges -the thickness/width. The gauges used for injecting range from 30G (the finest and most flexible -like the Nevershare 1ml) going backwards to 21G (the thickest and least flexible commonly used gauge). The different gauges are allocated a colour so that people can tell the difference more easily.
The needle gauge colour code works as follows:
* yellow – 30g (thinnest)
* grey – 27g
* brown – 26g
* orange – 25g
* blue – 23g
* black – 22g
* green – 21g (thickest).
To read more about this, and find out what syringes are best for the job you need, click here to Exchange Supplies’s website. You can order syringes discreetly by the large box, and learn what’s what to encourage your local needle exchange to buy in what you and your mates need.
Remember readers’: BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO INJECT HERE…IF YOU DAMAGE YOUR HANDS NERVES, OR THEY GET INFECTED BY A SERIOUS ABSCESS, OR GET INFECTED BY OTHER BACTERIUM, YOU COULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE AND DAMAGE YOUR HANDS FOREVER. gO SLOW, BE CAREFUL AND BE FUSSY ABOUT HYGIENE, NEEDLE SIZES, AND WHAT YOU INJECT. AVOID CRUSHED TABLETS ANYWAY BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE HANDS -THAT, FRIENDS, IS JUST BEGGING FOR TROUBLE…
Black Poppy's Junk Mail 
Nikki Anderson
/ March 28, 2023Hello I injected some cocaine into my hand and it got swollen with white spots an burned bad please help me
Urgent
bailey coleman
/ June 20, 2022(URGENT)
i injected in my hand and pushed down to hard and i the joint on the top off my wrist and now its so swollan the pains moving up my arm i dont know whats happening and am scared can anyone help me at all
Erin
/ June 20, 2022Hi Bailey! Wow, so its good that I caught your comment just 6 hours after u posted so hopefully it might still be relevant? Yes it’s very very scary when you feel like you’ve done something bad and the swelling just keeps.coming….ok so dont panic. 1st remember that the swelling feels worse and weirder mainly due to the fact that there is no room to hold swelling in your hands, there is basically nowhere for it to go except around and up your arm. It’s much to hard for us to give advice other than a few basics simply coz there isnt enuff information here to go on but that’s ok Bailey. We can help with a few things that may be able to help a bit I hope… so, Yes, the swelling will feel worse and weirder but a lot of that is due to the swelling trying to fit where there is no room for it. And that will hurt a lot and feel weird and worrying. It sounds like u missed a hit and the liquid went into the skin. If that is all it is, then you should be fine. Remember u can have both STERILE and INFECTED abscesses, both rise as lumps under the skin, some need draining some dont. But essentially (have a look at our abscess section if this becomes localised around a lump on your hand), your hands have so many nerves, not much skin, and are so important to us, there is NO ROOM FOR MAYBES. If your swelling heats up, rises further up the arms or fingers, throws or gets worse daily – then with hands friend, don’t delay seeking help. It cud be simple as a week’s antibiotics help u avoid a serious infection, that can get into the bloodstream if left or poked and prodded too much too lol! Don’t do it! Just stay attentive, never ever ever wear rings and bangles on your injecting hand. Don’t risk it, ain’t worth it. If you alternate heat and cold on top of your swelling, that can help reduce it now. 10minutes of hot washer on top, then 10min of frozen peas on top. Do a bit of that for under an hour 20-40 min and u shud see quite a reduction in the pain and swelling. Keep arm supported, raised on a pillow maybe? And keep an eye on any abscess forming usually at the injection site. And then follow abscess advice and DO NOT skimp on it. Pay attention, do some research and get to your local needle exchange AT VERY LEAST, to find the nice Dr who will help u. Take good care Bailey, do let us know how u get on. But.essentially, sounds like missed hit. No dramas. Feels worse than probably will be. Just stay tuned on any developments in hand area and be prompt dealing with them. Adios comrade.x
Zaytef
/ December 4, 2021URGENT !!!!!
I accidentally injected into the artery in my hand and it flashed hot then started swelling up really fast. This literally just happened to me please anyone is there anything I can do to fix this without me going to a doctor please respond as soon as possible I’m a little scared 😱 this has never happened to me before 😭😭😭
Zaytef
/ December 4, 2021Is there anything I can do about getting the swelling down in my hand after accidentally hitting an artery. It’s the first time I’ve ever done so and my hand flashed red hot when it scared the hell out of me. Now it’s super swollen. Please help please help please help me without having to go to a doctor or Hospital
Andrew Ford
/ September 19, 2021Hey,
This is all really, really great info and it’s been particularly helpful to me. I’ve not been going into my hands for long, but since the veins further up my arms and in my wrists have become inaccessible I’ve had to resort to the hands and early on I fucked up my left index by shooting into an artery. It hurt like hell, but I was drunk and high and thought “fuck it, I’m just being a wuss”. Now the tip of my index is severely compromised, and I have to have some minor plastic surgery. Considering I’m a professional jazz guitarist, it was a really dumb move and it’s messed up my ability to work pretty bad. I’m well trained enough to be able to adapt most things to my other three fingers, and even my thumb sometimes, but it’s been a hell of a thing to have to adapt to. And there’s no guarantee that it will be much good after the surgery. Tbh, I can still use it but it hurts like hell so I only use it if I have to play bar chords etc.
Anyway, my reason for writing, other than saying thanks, is that I am also a free-lance anonymous writer (I write copy and I’m an editor mostly, but I also have a thing for writing dumb sci fi and it gets published here n there occasionally; I also write memoir pieces and flash fiction but haven’t published any of those yet) and editor, and… This is going to sound shit and make me seem like a total wanker, but I couldn’t help noticing a fair few grammatical errors and confusing turns of phrase. And, well, I was wondering if you’d be open to letting me edit and clean up the piece a bit so’s to make it a little easier to understand? I’m really sorry, I know how much of a douchebag this makes me, but this is a truly valuable resource – the best, most informative, peer written harm-reduction material I’ve ever read and it would just be soso great if it had a bit more of a professional look to it. It’d make it easier to understand and also up the credibility of this source (shit as it is, credibility often relies on d of professional air blah bullshit).
My day job is as a mental health peer support worker, and we rely on resources like this to help educate our community members & clients but a lot of them struggle to read (will give up at medical lingo), while others are highly educated (lawyers, professors) and will give up at the first misplaced comma.
So, if you’re not offended by this and would be open to talking about some edits etc, I’d be pretty stoked. And I know a lot of folks who’d benefit a lot from this.
My name is Andrew and you can email my personal account at comedieinqueensland@gmail.com
Thanks for your time, and I hope we can open a dialogue not only about this but about other educational materials too, because I really think you’re into something here. Much respect.
Erin
/ October 29, 2021Thanks for the fab post friend! Firstly, our musically minded crew member insists I mention ‘Djngo Reinhardt’, a gypsy guitarist, who played amazingly well with just 2 fingers (after a fire). Just two fingers on his left hand! And my friend, we would WELCOME some help with grammer, proof reading, suggestions re text placement etc etc! We should really zoom or Skype and discuss further?! In fact, although this blog hasn’t been much online the last two years, I was literally just discussing with a colleague, how to create some 3 min YouTube uploads -peer to peer – with a wide range of very useful, to the point, information. Dude, we should talk more, I agree! Email me on erinjomara@gmail.com, and if u have a Skype or WhatsApp etc, let me know? Be great to talk and thanks again for all your constructive comments. Link to Django below
Erin
/ November 3, 2021Matt, our crew member was thinking about you and your story since u wrote. He is totally wanting u to check out, listen, read etc, as he feels it mite get u out of a funk (if u are in one), and this dude is a Gypsy Jimi Hendrix. Matt don’t want u to give up the music if it’s in you . Hope to hear from u.
Erin
/ November 3, 2021Matt wants to apologise as he just realised u are a jazz guitarist who of course knows Django Reinhardt, but he is sending u all the best for your recovery. He knows the artery thing hurts lol. His finger tip went black but it recovered and is fine today. We hope u get a break dude. Best of luck, and if u fancy it, do get in touch ( see the comments attached). BP.
Becky Gomez
/ October 8, 2022I’m sorry I had to say something about this post you complained about grammatical errors which does not portray you in a positive light. I would just like to remind you that people who live in Glass Houses should not cast stones! While I am horrible at grammar I did notice your punctuation was severely lacking. You do not start a sentence with the word and! You also at certain points put a comma and then the word and it’s one or the other not both. Next time you criticize someone’s writing make sure yours is perfect otherwise you come off as a condescending know it all.
Justin
/ September 4, 2021So I’ve been using iv for 18yrs all my veins are completely gone and I started going in arteries in my hands because I can’t get blood anywhere else on my body. Now I can’t even get blood from the arteries and they have collapsed in many places including in between my fingers. My hands are very swollen all the time and in a great deal of pain. They are constantly freezing cold even in 90 degree weather I sit at home with them in a heating pad just to get them warm. There is very little to no color when they get cold which is pretty much all the time. I went to get bloodwork so I can start my liver treatment but 4 flabotamist and 3 hours later not one drop. They didn’t know what to do or say they all said they have never seen anything so bad in their entire careers. Now I don’t know what to do I obviously stopped shooting up but I can’t get straight any other way sniffing it doesn’t do it for me after 18yrs iv use. I’m trying to stop all together but as you know it is not easy to do. So will the circulation get better in my hands after awhile of not using a needle because I’m scared shit to go back to the doctor’s and have them tell me I need surgery. Has anyone else had this problem after years of abuse to their veins and did you ever get the circulation back? Also they are extremely swollen and full of fluid has anyone else had this problem and what did you do for it. People say just ask your doctor well as you know we get treated like shit by medical professionals that has been my experience telling the doctor what you are doing and they just look at you as less than human. If anyone has any information of 1st hand experience I would greatly appreciate the advice or information you have
Erin
/ November 22, 2021Hi Justin, I’m so sorry to hear such an awful story! You poor thing! But, let me give u some good news before the bad anyway… So, the first good thing is you aren’t shooting anymore. To be honest I’m not sure u would have been hitting arteries in your hands as they are EXTREMELY PAINFUL and ur hand/limb/foot etc, swells up hugely. Normally the force from the blood in the artery makes it almost impossible to push liquid in, esp without feeling INSTANT PAIN!!! And you can of course lose fingers and toes etc by doing it. If the blood draws back bright red and ‘fluffy’, if it pushed the needle out or the plunger back, then PULL OUT. DONT RISK IT. … But aside from this, we have users here, BP crew peeps, who have injected for 35 years or more. The main difference has been in WHAT they use and how they use it. New spikes, never blunt, good technique, smallest needle available always always, hygiene,.. And other such things. But the hand cold is common after injecting in the arms. But you describe the need for heat pads is not so common (unless u live in the cold?) But it’s a very good idea.. if they try and draw blood at a hospital, they should be using ‘peripheral guided ultrasound technology’ basically an bedside ultrasound to look for veins inside the body and be guided by that. ALWAYS ask for such equipment. It should be standard now. You can buy home ones on the internet but they aren’t that good but are getting better… But to the answer…. Your veins WILL improve to some extent. But much damage has already been done . But veins tend always to rewire, changing direction, going deeper (away from probing needles!) Etc. You will still have your deep veins remember, and yes they will be doing a harder job and you will get varicose veins (wear stockings and get measured for them) – this is presuming u used your legs and groin etc…. So some do come ‘up’ again, some remain smaller, scarred, or thrombosed but blood still gets thru. Keep up your fluids, exercise carefully, keep warm all over. Babes, you will feel better after a few years and better still after that. But we have damaged our bodies it is true. Those damn drs tho should be giving you ultrasounds and other things to look at your venous system, you may need blood thinners (as clots can be a problem). Stay away from fatty diets that clog arteries etc (check with Dr) and if u can’t find a Dr, ring your nearest needle exchange or drug user union. They’re is one in many many states and countries around the world and they are run by peers who KNOW what u are going thru and where to get help. Take care my friend. Seriously tho – check out a user union (even Harm Reduction Coalition in New York will know how to point u in right direction – if u are in the states.) Or try INPUD. NET and they have the list of global user unions and go from there. No one shud have to put up with being ignored by the medical profession, no one… Take good care . We will be thinking of u. Xx
Nikki
/ July 4, 2021Hi! So I have been injecting methamphetamines for about 3years now. Most of my veins are hard and the a lot of areas are either swollen from missing a shot or have hard balls under either my skin from a healed miss/in process of healing miss. So I really don’t have many options of where to hit. ALSO meth constricts blood vessels and from dehydration I cannot for the life of me get any veins to pop out even when I drink fluids and I have also tried many methods like a hot wash cloth, jumping jacks, swinging my arms around, a vein finder light lol, and a few more tricks that are futile in the end. I do have some areas on my arms that the tissue hasn’t hardened and has no swelling but I can’t see or feel anything in those spots. Now is the diagram on point with vein location? And for the vein does it vary from left to right arm? And also the hardened skin, the lumps under the skin and the discoloration of my skin, is there anything either over the counter or herbal that can help the hard lumps underneath the skin? It literally looks like I got implants like from people who do body modification to look like a lizzard or some shit! And the bruising on my skin has lasted over 3-4 months on some missed areas. Idk I have been injecting heroin for 10+ years now (I’m 29) and meth for about 3 and I’ve heard all the standard info on how to find a vein and how not to miss so I’m in search of anything I may not know in order to help me. I’m in desperate need of advice or tips on what to do. Thanks so much!
Tiffany
/ February 11, 2021So i am an iv user, use to be opiates but now im perscribed to subutex so i shoot up that well i hit in my hand for about 3 days and everything was fine but then it started to burn the last day i did even though when i pulled back it was in so i just went slow well now my hands been swollen for about 4 to 5 days it doesnt hurt i have full use of it and i havent had any fever but its still swollen ive been taking antibiotics and ibprofen for 2 days now and it gets better throughout the day but then in the morning its more swollen will i be ok what do you think this means?
Justin
/ September 4, 2021Stop doing that immediately I see your comment is from a couple months ago but don’t ever shoot suboxone. It screws up your heart it sent me into seizures and complete heart defibrillation it literally almost killed me. This was after I had done it many times before you never know when it will happen but you are playing with fire shooting them.
Kelly
/ January 31, 2021Urgent :I have been researching for the past hour on what to do if I’ve hit an artery which I have. My hand is extremely swollen and I can’t bend my fingers and thumb . I just want to know how best to care for my hand now and I cannot find much info on this subject. Any advice would help thank you
Best wishes,
Kelly
20YrOpiodUser5YrSpeedBllinjector
/ January 13, 2021I’ve been IVing for a few years now and all my honey holes have dried up so I’ve been using my hands and fingers. Sometimes when I inject in my thumb (it happens at other spots but my thumb is most recent) anyway I will pull back to make sure I am in then I push and everything is good but when I loosen my tourniquet I sometimes get a burning feeling followed by my thumb going numb. I know for sure I am in the entire time so why does this happen
Erin
/ February 16, 2021Hi, totally know what u mean! The trouble is the veins are sooo tiny there and narrow, it is sooo easy to pull back – and yes u are in, but when u push forward, the extra liquid is pushing down into a tiny vein that hasn’t much room at all for anything extra so it’s very easy to blow – as in swells and u bounce right thru the other side of the vein, but when u pull back again, the swelling drops and you are in, drawing back blood. Now I’m no Dr, but from what I have picked up over the years in harm reduction etc, this is what I believe is happening…the only thing u can do is (using a 1ml obviously with the smallest gauge possible),is to have a very loose tourni, one that’s extremly easy to release incrementally but fairly quickly, and push SLOW SLOW SLOW. Also, use vit C not citric if u are doing brown….lastly, go to chemist and buy a cream called Huridoid (like a gel for varicose veins and hemmaroids) and put it on any inflamed areas. It is brilliant stuff and helps with swelling. Be careful. And give your lil digits a break as often as poss. If swelling EVER gets very heated/hot – high tail it to the Dr. Not worth the risk. Good luck. Ps I LOVE THAT – HONEY HOLES hahahah!!
Tiffany hersha
/ December 3, 2020So I shoot up in my hand subutex I know stupid but I did it on the inside of my left hand right at the bottom of my middle finger when I pulled back there was blood everytime so I thought for sure it was in and kept going but it burned pretty bad now my hand is swollen on the outside not my fingers really just the hand and I can move it and it’s not in pain just swollen will it go down? and what can I do?
Delihla eliuk
/ November 28, 2020I did a shot in my wrist some blood showed so I thought it was good since I have heart failure sometimes my veins just wont go …so anyhoo a lil blood was going in and so I pushed then it started getting huge n kinda hurt so I stopped ..now I cannot bend my wrist it’s almost as it feels sprained or broken … n most times when I do that kil blood thing it just fills n goes away but this time it’s just making my hand feel weird what should I do? Is it gunna go away …its only been like this for bout an hour so …yeah
Alex B
/ November 14, 2020Why does it feel like every vein I’m in now either register and burn like hell when injecting or just won’t register one bit ? I’ve been iv for over 10 years and I’m tired of hurting myself… Please if you can chelo me with answer. Save the whole recovery trip
Tess
/ October 15, 2020Hello. I am a poly-IV user (H and Crystal) and lately when I hit about halfway through pushing in my shot it starts burning really badly. It’s different than the wag a miss burns but similar. I register 4,5,6 times and I am for sure in. I release my tourniquet and no luck, it still burns. Can you tell me why this is happening? And are there other places I could be going besides my hands and forearms? Thank U!
Erin
/ October 23, 2020Hiya, ask some of the other injectors who buy from same person as it mite be a cut they are using. Try someone else’s gear that u know and trust. Good luck. Of course make sure ur gear isn’t too hot from cooking up either, run it under the cold tap before injecting. Good luck.
Ashley Miller
/ October 10, 2020My boyfriend has an issue when shooting. It always seems his problem is it registers but burns really bad but the blood is still being drawn into the needle. I have looked and looked and looked for answers to help him but I cant find anything. Please get back to me as soon as you can.
Erin
/ October 23, 2020Is it just with the gear from one dealer or is it all types of various gear? Mite be the seller..?
Bryan stockton
/ September 21, 2020Hi I have been shooting for about 8 years and all of my veins are just gone everywhere hands arms legs feet stomach hips and neck from using blunt needles for many years I used a needle a minimum of 10 times before I threw it if not more I never really had access to new ones but I have recently started using a new one almost every time but all I had the other day was a really old one and the only vien I could possibly find after poking for 2 hours was a little tiny one on top of my ring finger by my knuckle and it was a mixed shot of meth and heroin so when i pulled back it was registering but when I injected it burned really bad so kept repositioning and it kept registering so I thought ok I must be in then but from the first time I pushed in it numbed my whole finger so I didn’t feel it hurting missed the entire shot and it’s two days later and my finger is still so swollen and part of my hand I can’t staighten my finger and is extremely painful should I go to hospital
Joseph
/ September 8, 2020So ive been an iv user for about 15yrs , all my veins are used up and its a chore to hit.I know i should do my dope another way ,but im addicted to the needle as well as heroin ,so my question is there any were that i may have over looked ive hit everywere man from my toes to my forhead and everything inbetween any suggestions or am i left to crave the needle and dope thank you
Shellie
/ September 1, 2020So my fiance shot up in his hand it got Infected. Now he tried same hand but in the finger. It instantly turned purple wat happens hospital or no???
Erin
/ October 23, 2020Read thru the article and look for the danger signs; redness and heat, swelling, pain -if it’s getting bigger, worse go get it checked – you cud always see a pharmacist first and ask them whether u cud treat this at home or whether it needs antibiotics. Good luck!
andrew
/ August 25, 2020hi my girlfriend shot up in her wrist and forgot to take the tie off her arm now her finger is swollen and feels kinda ruff
C
/ August 24, 2020I shot meth into my cephallic vein just above my wrist. The needle did slip and I adjusted and made sure it was in the vein again. The area around the injection site is numb and very slight swelling. No pain at all , full use of hand , arms , fingers. I didn’t get the usual rush at all , nothing even close. Other than a hot compress, is there anything I should be doing to help and monitor the site ?
Jeremy
/ August 20, 2020I basically almost exclusively use the top of my hands and sometimes the 2 veins on my thumb. Sometimes if I do too many shots or am forced to use a rig that’s a bit dull my hand will swell up it doesn’t get warm and it’s not infected because I’ve had it happen before and it always goes down anywhere from a couple days to a week it’s not from missing 100% although every blue moon I’ll miss the last 10 units but not often qnd not every time this happens and I’m sure a bit of it is inflammation from sticking myself too many times and also using 1 hand too much because I’m having a problem with the other hand all I really want to know is the best way to reduce the swelling as fast as possible. I’ve used ice I’ve used hot compresses and I’ve tried switching back and forth and none of those seem to work significantly better than the others. If anyone has any suggestions or if heat is better than cold whatever you’ve got I’d like to hear it. I don’t care if it’s some home remedy or what not I’ll give anything resonable a try. Thanks
M LV
/ August 10, 2020Just wondering if this is the result of hitting an artery because the same outcome has now happened just from over use.
So when I thought it was an artery got a great draw back the second I went to inject not even .5of a ml I get the feeling of fire and tingling thru my entire hand with a weird metallic taste in my mouth followed by huge swelling! Of corse I didn’t continue I immediately stopped however I thought it was an artery until I tried a vein I used years ago so I know it’s a vein however I got the same result so I’m not sure what happened? I’ve looked it up but find nothing. Thanks for the help!
Erin
/ October 23, 2020I’m no doctor but I do understand what u are saying, sometimes there is a feeling that’s between hitting an artery, missing altogether, and getting it…very uncomfortable but not as bad as hitting an artery, so what is it? All I can deduce is that it could be a vein that is somehow feeding into an artery or its hitting a veins valve so it pushes the gear backwards…very strange tho. Ideas encouraged on this one! Good luck!
Joseph Blair
/ August 5, 2020URGENT.
Injected cocaine in my left thumb vein and it registered. Pulled out went completely numb and now 3 or 4 days later my hand is swollen red and major constant sharp pains can not move thumb or wrist. Very concerned and worried this has never happened before. Please respond ASAP.
URGENT
jay
/ July 20, 2020i jshot my hand and it swelled up and got numb help!
Dana
/ July 17, 2020Hi, great site thank you. I go suboxone for 2 years I went in wrist (a spot I’ve avoided) left and right side. I got tingling, burning and swelling. My right fingers tips big n blue they hurt. My left thumb is huge it hurts also I’ve hit clean so I thought do I need antibiotics what do I do? I mean it has happened and went away but I cant hold cup coffee the top of my wrists feel sprained also. Any help welcome. Urgent
Christina Ramsey
/ July 10, 2020I injected in my hand. Almost immediately it started tingling, numbness, heat and welts all over hand and partially up arm. TNT welts I have experienced before with certain cuts. But a swollen, numb, and hot hand is alarming.
Brandi F Martin
/ July 6, 2020I injected in my wrist.I felt like it went straight to my hand.My hand instantly swelled.It is so swollen I can’t bend my fingers.
Gena G Williams
/ June 10, 2020I tried to hit a vein in my hand couldn’t so I took it out now today my til of my hand is red swollen I feel heat and can hardly men dnt wrist what did and what to do
Gena G Williams
/ June 10, 2020Please answer me
Gena G Williams
/ June 10, 2020Please reply soin
Gena G Williams
/ June 10, 2020Ok yesterday I tried to hit a vein in my hand i took it it but today my hand is swollen hot swollen and I can’t move my wrist what did in to and what to di
Josh
/ June 7, 2020I missed a shot of heroin in my cephalic vein, (I think. Runs from my hand along the side of my wrist and up my forearm) about a week ago. It just now started to develop an itchy red rash all over my wrist and top of my hand. There’s been a big lump there for a week but like I said, it just now started turn red and a little itchy. Im not really sure what to do. I want to wait a day or two if I can before I seek medical attention but if I gotta go I gotta go.
Help
/ June 2, 2020So I have a friend that has been shooting up in hands and wrists. They said they stopped but I still notice needle marks puffing back up and purple blotchy discoloration showing back up. Does this happen even after weeks of stopping or should I believe they r still using? They say discoloration happens after being cold or just randomly and the puffyiness is from picking at it but I just dont believe it idk anything about this stuff.
joyce
/ May 12, 2020hey everybody just wanted to leave some info I have learned from shooting up for about 5 or 6 years now ive never had good veins always had little to nothing to work with but always made it work somehow don’t no how im still doing it at this point had to use fingers an legs an feet an really regret it now I have red hands 24 7 an swollen feet an legs an ulcers / staph all the time an scars but anyways when you hit an artery n its really easy to do blood will shoot in an fill up so fast an its really light colored an when u un tie off it will feel like someone is running a lighter over ur thumb an other fingers be careful arteries can be really dangerous veins take blood to the heart arteries take blood away to the tissues .. u can put in veins an take from them arteries you can only take blood from them also after long time use of veins (small like hands an feet an the little blue ones u see I call blood vessels) the start to collapse after so much use in them an the meds will set there from like a month an then all the sudden turn red hurt an pretty much rot a whole to whats I recently learned is basically a diabertic leg ulcer from lake of good blood flow which compression socks or stocking really helps the looonngg healing process of leg ulcers by the way I shoot Subutex but shooting is shooting im fixing to stop cause its caused me so much headache took up so much of my life I sit for hours on hours just trying to get 1 shot an its ruined my skin an just not worth it I hope this info helps someone thanks yall be safe also never shoot old blood I have done it but it was no more than 1 day old freaked out an never done it before cause I no that cant be sanitary .have a good day an turn to god pray to god he can help an guide u ask for giveness of your sins he wants a realation ship with you he Is not going to let a stranger in his home (heaven) an never would u so get to no him u don’t have to go to church to do this u can do it at home in the bathroom in the car anywhere just talk to him pray accept him into your heart an no he died on the cross for your sins an just try to live right an if u do make a mistake ask for for giveness love yall
Beck
/ March 31, 2020Hey, I’ve been having loads of trouble going in whatever seems to be left of my inner elbow and just below and even following near all the advice I see here and common sense I cannot for the life of me hit anything else! Even .5 ml’s blow up as I pull back blood beautifully and stinging pain n pressure stop me putting anything away. I usually use a 25guage butterfly and 3ml barrel’s but after a reoccurring staph infection I’ve had awful trouble! On antibiotics now but as soon as blood gets into hose of fly or straight end it clots up so fast! Then site bleeds and bleeds and I don’t know what else to do. Any tips folks? I drink lots of water daily anyhow but what I use seems to require bigger volumes – methadone in particular and morphine mostly. Meth I’m trying in 1mls and they are too bloody small to wrangle with myself. I hate needing my partner to help &he’s great but it is v stressful! And any tips for general circulation would be great, turmeric tea is fantastic and butchers broom supplement but boy are they pricey esp with two greedy habits to feed
JT Magoteaux
/ February 26, 2020So I think someone said they thought t couldn’t be a missed hit if 60cc was eventually pumped in due to pain….I have this question as well. I’ve had times where mixing meth and heroin and having even a drop outside of the vein hurt like hell, other times I do a whole shot , dot feel a thing, but after the area is swollen, tight skin, and looks like I totally missed….but it didn’t hurt at all?! Come to find out, I was numb, which I’m guessing is why I didn’t feel the miss? This has just happened with Cocain, I’d register, and only a little blood care in so I pushed gently, no paid, then pushed more and more until it all went in, no pain, but it didn’t look right, and didn’t feel right (no instant high) , I missed. And I’ve been doing that a lot lately, the last few days. Also, I bought some fish antibiotics from a feed store, which is supposedly the same stuff they give humans . I got the cephalaxen, is that ok to take after a miss? And what do I do after 24 hours when it’s swollen and hurts to do anything….feels like a broken hand and I can’t do anything with it
Ashton
/ February 21, 2020Are the ulnar and radial arterys on the inside (palm) or the outside (knuckles) part of the wrist I’m not sure if I hit an artery or not. I didnt have any swelling but in kinda stung lightly, and I didnt get a rush but definitely got high.
Arlene
/ January 21, 2020Hi. I’m a methamphetamine user and I use the needle. A few months back I was having trouble finding a vein and a lady I’ve not seen since asked if she could try my armpit. I know, what??? That’s what I said too but reluctantly I put trust into her and let her have a go. It was like AMAZING! Best high ever. That’s the only way I will do it now. I just wanted to ask you if there’s any long term complications associated with this method??
Chelsea
/ January 17, 2020Do you need a tight fist, a relaxed fist, or a flat hand? I cant find this information anywhere
Cory
/ January 11, 2020I shot up near my wrist and now I cannot move my wrist. It’s completely numb. I can move my fingers but not my wrist up and down
Jessica Morgan
/ November 7, 2019Urgent urgent
My comment is below but I didn’t mark it urgent.
Jessica Morgan
/ November 7, 2019I now have a swollen almost black purple pinky finger after going into a artery. I’m certain it was an artery because it burned like hell going in. My nail bed is purple and everything, it hurts bad and pretty much still feels same as it did upon entry.
Megan howard
/ November 5, 2019I was curious if injecting in certain spots can create carpal tunnel, or help make it worse. If so, what vein is it that keeps getting hit to do it. I recently learned the numbness I feel in my arm and hand are not caused by injecting drugs, but is apparently carpal tunnel, but I swear when I use, it hurts more..
Crystal Riggs
/ October 24, 2019Ok so today I injected into my inner elbow, the syringe filled with blood so I push in, I didn’t feel any pain, but almost like a weird pressure and I knew something wasn’t right so I stopped and pulled out. Immediately after I pulled the syringe out, my hand starting tingling, like pins and needles, just like if I had laid on it for to long and it fell asleep. Except it didn’t stop after a few minutes and now, 6 hours later, my finger tips still feel this way. My hand stayed like this for at least 2to 3 hours before it started slowly fading.. oh and now my arm hurts where I injected, so it definitely missed. But also my wrist hurts?! I wasn’t any where near my wrist or hand so I’m completely dumbfounded here. I don’t know if I should go to the ER or wait and see if the feeling goes back to normal first then see a doc if it doesn’t. Or if I should just ignore it and move along with my day. But I’m worried it could be something serious and could really use some advice
Erin
/ December 24, 2019Hi crystal. This comes to late to help I assume but I hope u were ok. To be honest it sounds like a missed hit, when you have got to vein but then the tip has slipped out at some stage during injecting and it’s flooded out into the tissue. Usually this will go away in its own leaving you sore for anything from a couple hours to a few days. This however is also how abscesses form so u need to watch the area closely and make sure it doesn’t start to get red and hot and more swollen. If you get pain and heat, you will possibly need antibiotics. Have a.look at our abscess page and keep a good eye on things going forward. Remember, never leave the tourniquet on while injecting – as this makes it easier for the needle to pop out of the vein. People think it helps to leave the tourni on but it doesn’t really and can create a few other worse problems..so not too tight with the tourniquet ok? A light squeeze not a strangle!! Take good care. Bpx
Frank
/ February 14, 2020URGENT! URGENT! I hope you still answer on here. I was using in my hands for some time now. I ruined all veins ontop of my hand and fingers so I found a couple spots on palm of hand. I missed shot of subutex in left and right hands both on the palms. Now I’ve had misses before and cellulitis and abscesses. These feel different they are just red circular spots the skin feels weird like almost like real sensitive. When I touch it my finger feels like sandpaper to the spot. With some deeper tissue pain but not bad at all. It’s been 4 days now and they haven’t gotten any worse or any better. I’ve hit artery before I don’t think that’s the problem. I’m scared because I’ve never seen it before and I can’t find any information. I think maybe I injected and missed so I pulled out and got blood but was almost injecting between layers of skin? Any help would be great.
Tim
/ June 26, 2020Hey, I Have a friend that was diligently trying to shoot in his lower wrisk, near and below the
Palm. The following morning he could not not lift his wrist, had limited finger movement and the top of the wrist was numb. This morning he tells me the numbness has gone further up his
arm. Any ideas?
Tim
/ June 26, 2020Hey this is URGENT, I Have a friend that was diligently trying to shoot in his lower wrisk, near and below the Palm. The following morning he could not not lift his wrist, had limited finger movement and the top of the wrist was numb. This morning he tells me the numbness has gone further up his
arm. Any ideas?
Megan Voorheis
/ September 20, 2019So I just did a shot that had some of my own blood in it, was from maybe 4 days ago, potentially a week ago… but it was my blood and immediately after I did the shot o threw up and then I got instant hives all over then my face began to swell at an alarming rate. I only found one site with any info on this. Said possible allergic reaction, but is it possible that it’s just because it had old blood?
Erin
/ December 24, 2019Hi Megan sorry it’s late reply. How are u? It’s a very bad idea.to inject old blood, even yours. You are asking for fever and toxins pouring thru your system making you horribly sick!! We aren’t doctors here so I can’t say any more other than never do it! Always always work it so if you HAVE to keep anything in liquid INA syringe (bad idea at anytime as bacteria start multiplying almost immediately) keep all your equipment sterile as possible, store in fridge and never ever in the heat or warmth. Don’t leave air in the syringe either so make sure the liquid goes all the way to the top of the needle. Less bacteria replication that way with no air accessing it. But any street gear and especially blood – is just full of bacteria which can grow as soon as it’s cooled down and liquidised. Always save your drugs in POWDER NOT LIQUID! It’s a harm reduction RULE! Stay safe and take care. bP x
Jessica Faith Hayes Griffin Hay
/ October 4, 2020honey, unless its prevented from exposure to air, treated with a specific blood thinner, and immediately places in a blood refrigeration unit, that may as well be cadaver blood from a body that does a week ago. think about how raw hamburger smells after a few days. that blood is dead, rotting, and filled with bacteria that can easily infect your heart and every other part of your body I understand why you did it, but if it’s beenmmore than 10-15 minutes you’re intentionally injecting rotting tissue and fluids.
Leslie Xx
/ July 6, 2019*URGENT *Please reply soon as possible..
So I’ve been an IV heroin addict about 11 years & I’m 26 years old now. I’m really concerned actually worried about potential damage I may have caused.
Earlier today I shot up in what I thought was a vein, (but after reading your page I’m not so sure), on top of the knuckle on my thumb. As I did the shot it didn’t burn or anything going in, but immediately after pulling out the needle it started to burn and itch really bad going from my hand all the way up my arm & spread throughout my entire body.
It was extremely painful everywhere, even my face, eyes & lips were burning.
My head started to ache & throb, I got light headed, dizzy & a taste kind of like iron in my mouth. I got a few raised white patches up my forearm. This went on for about 1 minute at least that’s what it felt like. I know it wasn’t bunk dope because I’ve been doing the same stash and not had this problem.
I didn’t really get high after like usually, but it hit me about an hour after wards and the high was pretty intense.
What did I hit that all of this happened? Was it an artery or a nerve or something else? Should I be worried & is there anything I can do to help?
Please reply when you get the chance to, I appreciate it alot.
Thank you for your page as well. It’s been very helpful especially because it’s not easy to find info like this, even though it is extremely important & can go a long way in saving countless lives! Hope y’all know the positive impact you’re making by choosing to share this.
Erin
/ December 24, 2019Hi Leslie I’m so sorry this is late reply. We hope you were ok Afterwards. So you know, it sounds like you were describing a missed injection and a subsequent histamine reaction – pills and needles, throbbing head, red face, swelling of face and hands and or feet. Yes it’s horrible but fairly common to be honest, especially with heroin that is very morphine based – or rather, not as cleaned up in the lab that other heroin is. It shouldn’t have done any damage buy we aren’t dra remember – I’d just say keep an eye on the injection site where it sounds like you missed a bit, liquid floods into the skin etc and you get a histamine reaction from the drug.. but watch out for any abscesses emerging from the site. You may need antibiotics in that case. It’s horrible but hope your ok now.
Darcy
/ December 26, 2019That was definitely something in the dope. Not sure if it’s a kind of cut or fentanyl, but it has happened to me a few times. Be careful if you get from whoever that was again.
MLV
/ August 10, 2020Leslie your the only one that I’ve seen that gets that metal taste in your mouth too! I know I didn’t miss tho and I’ll try another spot and it won’t do that. Unfortunately no matter where on my right arm does it now but in the beginning only one spot. Have you found out anything??
Dizzy D
/ June 29, 2019I have been having this problem and can’t find info on it anywhere… I will hit in a vein, and not miss, but further up my arm, it seems to leak out in a whole separate location further up the vein. It itches & gets red & looks like hives, but goes away after like an hour. Is there such a thing as leaky veins? Why is this happening, and what can I do about it? Does anyone else have this problem?
Erin
/ December 24, 2019We aren’t drs here but you are right, this is a.really good question and one I have thut about many times over the years. It kinda.makes.sense that other injuries on the vein surface could cause, probably more of an irritation than a leak per say, but enuff to irritate the whole area around it under and on the skin. Also, perhaps a thrombosed veins, kind of blocked a bit, that could cause veins to ‘rewire’ themselves, a new vein carries more of the blood and works harder, so this could cause a reaction and pain as well. I reckon these are close to being your answer but if there’s a.dr out there who has info on this, it’s be great to hear from you! Thanks buddy, take care. bP x
Dizzy D
/ December 26, 2019Well this is the best I’ve heard so far. My veins are just shot. Sounds like I really need to quit if all that is happening. And I’ve tried “bumming it” but I didn’t feel it at all. Snorting seems to work better but it hurts. I wish I didn’t love it so much. Seems like I can’t make it past a week off it then I relapse. ☹️
Leigh
/ April 8, 2020I’ve had this happen too!! But. It everywhere only on my old honey hole. And it burns about 6 inches away from the actual injection site.
Tracy Galman
/ May 27, 2019My arm turns purple when I tie off it goes away but it never did this before
What do you think
Sally Jenson
/ May 10, 2019Ive just injected into the back of my hand with a green needle and went deeper than ive ever done as i didn’t know all this information about not to do exactly what ive just done and my tornacay was tight i didn’t release it drew blood so then didn’t want to lose it so i slammed it in!! Now ive got the biggest lump ive ever seen or had ever and ive been injecting for over 20 years my wrist is very painful to move its been over 2 hours now and the lump still hasn’t gone down its huge and ive got heart palpitations worse than ive ever had. What should i do?? Ive had over 30 abscess and ulcers and 12 operations having to remove and clean the infection right down to the bone. Nothing has compared to this damage ive done to my hand and body as in palpitations ect. What can i do to help reduce anymore worsening?? Please could you advise me!! Im scared.
TryingToGetMyLifeBack
/ May 2, 2019PLEASE HELP!!!
So I hate that I’m addicted to the needle, but instead of shooting dope or anything like that I’ve been shooting my subutex. I’ve thrown everything out however. I have a new job I start in a week or 2 and need to get swelling down in my hands and fingers before then. I also have a tea date with my grandmother in a couple days. I e done this several times and it takes weeks for swelling to go down. Are there any tips on how I can try to increase the rate of the swelling to go down??? I’m trying ice water which helps a little but I cant sit with my hands in them for hours without my husband noticing. He knows I’ve been struggling with this, but I still cant bear to see the disappointment in his face and another arguement. I want this to stop for us. This is to important. I cant keep doing this to him. PLEASE HELP!!!
Joe
/ April 21, 2019So my friend has been injecting oxycodone but mostly dilaudid, sometimes has to reuse syringes a but he cleans them with rubbing alcohol before every use. Anyways he has started to inject into his hands and since then He has been noticing both his arms are each having a small breaking out what looks like in-grow hairs or resembles a pimple in areas that he does not inject at. Can this be an allergic reaction to the pill he is injecting? He says he rarely if ever misses and if he does it’s just a little bit and he corrects it. Almost always washes hands with rubbing alcohol before injecting. They turn into little sores only because he tries to pop them as if they were a pimple or ingrown hair like I said earlier, which makes it even more noticeable. He has tried to research and is familiar with people having sores from injecting but again these little pimple looking red bumps/sores are not where he objects. Could it be a coincidence or something else causing this break out or is it from injecting in hand. When he injected into forearm he never had this happen. So just want to know if this is related to the hand injection or being allergic to pill or something else? Please help figure this out so can fix it. Obviously he plans on stopping real soon and has basically cut back but still wants to know what can cause this.
Erin
/ December 24, 2019Hi, sorry about the delay but it’s a good question so thut it shud still be answered. It sounds like your friend is spreading the bacteria around by squeezing and poking. It’s very easy to do this and the little pools of infection aren’t exactly like a normal abscess but more like an irritation of the entire area with staph bacteria. It sounds like a type of cellulitis even (see our site) – we aren’t drs but it could also be an irritation from the pills and he should look at improving his filtering technique and even buying Sterifilts or pill filters (wheel filters) online ..also let him know that cleaning his hands with alcohol and then picking hairs and sore bits is a defeating cycle! Don’t wash hands in alcohol swabs as you are killing all the hood bacteria the skin needs for producing itself etc – that could even cause this pimple problem. OR, It also sounds like he may have an infection in the hairshaft areas – which is like what I said before – a type of cellulitis or something along those lines: you don’t get it in injecting sites because it travels up an irritated mass of skin. Go and see a good pharmacist and see what they think – don’t mention the drugs but see if they have a thought about a hair follicle or skin infection …otherwise, use soap and water for hands and stop the swabbing everywhere, only use it when you are dirty around your injecting site. Latest info is to try not to overdo these cleaning things, use soapy water, rinse well, shake dry – that’s best. Good luck.
Cindy Ferguson
/ April 15, 2019This is from hitting the top of had looks like blood
Desiree Bennett
/ April 2, 2019*URGENT*
I had injected Suboxone into the side of my finger, near the inside crease of my knuckle. At first it didn’t hurt, burn, sting or give me any trouble- just nice red blood. My needle started to slip so I readjusted it. As I started to push the fluid back in, it started to hurt, sting down my hand and then after removing the needle- my finger INSTANTLY swelled up to the point where I cannot bend it! It’s been about 25 minutes and my finger is still extremely swollen. I have applied a cold compress to it. What did I do?!? How do I make it go away?!
Dizzy D
/ December 26, 2019Hey, you hit an artery. Try not to do it again or you could lose the finger. It should clear up after just once in a day or 2.
Buranda Ledford
/ July 30, 2020I injected heroine into my wrist vein on righthand right side near wrist bone it turned my arm and hand red like a burning sensation and then these white blotches appeared on my skin I didn’t feel the shot I did either but now I have a mild headache that is getting worse as time passes what could that be? also a few days ago I missed in the left arm vein in the bend on the inside arm and it had a little white puss stuff come out and theres still a pretty decent sized knot there underneath the Skin not really bulging up though could that be an abcess? Im very concerned.
Josh
/ March 31, 2019URGENT URGENT URGENT
So yesterday I shot up twice, no real issues except VERY small miss and after waking up this morning, my hand was EXTREMELY NUMB, and totally unusable below the wrist, Now 5 hrs later only my wrist and top side of my hand on the right are still numb, but I am COMPLETELY UNABLE to lift my wrist (if I have my arm straight out), but my finger use has nearly completely returned (although my pointer and thumb are slightly numb.)
BACKROUND INFO: the first time shooting yesterday was on the underside of my wrist, I missed at most half a unit before I pulled out, no pain VERY little swelling. The Second I shot in the large vein above my thumb (between the pointer finger and the thumb, which I have been using probably too often lately due to ease). Everything went very suitably I thought, zero pain or issues. This was around 11pm, and I accidentally fell asleep within the hour in my cpu chair, (which I feel def played a role in reducing circulation) to do with it, bc when I woke up I was leaning against that arm and hand( that hand and specifically the spot be the thumb and pointer). I am very concerned about nerve damage long term, but figured I would have more pain ie pins & needles but virtually not noticeable. There is some noticeable swelling in both injection sights, but not a huge amount, please tell me what I should do to speed recovery and how long I should wait before giving in an going to the hospital. I AM VERY VERY WORRIED! I NEED NEED NEED BOTH HANDS FOR WORK!
Regretful
/ March 19, 2019Fair warning! Just dont do it!!! Please! I’m fingers from nuckles Down are permanently red, and my feet are discolored and fuckkked. Just stop! Period point blank! It may seem hard in the moment but I promise ,you’ll thank yourself later.
Kimberly Dee Morris
/ March 17, 2019Last niht i shot up meth in my hand. When i woke up my hand was pretty swollen && painful…i can take the pain,but im curious to make sure w warm compresses and care…i can safely avoid the embarrasing trip to the e.r.???
Crystal Kienbaum
/ March 15, 2019I shot up In an artery in my arm with a needle With Klag elated Blood in it And my hand and arm hurt really badd I can’t close my fingers on move my arm barely Close my finger and thumb have a rash The Pan is almost unbearable what could this be
Chelsea
/ January 13, 2019* URGENT* My right hand is swelling up and hot
Jessica
/ January 9, 2019First of all thank you for this page. I learned a lot of information mostly from the comments. Second of all I have experience hitting arteries. I’ve done it twice and only put probably 10 units in both times before I realized what was happening and yanked it out quick cause I was so scared. My arm was on fire and hand swelled up bad but went down after probably about an hour. My boyfriend last night though did an entire shot. Probably about 60 units and were pretty sure he hit an artery. His hand ballooned up and turned white. Almost 24 hours later it has gone down some but not much. My question is what signs do we look for and when would be best to take him to the hospital if need be? Like discoloration or what else?
Regretful
/ March 19, 2019Just stopp! Easier said than done, but I promise you’ll regret it. My skin is permanently fucked up from long term use in hands and feet. Honestly I haven’t felt any side effects as of now , but the look of bright as red hands and red and purple toes, its embarrassing!
Willy T
/ December 23, 2018urgent urgent
my daughter did an injection on the top of her hand and the top of her hand is really swollen. she appears to be hot but will not let me check. she is denying everything should I be calling anyone
Christina Negri
/ December 20, 2018URGENT
Hi I injected methamphetamine into the vein that runs across the top of my wrist I’m thinking it’s the cephalic vein. I am assuming that I missed because it burned and then immediately formed a water blister. The next day my hand swelled up pretty much to below my knuckles. The area itself has a lump and is Red from inflammation
What do I do to help the swelling go down? I have normal feeling in my hand and doesn’t feel like there’s any nerve damage.
Jay
/ May 3, 2019What ended up happening?
Rohan
/ December 19, 2018*URGENT**URGENT**URGENT*
Because of injecting the backhand area between the fingers and the wrist has swollen up and people notice this very easily.
Can you please suggest a cream which can cure this swelling in the fastest time.
Thanks
Charles Springs
/ February 13, 2023Garth brooks
Bee
/ December 17, 2018HELP
I’m really starting to freak out. I’ve been an IF user on and off for 4 or 5 years. My veins are pretty much all shot but I started going in the soft underside of my forearms. I’ve dealt a little with my pinky and ring fingers on left hand tingling and going numb before but this is a whole different issue. A few days ago, I think I developed an abcess in my right forearm. It started getting hard and painful and has spread to the top of my arm near my wrist?? It’s red and super swollen and I can’t extend my arm fully without it hurting. But basically other than that, I’ve woken up two mornings now, not being able to close my hands. They are tingly and slightly asleep, my fingers are swollen but it’s literally impossible for me to close my hands and make a fist for at least a couple hours. It’s super painful and hurts in the base of my fingers and my palms. Does anyone have any idea why this would be happening?? I’ve started taking antibiotics, ibuprofen and doing warm compresses on my arm but I’m terrified to go to sleep and wake up not being able to do anything with my hands. It’s really starting to scare me.
Kimberly Dee Morris
/ March 17, 2019Last niht i shot up meth in my hand. When i woke up my hand was pretty swollen && painful…i can take the pain,but im curious to make sure w warm compresses and care…i can safely avoid the embarrasing trip to the e.r.???
Jessica
/ December 15, 2018If I injected heroin into my hand by my thumb and about 2 inches above my wrist, I think it might be an artery or nerve. My hand swell a little but it’s mostly sore. Is there anything I should worry about or is it just gonna be sore for a couple days or so?
Jenn
/ November 28, 2018So, I didn’t actually find this site until AFTER I shot up but I stupidly shot some fentynal into the base of my index finger. Like, right where the finger meets the back of the hand. Basically over the knuckle. And immediately after I removed my needle and loosened my tie both my index AND middle finger blew up 3 times their normal size! I didn’t miss. It didn’t hurt while injecting and it doesn’t really hurt now. I just can’t bend those 2 fingers and they feel quite cold to the touch. I’m sure the swelling will subside but my question is: is it better to keep my hand held high? Like above my shoulder or head? Or is it better to keep my hand down, like below my waist or mid chest level?
John baker
/ November 25, 2018*URGENT* *URGENT* * URGENT*
Ive been wreckless about my IV black tar use. So I have basicaly destroyed both my arms veins and used the left forearm a handful of times after it was a dead vein also used arterys and i would inject it hurt all up my arm burning pain. So today I used my hand most likely the large artery one directly on top and hand instantly swelled with only a small little bit injected. I took it out found a vien a little lower and finished. Prior to this both hands especially fingers were cold and sometimes numb. My left forearm is numb in some spots to the touch. So anyway my hand swelled pretty fast and pretty huge. After about 2 hours I start feeling wierd, weak and cold, whole body just wierd. Hand super numb not so much pain yet. But the scary part is my neck felt sore so I rubbedd it try to make it feel better and noticed a LUMP in the left side of my neck almost under my ear but closer to the spine like the artery i forget the name of the muscle but it stret hss down twords your back begins with an S im sorry i dont have time to look im freaking out. I feel fatigued an heart hurts a little but Im not sure if looming up all this stuff on google and just being scared is causing things to seem bigger problem then they are but my hand is huge and neck has a lump and is somewhat swollen. Can a blood clot form in an area not were you injected?? Or can it travel?? Could I die instantly from some sort of bacteria?? Ive only used hand once it swelled and went away never used again but I had no other veins so i tryed it. Im so freaking out i know its so dumb how I was going but should I be worried or can I wait until say the morning? What other symptoms are red flags to get help???
kpaigebender
/ July 2, 2019Wow wtf. Dude, hitting an artery isn’t going to get you high. Like not even a little. If you think it ever has, then you were experiencing a placebo effect— that is, after the agonizing burning sensation from HITTING AN ARTERY died down. Seriously, who is this brainless? Arteries carry blood *away* from the heart, not towards it. So essentially, anything that you injected into your arteries, did not effectively arrive at your brain and fill your opioid receptors. Do **not** inject into your arteries anymore, bro.
A.G
/ November 23, 2018I am reading this because I found out this is what my niece is doing. My niece has a Masters in Chemistry and a 7 year old son. We have spent 10s of thousands of dollars trying to get her clean. I just want to say thank you for continually showing her new ways to abuse drugs. Fuck you for fighting against loving families. I will think about your sharing of wisdom when we bury her. Again, fuck you. Yeah, yeah, she does as you stated “enjoy” and she sadly she will until she takes her own life. Thanks for providing the tips and again – FUCK YOU
Breanna Draper
/ November 16, 2018This is VERY URGENT, I shot up a subutex pill into the top of my hand a little bit left of the center on the top of my hand and missed the whole shot. Immediately my entire hand started burning really bad and turned red almost instantly. I held it under cold water to get a little relief until it stopped. When I woke up the next day I noticed my middle finger has turned blue and cold, also, feels like how your foot feels when it falls asleep, its like a pins n needles feeling. And its only in my middle finger and it has been almost two weeks with no improvement whatsoever. I am pretty scared and I have no idea what I did, please please please if you can tell me what I have done to myself and if I need to go to the hospital so my finger won’t like fall off I would be so so grateful! Please help…
Holly Golightly
/ November 9, 2018Shot sub where wrist meets hand, pulled back blood, proceeded to inject. After I let the tie off fully loose I felt an immediate burn in my entire hand. It subsided but still feels weird.. what the hell did I hit to do that?
kpaigebender
/ July 2, 2019You hit an artery, genius.
Yakthesiccest
/ October 13, 2018Injected in cephailic vain near thumb. Did not miss. Small piece of water dissolved suboxone strip. Whole hand hurts. Like cramps type hurt. But constant. Shot substances here many times, no problems before. Any ideas?
dirk
/ November 3, 2018why in the hell would you inject a sublingual antagonists/agonists opiate blocker…that is a strip!!!!?? you inject liquid morphine or heroin and that is IT!…
Stephanizzle
/ January 21, 2019Injecting dissolved suboxone strips gives u close to 100% bioavailability. Taking them sublingualy only gives around 30% buperpinephrine (spelled wrong I’m sure) believe it or not. Don’t criticize ppl..your here too. Were all here for advice to do what we do as safe as possible. To answer your sarcastic question, THATS why people choose to IV subs. To get the most out of their DOC.
Joe
/ September 28, 2018What is it when you object in the hand
On the side between thumb and wrist a burning sensation comes with just a little bit injected very painful gets extremely swollen. Heart beats faster
Hand is a ballon and stiff
dirk
/ November 3, 2018that means you just hit an artery…it swells momentarily too a ballon but goes back too normal…and its usually just the first 3 fingers that swell. oddly enough.
Angie
/ August 28, 2018URGENT!!! Shot into I think dorsal or cervical in top of hand tendons seem to v retracted around area…hand just looks little weird. Second time I shot anhydrous last time was bout 5 yrs ago in brachial and felt I may have an allergy to anny dope. Feeling calmer but keep having sporadic like goose pimples on forearm close to crook of my arm. I feel it’s URGENT since never have this happened before in my short lived 7 years of shooting plz reply asap URGENT
Dean
/ May 23, 2018Just injected middle finger right hand below the center knuckle I missed some hope and some ocaine now my finger is swelled twice it’s size and it’s been 15 minutes it’s still getting worse I’ve had this happen but not this bad what do I do ???
Lee
/ November 24, 2018I’m in a similar situation with coke too.. but it’s read n I still have feeling . Is this like something I should seek medical for or just hot compress it?? I wish I could just put all the hit in my past yol
salaamah
/ May 11, 2018THNX SO MUCH BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY WOULD A VEIN SWELL IMMEDIATELY ONE PRICKS IT DURING CANNULATION?
Kayla stock
/ May 1, 2018Okay okay I have a question what if you have shot half of it up and you miss part of it so you going to try and hit another vein you still have blood in a syringe how do you keep that from clotting do you need to keep it moving or keep it in the cold or hot place I know it won’t be that good for that long but for a few minutes how do you keep it as good as you can
Erin
/ May 28, 2018Hi Kayla. Good question as it goes but I am not sure there is anything you can do, aside from the usual emptying the clot out and re-filtering and re-sucking up the bloody liquid again without the clot…Its painfully miserable to do this tho but of course we understand when things are desperate and you are sick. But, what we would suggest is, rather than losing a bunch of your gear through leaving the clot behind -take the spike of the syringe and put it 2 centimetres up your bum. No kidding! Enemas are very popular in medicine because they work – and if you have no veins and just cant get a hit -hard as it is just stick it up your bum (about 2-3 cm in while lying on your side). It works really fast 5-10min max and will have ALL your drug in it. I dont think there is a way to stop blood clotting whilst you are injecting -unless anyone else has thoughts on this? Good luck Kayla.
Spanky
/ August 7, 2018I mixed 2mg of pravastin into the mix of blood and drug of choice, ground up. It’s a blood thinner. Decant the blood/meth or whatever back into the spoon/cooker and mix well. Add a bit of water, mix until it’s all dissolved. Use fresh cotton, re fill needle.
Usually takes several minutes for the statin to being the mix to injectable. No clots, happy times.
Sloth
/ July 22, 2020You aim the needle towards the ground and then pull back the plunger but make sure the little bubble is floated all the way up first, and never ever pull plunger back with needle pointed up, it will coagulate much faster. I can keep a thick shot {roughly half a gram in 50cc of water} from coagulating for hours whilst I struggle to find a vein
Andrea Elem
/ April 29, 2018Is it possible to make the tourniquet too tight? I check to make sure that I’m in multiple times and it didn’t burn like a miss but my vein started expanding anyway and I don’t understand why
Erin
/ May 28, 2018Hi Andrea -please check out our article on tourniquets -as yes it IS possible to do it too tight where it then has the opposite effect of actually stopping blood from pooling in the vein and you are likely to have the vein split a smidge or leak into your tissue causing swelling. It has to be a gentle squeeze. Check out our article on Tourniquets. Good luck.
Andrea Elem
/ April 29, 2018Hi! I’m embarrassed to ask this question but does one get an abscess in the site of the ‘miss’ or elsewhere?
Erin
/ May 28, 2018Another sensible question Andrea! It can be either – at the injection site or it can ‘erupt’ elsewhere usually along the route of infection. This can also spread to let multiple abscesses erupt around the area. Stay Safe!! BPx
Raina Nelson
/ April 19, 2018I have been shooting up in my hand for four days now (pinky vein) yesterday my bicep started itching real bad like getting bit by fire ants.then later in the day it went to my forearm.i put ice on it to sleep but only helped a little bit.itd not red but my skin hurts to touch it on my bicep.it got really itchy today .I used a piece of toilet tissue cause had no cotton for the spoony bf says I might have gotten cotton inu vein? Help
Erin
/ May 28, 2018Sounds like an abscess coming -but you might fight the infection yourself -keep a close eye on it -I know this answer comes to late for you now – but were you ok? Apologies for the delay in responding. It isn’t cotton however, the vast majority of the time it is bacteria. Could have been something un-sterile on the toilet paper…Cigarette filter filaments can end up inside the body which is why it is always safer to wet the filter (with sterile water) first before putting it in the spoon and using it. Don’t tear it but cut it as you don’t want loose fibres sliding up the needle. Hope your ok. take good care, BP xx
Raina Nelson
/ April 19, 2018I used a tissue instead of cotton on my spoon.how do you know if you got tissue in my veins.meth
Candi
/ April 6, 2018***urgent***
I commented earlier in more detail. The swelling and pain in my hand is scaring the shit out of me. Went in between my pinky and ring finger. Didn’t hurt. Possibly missed a little bit but not all. It’s been two days and the swelling has spread across the top of my hand (left) it only feels any relief when in ht water. But swelling persists. Can I help this at home or is it a must to go in to a hospital?? Need to know asap. Have to return to work in the morning
Candi
/ April 6, 2018I went in my hand two days ago. On top in between my pinky and ring finger. It swelled and is still swollen. Very hard to move my fingers. But becomes easier if I soak it in hot water but the swelling is still aparent and those two fingers are discolored. It hurts like a sumamabitch. I told my boss I slammed it in a door. I’m scared. The hospitals here basically send me away. I’ve been a few times for abcesses and several years ago used to be a regular for overdose . So every ow and then a doc will be in that knows me or is just being professional and not judging and will help me. Lately the charge nurses just take my temp and send me away. I guess I want to know will this go down and is my hand going to be amputated? Plzzzzzzzz help me if you can.
Erin
/ May 28, 2018Hi Candi – I am sorry we are late in replying -how is your hand? You should be ok but it is very important to keep an eye on things and look out for signs of infection – it is more dangerous in hands as there is no fat there and you have more chance to damage nerves etc. The drs should be ashamed of themselves!! They should never judge -but we know they do indeed…Please read our abscess pages if you havent already -as they give you the warning signs clearly. Usually heat, pain, and swelling together mean it is more than likely infected and you will probably need antibiotics. Perhaps you could try a pharmacist? Ring a local needle exchange and go and see them? Seek a sympathetic ear – they are out there and you deserve it -so ask around and track one down. Take good care of yourself and let us know how you got on. BP x
R2C2
/ June 23, 2018It’s the dope. It’s what the cut it with. I had a similar reaction. It’s like a minor allergic reaction becuz I seem to be one of a few people using same stufg that has thid happen. I say minor because it just burns, itches, causes the appearance of hives with the sight of bumps, etc, but goes away in like 10-15min and doesn’t effect high so much. Just suck s when u wanna get high and u know that’s gonna happen. Luckily no more cuz the dealer switched cuts or has different batch/supplier now! Simple pleasures (horrible to be happy about that but it makes me feel better when the drug I’m doing is a serious one and I have no idea exactly what is in the bag I buy day to day)! When I first started it was obvious that it was H, (as it had different taste, smell, color, etc), now its all fetynal or some close chinese concoction. It sucks no real H anymore. I don’t if it the wars in Middle East or what. I’m sure it comes down to money/price. It must be so cheap to make F in China and ship it then grow it n process it in Mexico (that cylinder shit is still lo quality). I just would love to know why u can’t get good Afghan or Thailand dope anymore. Also they say black tar is so good but I’ve never had amazing experiences with it the 2 times I’ve tried it (only 2 times cuz I live on east coast and rarely see it). Also if it’s so good you’d think you’d see it more! That’s the problem, nobody cares about quality anymore it about the all mighty dollar! To bad! That’s why people are dying and you have to use forumsx like this to get answers! If it was good quality then it would speak for itself! I hate to say it but leave it to China, bootleg/knock off capital of world, to fuck it up and get there dirty hands in the mix! I tell you good afghan/Thai dope was good because they did it! Also hundreds of years of cultivation & use helps too. I know China has a big opium culture but I don’t have to even look at the stats to say China doesn’t have an H epidemic like USA. I have no idea but if they did they sure have kept it quiet also if we know its, i.e. fetynal, is coming from China then why isn’t the U.S. government doing anything about it? Is this what Trump meant about slapping tariffs on China??? Makes you wonder…Also you don’t read about massive, hell even little, fetynal busts in China or Chinese mail/packages. I’ve heard about Chinese meth busts but that’s it. All right that’s my ramble. Hope you enjoyed it! Peace be with you!
Martin
/ March 28, 2018Why is it that when I miss a little bit of a shot my skin gets all red and white patchy and I guess “irritated”? Also why is it that sometimes (either while shooting in the hand or somewhere else) I will hit a vein, register blood in the syringe, but when I go to push in it burns like crazy?? I will pull back on the plunger and it registers more blood (which usually means I’m still in the vein). What is this??
Gel
/ March 21, 2018I have a friend that is shooting dope heroin and it’s burning his hands and fingers is there any reason why he has shot up in that same spot before and it never burnt and the needle is feeling good with blood please need answers ASAP
Erin
/ May 28, 2018Impossible to tell from here Im afraid – could be something in the drug -an irritant -or something he is allergic too – or it is a miss. Just because you don’t miss before dont mean you cant do it now. But to be honest it sounds a bit like he is close to a nerve or artery. I think one can get a bit close sometimes, especially in the hands or if using large needles deeply…check out our vein site videos and pics to see if that could be the reason and change spots. Good luck and take good care.
Christie lee
/ March 9, 2018Hi I’m Christie . I am scared very n I’m hoping for advice . I started using near a decade ago after I was raped and beaten . I was a social girl high morals and huge heart. I was never warned about opiates or how to use . I used subutex without a filter and I’d get huge clots and push them in when injecting . I no I don’t sound smart but I truelly couldn’t cope with my life and i have a terrible habbit. I used in my hands fingers toes feet rists uno where I could . I was told by someone that if I’d missed my “shot” the clot held a tiny bit of the drug . I’m only 30 and I get terrible pains in the fingers hands arms legs and my chest most of all . I have a large lump in my stomach that’s been painful sinse bfor the traumer and the opiate abuse . Doctors don’t n won’t listen I get left on hospital floors . I feel all time like my body is almost dead . I’m so very frightened noone will here me and iv agoraphobia ptsd and its hard to get help . I used pot occasionally other things bfor this habbit but not often n I grew up round drugs all my life . I have shot up with both parents when I was 14 I was not raised in a good environment but I was ok I thought. Til I got raped as an adult n beaten , taken out bush . I won’t go into details but I was found by police they called my mum who said she was busy . I have a pup who’s beautiful and saved me or id try rehab . But it’s just me n her . Guess want to no if for ten years I filled myself with clots . Well how long do iv left . I can’t die like this. I need to do something even if it’s to late . I have screamed on inside for a decade now n I need solice in something. Anything just knowledge is fine . But my puppy girl is my world I want to prepare. Please help me . I’m a very good girl who’s lost . Id do anything for anyone in need . I just need to get it out. I need time to find someone for my girl bfor im dead my dying wish someone talk to me pls . Contact me on lussycheekakissynloki6987@gmail.com if not work pls contact me on FB Christie Ven#$_ in aus qld thanks for ur time
Rob 7
/ February 5, 2018URGENT URGENT URGENT ,******
Hi . I injected meth into the back of my hand
.. 2 or 3 days later it’s swollen like very badly.. fingers are starting to swell. At the injection spot it is red about the size of a chips ahoy cookie roughly… it hurts.. can’t make a fist even right now due to pain and swelling…whzt do i do? I’m scared . How do I fixt this????
URGENT MATTER
Melanie Taylor
/ January 31, 2018I recently injected into the ephalapyic vein (wrist area) and it has been painful for days… The pain has now moved to the inside of my wrist and is very sensitive it has also started to swell… What should I do and am I in life threatening danger?
Melanie Taylor
/ January 31, 2018It was Suboxone
Walla
/ January 27, 2018I injected suboxone into the bend of my arm and it radiated pain and itching/burning all down my arm into my hands. My hand around my thumb and fattt part On my palm are swelled and it’s very painful I can’t even move my fingers on that hand and it hurts up my wrist. Keep in mind I injected in the bend of my arm and that was the first time in 4 months in that spot. It’s still hurting and swollen. I’ve used ice packs, ace bandages, warm compress and nothing is working: Never use to happen but recently it’s starting to hurt so bad each time it’s injected. Not doing anything different. Anyone know why this happened? And why it hurts every time I do it no matter what amount I’m using? Never happened beforehand until recently like the last month.
Swan
/ January 21, 2018I injected in my right arm, I left the tourniquet on I think I was digging too much, anyhow I’ve now got this stiffness like tendinitis I can’t bend my arm all the way, this is day 4 it hurts not too crazy like, etc did I Do? Itsnot day, cuz I didn’t go in my legs…please help, I’m gonna try putting ice there then heat
Vickie
/ January 18, 2018*URGENT- if you injected in the radial artery and it turned dark color and swelled I need to know how do I treat that the hand proceeded to go numb
Sue
/ December 29, 2017My husband is a hard stick, we have both tried our hands and feel nothing. Is it possible I’m going against the blood flow? Should I be pointing the needle downward towards the fingers or up towards the elbow? Plz let me know soon, we seem to waste alot lately,
Erin
/ May 29, 2018always towards the heart -never down to the fingers – always towards the heart -always following the flow of your blood naturally – which is towards the heart. Take care.
Dabe
/ December 19, 2017I used a 21g in my hand .. first time.and my hand swole up and was painful..and after few weeks it’s still swollen and hurts..it hurts to stretch my fingers out..but I cannot go to a dr.. after a recent robbery of my money..someone broke I’m my cash box and stole almost everything.. I don’t know what to do..
Kat
/ July 7, 2018You should never use a 21g in your hand, always use a 30g which is the thinnest.
Jay tash
/ December 5, 2017OK I’m need to ask y’all a question for my buddy Anthony, he has been iving (ice) for some time now, but like 4 days ago he ived .4 in between his bicep and forarm and he experienced an extremely painfull burning and shooting pain and by the next day it was extremely red and painful, not a localized pain tho it has spread across about half his forarm and bicep.. We know it wasn’t a miss tho because he still got the cough and rush just like normal..
He can’t even hardly move his arm.
The different symptom is the pain and swolleness and it has been 4 days now and he needs to know what to do? The swelling has increased just about everyday..
Ive told him he’s a dumbass for what he did because he used his spit because he had no access to a water source.. Could that be the problem? The ice was good so idk… Please help us asap, if its something serious he needs to know cuz he’ll need to talk to a Dr.. Could it be blood poising? Thank you for your time, patience and help, and have a wonderful day!
Heather
/ December 19, 2017That sounds like blood poisoning. I see I’m a little late to answer. I hope he made it to a dr.
josh
/ January 13, 2018sounds like cellulitis
Aaron grosbeck
/ February 7, 2018Yea that’s what it was. Never ever is Anyone suppose to clean or inject their spit. There’s a infection or something like that.
Jake
/ April 15, 2019This is a very late reply and I’m only commenting on it so other people know about this. There is a bacteria in your mouth that can cause an infection of the heart valves called endocarditis. It is a very life threatening condition with a mortality rate of 100% if not treated soon enough. In some cases it becomes life threatening in less than 8 hours, and other times it develops more gradual and can take weeks. Many people typically need surgery to replace the heart valves in order to save their life. This situation screams classic symptoms of endocarditis. I really hope this person is alive and well because endocarditis is one of the most life threatening infections there is, especially in IV drug users since continued IV use will trigger it back up and at that point there isn’t many options for survival.
Shannon
/ December 3, 2017I shot in between my fingers a cppl days ago subutex and my hands swelled up I put a few hot compresses and nothing so the next day I got a ace bandage and a hot pack and wrapped it right just for a hour and a half wen I took it off my hand went down but that night the tip of my index finger started to hurt really bad I couldn’t get any relief we I went to bed so I wrapped a bandaids around the tip and the pain wasn’t as bad wen I woke up this morning my finger was throbbing so took it off and around the tip of my finger just around the cuticle area is purple and bruised do you think the infection moved up to the tip of my pointer finger from wrapping it
Jess
/ December 4, 2017Keep applying heat. The swelling should go down in a few days. And if doesn’t improve soon go to the ER! In case if an abcess, ig you see pus or any type of fluid coming from the injection site go immediately to the hospital. They can’t turn you away if you have no insurance.
Victoria
/ November 28, 2017Hello all. Last time I used was November 6th this year and on my right hand right above my pointer finger knuckle is still a bump that hurts if it’s touched (I’m also a hooper and realized it’s still there when I had it on my hand). I really hope I didn’t mess up my hand . Could this be an abscess? I’m waiting for my insurance so I can’t get help right away. Any thoughts?
Francina
/ November 18, 2017Hello I was in a car accident I hv consulted to the doctor about my hand and see that the no fracture and broken bone of my hand.my car is damaged and I feel pain in my hand so I just want my hand to be injured so that I can qualify for applying accident road funding ;if the if any advise to injured my hand quickly to be able at ex Ray to see fracture and damaged of my hand thembicwill be qualified for road accident fund
Devon
/ November 5, 2017URGENT:
Few days after Injecting.. I hit and then missed some. It’s been 2 days now, and my hand JUST started swelling. The first day I injected, my hand did not hurt and it was okay. The next day, my hand was so tender I couldn’t have anyone or anything touch it or my arm. Third day, it’s extremely swollen and the area is getting larger. I shot on a “vein” at the bottom of my hand, inest my pinky finger and the one next to it. Now the swelling is almost size of entire hand.. can it wait another day to go to ER. Either way I am going. But I was wondering if you could guess what this was. My hand hurts, and I don’t know if I’m freaking myself out or if it really is making my arm ache occasionally as well as my chest because of this.
Jamie
/ September 29, 2017*URGENT*
I had an I. V. Put in yesterday and by this morning came my hand is swollen and hurts alot. I can hardly close my hand and I already had to cut a ring off due to the amount of swelling.
Erin
/ September 29, 2017Oh dear!! I should hope u have received help by the nurse by now – there is definitely something wrong if u have to cut Ur ring off! U should not have swelling or great pain at all – something such as the IV line having popped out from your vein and the liquid being pushed into your wrist with just where to go – it’s important to INSIST on the nurse to take a closer look and if no luck demand to see their superior / supervisor etc. Quite common to be honest and sometimes medics refuse to believe something’s wrong till it’s REALLY obvious! Well, it’s REALLY OBVIOUS!! Good luck – Google ‘installing good IV lines / cannulas. If u are an injexting drug user stress that Ur veins are problematic and it’s important no damage is being done.
Good luck!!
Tony
/ August 31, 2017I was injecting in my hand I believe it was the in dorsal metacarpal vein. I still had my tourniquet I on, rather tight. I was having trouble a hitting the vein. While I was injecting someone came in the room. I pushed in the shot in really fast. When doing this I saw a bump form and felt pain in hand and my arm. My arm now feels really weird and my hand hurts at the injection site. What have I done? I’m freaking out! Please help.
Michael James Black
/ July 6, 2017Hi why is it that I get a burning / numb sensation when shooting in my wrist even if the blood fills up in syringe it still hurts really bad using vinegar to do speed ball crack and heroin?
Kathrine
/ May 24, 2017I was afraid I had hit an artery in my left crook area but my boyfriend thinks I’m tripping. There was light red blood, not quite pink but much lighter than I usually see & it did kinda of shoot up into the syringe. But there was no pain, none at all I assumed I was in a vein. Even after the shot was done I had no pain. But the color of the blood stuck in my mind & it’s about almost 24hours & theres a slight hot pricky feeling just in the area where I had that one shot. What happened? I’m so confused. I had a tourniquet on as I was registering & hitting (i know bad practice) but could this be why I didn’t feel any pain or burn? Also, nothing was swollen or has swollen since the shot almost 24hours ago
Erin
/ July 22, 2017No – you did not hit an artery by the sounds of it! Coz it would have HURT like fuck I am afraid to say! Almost like an electric shock and then extreme pain! Avoid going deep around there – check the vein charts on our site. Careful! BPx
Sathya
/ May 14, 2017Hi, I had glucose injected on back of my palm hand two months back during my delivery. Now I can see the bulge near the injected area and it pains. Kindly suggest what could be a problem.
Brandon Cordova
/ May 1, 2017I shot up in my left hand on the left vien above my thumbs nuckel. Saturday night and now my thumb is swollen and kinda red . not to bad though will it heal on its own I’m kinda of a hypochondriac. After bieng sobber for 8 weeks. Oh well at least this time it was only a one day thing. Never even tried heroin until I was 33 I’m now 34 wish I would of never tried it. Ive5 takin myself to detox 3 times and have detoxed myself at home several times only because I can feel the powerfulness of the heroin and I know I must quit now or it will continue to draw me in and it will be much harder later and this 8 week’s is the longest I’ve been off of it in a year oh well back to bieng sober can’t give up won’t give up. And back to my thumb what should I do kinda stings to will a hot compress work or is it to soon to tell anything.
Vickie
/ April 18, 2017My daughter shoes up she sometimes has a rash itching real bad what is that
Erin
/ July 22, 2017Hi,
Have a look at our article on skin picking. Otherwise it could be irritation from the gear she is using. Get her to question her dealer.
Mary Johnson
/ March 31, 2017I injected a crushed, melted and filtered 30 mg oxycodone into the top of my hand last night. I am a beginner so this was my first time doing this alone. I used a turniquette about midways up my forearm and pumped my fist several times leaving it in a tight ball whilst injecting. I entered the vein (at least I think it was a vein and not an artery because I did seem to get some sense of being high) and pulled back to be sure I got the flash of blood before beginning my injection. I pulled back once or twice more during the injection to be sure I was still in the vein and I was so I finished the injection and removed my tirniquette. I had more of the pill left so I tried doing it again in the same spot but could not get the back flash of blood so I stopped trying after sticking myself a couple more times in the same proximity. My question is this: my hand is not fevered or red and is barely bruised at all but I’m having excruciating pain when I move my wrist in certain directions and I lift my forearm a certain way and I have noticed a knot. What should I do?
Erin
/ July 22, 2017Hi Mary,
Always remove the tourniquet before injecting the liquid in your syringe -only use the tourni to find the vein, then put your syringe in, and once it registers blood, carefully loosen the syringe -then inject. Otherwise you put to much pressure on the vein, you could have missed a bit which is why your arms sore. Keep an eye on it -and if anything changes and it gets SORE SWOLLEN and HOT -check the abscess page for info. Good luck and take good care -try and avoid injecting whenever you can -it aint a good habit to get into…BP xx
Jeremy
/ August 20, 2020I’ve been told over and over to remove tge tie before I slam but whenever I have tried I usually end up losing the vein I do have deep veins that are hard as hell to find so idk if the needle is slipping out or what. I know it’s not the rig moving because it’s rock steady without even a hint of moving so honestly i leave the tie on knowing I really shouldn’t. I’d say I have the problem of losing my vein 8 out of 10 times I try taking the tie off. In my hands I don’t tie off all that much and I always use a new 1cc 31guage 6mm but in my arms I use the same only I use the 8mm I don’t know why I lose it so much in my arm. Is it that I’m not using a long enough rig or I need to use a deeper angle or what. I have used the 29 guage long needle rigs before but most of the time I either go through the vein and yes I can pull back a bit and register but I don’t want to hit a vein I just plowed through so I usually just pull out and find another one and try to push in slowly so I don’t go through but then if I do try to untie the rig moves because the needle is only halfway in and then I can’d find the vein again until I tie off again. I will say I never tie to tight and I make sure the tie is as far from where I’m planning to hit as possible and I untie the second my shot is in and before I pull the rig out. So any suggestions on how I can make untying after I register work would be appreciated.
Erin
/ October 23, 2020Make sure your tourni is made of the right material if u have veins like you are saying and don’t like to let go of the tourni. If you have just the right material in a tie, for example, experiment with wrapping/tiring your tourni in such a way that u can release really really gently without touching the tourni so u don’t take your eyes of your task, situation yourself and the tourni so u can let it slip ever so gently but it still releases but just doesn’t MOVE the skin or vein around it. That’s they key my friend. Good luck.
Jessica
/ March 27, 2017Someone please help me. I am very concerned that I might be about to lose my hand. I hit subutex in my wrist on or before March 23rd, at least one week. I don’t normally go there but my arms had been resulting in artery hits and I can hit a good vein in that spot. The hell fire came even with registering dark blood. I don’t know how long it took but I started to notice reddish purple like blood blisters that burned like the artery hit. I thought it was an actual burn until the “rash?” began to spread to my index finger then my thumb. Last night I did Meth.. Did one shot of sub then Meth on top of my hand and this morning I wake with a very painful knot on the back of my hand nowhere near either the places I hit and it is so painful I can not use or move my hand at all. I can’t even pick it up, it has definitely got worse, earlier it was just pain then the knot popped up and the pain shot through the scale from 1-10
Jessica
/ March 27, 2017I don’t know if it means anything that last night when I was trying to shoot the method I was using my arms and getting clots back. The entire shot would turn to jelly before I could get it into a unclogged right. I am so terrified and do not want to go to the hospital for shooting anything.. I am a mother and a dancer, I really need my beautiful hands.
Walla
/ January 27, 2018Something similar happened to me but it was suboxone and it was in the bend of my arm now around my thumb and hand are swelled and in so much pain. Did u ever find out why that happened and how long did it take to go away?
Matt
/ January 23, 2019I had the same thing happen. Shooting sub into my wrist and crook of my arms. I knowingly was going into an artery. Little red blisters formed which hurt like hell all over the inside of my hand and fingers and no shit, my hand swelled to probly six times it’s size. Thought it would get better. Waited a week and had to go the emergency room. Sat for 4 days in the hospital and they had to shoot up over 100000 ml of antibiotics into me. I almost lost my hand. ADDICTION IS SCARY! Because I did it again and felt the same thing happening again. Do not shoot drugs. Especially pills or strips. They have fillers that even filters cannot get and are obviously not meant for that. Please learn from my story. Not worth it!!
Emra deming
/ March 26, 2017I think I messed up my wrist shooting meth.its swollen I can’t move it in pain
Emra deming
/ March 27, 2017I think I messed up my wrist shooting meth.its swollen I can’t move it in pain
Ben
/ November 28, 2017Probably just missed the shot or at least leaked some of the substance out if the vein. Any slight movement can push the needle through the vein wall. I even will get flashes of blood and be sure I’m in the vein and still get the sting of a miss from a slight movement. It’s hard but be as still as u can and take a deep breath before you plunge. Your wrist should heal in a few days but if it gets hot t the touch and /or unbearably painful, seek medical treatment.
Roxanne Jenkins
/ March 13, 2017I shot a lot of h into my hand 3mths ago. I was too high and blew veins then skin popping just pushing thru veins and God knows what. A week ago my hand began hurting extremely bad.Swollen .I even went to the er which xrayed basically no fractures noted. I couldn’t tell them what I’d done. I had family around. I noticed a sore like appear and is swollen. They gave me a splint to wear. Do you think I screwed up my hand. I know I had to hit dirty and all over my hand. No fingers. Thanks
Ben
/ November 28, 2017You probably just missed some or all of a shot. The hand is a delicate place, it has shallow veins and nerves. This means that if a shot is missed that fluid will sit and out pressure on the nerves until it is absorbed, so that’s probably the discomfort you’re feeling.
Ben
/ November 28, 2017*put pressure on nerves
Marie
/ May 25, 2019I shot dope and coke in my hand right above my thumb and it’s pins and needles and a little discomfort what does this mean!
Shunta
/ January 12, 2017I’m looking for something that’s going to make your hands smaller. Is there any type of medicine or shot I can take to shrink my hands?? They’re really huge
Mcewen
/ January 11, 2017I used for over 13 years and when I used coke my veins went to shit. I’d use my neck most of the time and I loved it. But on occation I’d use my hands before I realized my neck spot and boy…. I’ve been clean now 19months but I damaged my hands serverly I have arthritis and carpet tunnel in both hands….. Shit does a number asp. Coke or crack shootin. Don’t miss!
Kat
/ March 1, 2017I haven’t yet seen a doctor … but something is definitely wrong. Tightness, numb and extremely painful, I wake up from it and there is no relief from it… my hands are useless now
Stephanie
/ December 11, 2017U have carpel tunnell i also have it severly..try this take two fingers and tap ur wrist and see if it kinda feels like electricity running up your hands..carpel tunnell can be extremely painful..ive got it so bad below my thumb is all sunken in from muscle deterioration..
Heather Jean
/ December 2, 2016I was shooting black into my hand and I know I didn’t miss because it was clear that blood was still going seeping through. But the end result was I got a lump on my hand about medium size. I sucked the miss out like usual and it visually went down. But here I am about 2 weeks later and I still have a hard bump on my hand about the same size. I have know knowledge about the aftermath results of shooting up I just am a drug addict. So any, I mean any information you have about shooting heroin in your hands or feet and ankles. I am very interested to know. Please reply. Thank you for time and reading this. Have a great day.
-Heather Jean
Ben
/ November 28, 2017You probably still missed a little by slightly moving w out knowing and pushed through the vein wall. I have done this my share as well and even register blood before shot. It’s annoying to say the least. Idk if you use a tie off but if u do, make sure it’s released BEFORE you push the plunger down or it can build too much pressure in the vein causing it to burst. It can also make the substance leek out of the vein around the needle while shooting. Safe travels
Jeremy
/ August 20, 2020Whenever you hit your hands and ESPESCIALLY your feet you need to remember that tose veins aren’t very big and you can blow them up easily. Always push in as slow as possible and if you have even the slightest doubt pull back to see if you still register. Also(and I figured this out the hard way) try to get all air out before you go in for the kill and when you register don’t try to push the plunger back down AT ALL because sometimes the presure change can blow those delicate veins up extremly easily. Don’t tie off to tight or to close and if you can untie before pushing that’s best but I sometimes don’t untie if I tried a few times and kept losing the vein if you do this which even though I do you reqlly never should mqke sure you untie before pulling your rig out that can also cause a pressure chqnge and blow it out not to mention make you bleed like a stuck pig.
Erin
/ October 23, 2020Really great advice – slow slow slow! Nice one, it’s sooo true!
Girl Looking For Help
/ November 28, 2016URGENT
Hi, can any one help me? My boyfriend used to do drugs but only ever like weed and stuff. (Or so he says) but today I was holding his arm whilst watching a film and felt sort of bumps on his elbow. When I asked him about it he seemed kind of off about it. I looked at his elbows and there are like two small holes which look really red.. I’m not sure what to look for because I’m not a drug user but immediately I just thought of this as we were watching Breaking Bad. Haha.
Does anyone know if this is what track scars look/feel like so I have any idea if my boyfriend is or has ever injected drugs… thank you!
Sarah
/ May 8, 2017I highly doubt it if there on the outter elbow. That is an extremely hard place to hit and he would have had to fuck up all his other veins in his inner elbow and elsewhere to go there. Track marks and other injuries can look very similar. Id kerp that in mind before jumping to conclusions.
Jojo Masterton
/ June 17, 2017Hi iv had allot experience with drug use over a ten year period. But iv never heard of lumps on elbows. What your talking about would be an injection miss but iv never known anyone thats injected into their elbows. If the lumps are above or below the elbow then you might have something to worry about. I hope Iv been of some help to you. Jo xx
Ober Ever
/ July 17, 2017Did you ever find out? How and what did you do about it? It’s nearly impossible to answer with the information you gave but its been awhile so I am curious if your still trying to find out or if you did and already responded.
Kt
/ November 18, 2017If there’s bruising on his arm and in the center there a red mark it could be a track mark. If you’ve ever gotten an iv or had blood drawn and you’re arm bruised after that’s what a track mark would looks like.
Ben
/ November 28, 2017On his elbow? Where at? There would have to be a vein to hit where the holes are at for i.v. so if u mean the point of the elbow I doubt they’re tracks. More info please
JadedTee
/ November 23, 2016I’m trying to find out how and or what methods,procedures substances can assist in helping those who have difficulties and problems with veins that resist injection or are difficult to locate and raise enough to for injection
Ben
/ November 28, 2017The tip that I have learned that has helped me the most is to put the limb of the arm in which you’re injecting, below your waist. So bend over and let them hang and it will force the blood downhill and cause the veins to pop out.
Erin
/ December 3, 2017That’s a great tip and it really does work the best. Nice to hear back from others on this!
Jeremy
/ August 20, 2020There are flashlights that have q red light specifically made to show where your veins are whuch can help also you can run warm water over the site you plan on trying and never tap your skin instead take 2 fingers and kind of massage in like a circular motion. If you’re tying off make sure your tie isn’t to tight or possible to loose and then let your arm hang down by your side while squeezing your fist repeatedly and squeezing as hard as you can holding each sqeeze for a second and with the last squeeze clenxh your fist hard and keep it that way as long as you can this should really make even difficult veins start to pop and get plump. Trust me it really works on most people I have veins that are hard to find and sometimes even if I thought I found one it would be questionable. After I learned some of these tricks I was rarely having any trouble finding a vein and even found a bunch of new veins i’d never seen before. Gravity can really help plumping those veins up. I usually go through the routine for about 2 mins but if I’m cold or a little dehydrated or whatever I’ll go as much as 5 mins. Good luck
Erin
/ October 23, 2020Really great advice, you are dead right, gravity really helps a lot, such as ensuring your hand hangs down – whooaa! What a difference! Same with other body parts, make sure gravity works for you so your legs and feet are hanging, not flat on floor (tho that’s ok) but hanging over a chair, just to see etc. Experiment and see the difference. And exactly right about the tourniquet – a LIGHT SQUEEZE ONLY – tied so u can let go the moment u start injecting or you will stress and tear the vein. Lastly, again as u mention – use NEW EQUIPMENT!!! OH The difference when u stick to new ones is MASSIVE. BLUNT works will literally push away a vein and not penetrate it. Good luck!
Timothy Johnson
/ November 22, 2016I’ve heard it’s not safe to inject in your wrist area is this true? I’m not new when it comes to injecting but as for a male who has some weight on him I’m 6’1 about 250 lbs it’s very hard for me to get veins to pop out I have one vein in the bend of my elbow that is above the surface and very easy to hit but I know that I cannot keep using that vein and that I need to find different areas I have tried and tried to hit different veins on both limbs but can’t and after so many times of poking and missing my arms get bruised I get Lil red dots from putting needle in it just looks God awful however in my hands and in my wrist my veins pop out and seem easy to hit but was informed that it wasn’t safe at all to never do that so I’ve always avoided hands and wrist…. except when I injected 4 or 5 years ago I used my hands maybe twice the whole time I used I quit injecting and now I have recently got back into it maybe 3 or 4 months ago (I know terrible choice) I wanna be more safer when injecting drugs the. I did years ago but I don’t wanna spend a good 20-30 minutes poking and poking to try and find a vein I tend to get impatient amd frustrated resulting into going back to that same vein that I really need not to anymore… I’m kinda stuck at this point and I have researched over this a dozen times cause I wanna be safer at injecting amd even what I’m injecting as to seeing how it could have very serious bad results and I have even tried a few methods different websites have said but don’t really help I guess I should either keep practicing or quit
Casey
/ November 22, 2016Hello. I read your comment. I am by no means a specialist. But I am a user myself. I have read that it’s not healthy either to do it in your hands because there are so many nerves.. actually this site will educate you quite a bit on the nerves and the Damage that can be done while using there. However I will say I’ve done it there and I stopped for quite a while and just recently I started doing it again. I noticed this time that my hands when they get cold they literally turn purple and extremely red. I know it’s from using in those areas such as ur fingers, hands, and wrist area. I also have carpal tunnel and having that definitely doesn’t help. I would say that if you can do it there then I can see why you would want to. I know that spending a long time trying to find a site for injection can be extremely frustrating and personally I would rather have it be extremely simple and done with. putting marks on your body for no reason seems to me that I would just do it where you were asking. However I highly recommend reading the information on this page. obviously the whole thing is crazy and sometimes we do crazy things to ourself. hope some of this gives you advice. Also just another side note from my experience remember missing in your wrist or your hands definitely looks a lot worse then if it was your arms. take care and good luck with everything.
peepeebird
/ December 2, 2016Are you using a tourniquet?? You must. You can get away w/out one in the beginning, but that changes in time. Here are some tips:
Make sure your blood pressure is up ! Shooting up is a piece of cake if your heart rate’s up…like youve been walking around doing stuff before hand…i personally do jumping jacks for a few minutes. Also, heat. Put a hot towel on the site & wait…or take a hot shower. This will make your veins raise up good.
YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO CLEAN- Wash hands & site and wash hands again if you keep touching stuff before youre ready. Use a new bottle of water, never tap. Wipe everything w/rubbing alcohol. Pour it over the needle.
**Remember: Veins are blue and always near the surface. You do NOT want to risk fishing around &hit an artery. It is a horribly painful &traumatic experience &you will think for sure you are going to lose your hand, which swells up 4x its normal size in about 10 secs.
Wait til you have a vein that is sticking out enough that you can at least see its outline, somewhere. If its a little 1/4″section then go for that. If your needle is new you should have no trouble injecting. Take your time! The needle will not be as sharp or easy to use as that 1st poke. Make sure that you are really in the vein. When you are, blood will pop into the needle & when you draw back you will have a nice plume of more blood. If this doesnt happen (a little bit pisses in) youre not in…dont attempt to inject. Just relax and try it again. Strive to hit that shit the 1st time! I prob dont need to tell you repeated stabbing makes everything swell up & renders the area useless.
Confused 420
/ October 12, 2016******URGENT *****I got a abcess in my hand that I have to drain everyday for like 3 weeks now. This morning I noticed that when I stretched my arm it hurt in the crook of the elbow (front not back) but nows there’s a hard mass there. Last night I noticed it but it was a different spot than this morning. But instead of one hard lump there’s 2. Is this something that I should be really worried over? There’s no red streaks anywhere and the abcess has shrunk like 80% from where it was. This may sound stupid to some, but I am just looking to see if it’s that serious I should go to the er. ..thank you for your time
Laner
/ January 4, 2017Please be careful and seek medical attention. I recently developed Septic Arthritis in my knee from an absess. Let me tell you it is painful and requires surgery. It is very common to get it in your elbow as well. I don’t know if that is what you have, but definitely seeing a professional is a good idea.
Brian Barndt
/ October 6, 2016Hi I’ve been injecting heroin into my hand for awhile now but today I did a shot at 2pm its now 1:30 am & my hand is swollen & I can’t bend my wrist at all or it hurts sooo bad & I can’t even hold q spoon the pain id so bad but I didn’t miss & I had the same problem in my other hand a month ago but it didn’t hurt this bad & not this fast so should I go to the doctors or the hospital in the morning since I detail cars i need use of my hands plus I’m scared its infected, its not red or hot to the touch but was a little warmer for a bit. Please help with some advice thanks
Jessica
/ March 27, 2017Did you ever find anything out? I am laying in bed now with ice on my hand /wrist. I recently went in the artery on my wrist and it burned so bad that I ended up having a red purple bloodbblister pop up on my hand and has spread to my finger. My biggest concerns come today after experiencing exactly what you described except I never was able to inject into my hand.. Poked but never got it done. I really need some advice bc I do not want to go to the hospital
Brian
/ October 27, 2020Do you still get high if you miss your shot of H?
Erin
/ February 16, 2021Yes, well, not high exactly, but it still goes into either your muscle or skin so it’s inside u, it just takes longer to permeate the body and won’t feel as strong. But it’ll stop u being sick for example. Won’t help with the sheer frustration or annoyance tho! Sorry!!
Megs
/ September 9, 2016Hi. I have used iv heroin, crystal meth, bath salts, and crack and vinegar/lemon juice for about 19years. I have been clean for about 1year and 4months and have noticed that my hands…more my right…Are very swollen and red. It hurts to write anything longer than 3sentences…I am scared. I went to the doctor and they thought it was rheumatoid arthritis but that came back negative. I’m freaking out maybe o just did really bad damage or something…can’t tell you how many times I’ve poked for hours trying to find a vein and how many misses I have had…hands…boobs…neck…wherever. Please. ..any suggestions maybe i can even tell my doctor what I hear so she can look into it further? Thankyou for your time
Ryan Griffin
/ September 5, 2016Okay I’m having a very hard time finding a vein anymore I’ve been a hard user for almost ten years now and I’ve literally hit every vein you can think of but lately I’ve been finding small veins in my hand but now they are getting more and more difficult to find and my hands are always swollen now so please help because I’m running out of options thanks
Erin
/ November 23, 2016Hi, no doubt u are still going through this difficulty. I’m sorry to say, and I mean I am very sorry to say it, but there is no easy answer to this question as u know. Once u ha e got to this stage it’s deeply upsetting and incredibly frustrating. The only things u can do is: ALWAYS USE NEW SYRINGES, (and so always have them handy) : use the smallest needle size; keep hydrated for ur veins, keep veins warm before a hit, and use the option of UP YA BUM -This is if u get blood clots in the syringe and it’s all gone to shit and u can’t get a hit, take the spike of the barrel and lieing on ur side, insert it 2cm up your bum and push the clotty mess in. Sit there and hold it in for 5min. It REALLY WORKS -its the BEST WAY to do it, as there are multiple blood vessels there to absorb the drug. Remember enemas are an extremely popular way to administer drugs, coz it works! And give urself a limit – I’m only going to try X number of times and if I dont get a hit, I’m going to UYB it…it’s a very very hard dilema to stop injecting when ur not ready. The best thing u can do however, if ur not ready to stop, is switch to smoking it. People do this all the time and many prefer it. Smoking is perfect for brown heroin (is urs brown?) Sadly not for white…ull ha e to snort that! Take good care – dont keep crucifying urself by needle. Implement some tactics. Good luck, BP x
Micheal Jamison
/ August 31, 2016I’ve experienced an electric shock like feeling on an injection site on the side middle of the elbow towards the outside,it completely took away my rush and I felt as if we’re sober,and I noticed punching sensations in my extremities for an hour afterwards,was this an artery or a nerve and did I do any damage by experiencing that shock effect any insight would be greatly appreciated
Pothead
/ October 11, 2016Artery, dude. Yeah it’s an absolutely awful feeling. I think Its the adrenaline That comes after the intense pain that sobers you up. Swim was screaming when it happened to him. Thank god he was in his car parked far from any prying ears.
Erin
/ November 23, 2016Yep it’s an artery hit ; but could be from hitting the nerve. Is ur spike size to large and ending up going too deep? U will probably be ok if there is no lasting damage a few days later. Look at where the arteries and nerves are located and feel where the pulse lies. And avoid it! The nerve is harder to find so u need to see a chart etc or ask a nice medic. Hopefully u are ok. Best of luck. bP
Shell
/ August 22, 2016I miss in my hand. It’s very painful and a little p u puffy. It’s not hot to the touch. What do I need to do b4 it becomes hot to the touch.
Cassandra
/ October 19, 2016I missed with a oc 80 an my hand an arm is very bad swell an hurting. Should I use cold or hot compress on or what would you do ?
Erin
/ November 23, 2016Hi, I’m sorry that this co.ment may be too late for your needs but it may help someone e else or you for next time (let’s hope u so t need it!) . As we have said, we aren’t doctors here, but unfortunately.information would state that if it is just a bang, like u bang ur hand, u would use cold compression to take swelling down. But if u have injected liquid that missed the vein, literature seems to say that doing the hot AND cold compression ideA (first one then the other – see instructions in abscess article) will help the body draw the liquid around the skin and stop it pooling in one area. Cold compression is great for bangs and similar injuries, and (I think cold it’s preferable if hitting an artery as well). But other misses in general when lumps come up -hot and cold is best. Good luck!
Jamie
/ November 3, 2017Where’d you get that oc 80 thought they were extinct.
Amanda
/ August 17, 2016URGENT I have been injecting drugs for 2 years now. Lately I have been going to the vein on my left arm, where it bends, on the inside of arm. The spot on my arm I go is closer to my body not the outside. Anyway for the last year I’ve suffered very bad nerve damage. Constant tingling pain numbness all in my hand. I’ve been seen by drs and mostly have that figured out. What I am wanting to know now though is lately, not every time, about 6 hours after I shoot up I’ll start getting this muscle ache kinda like growing pains along with numbness. And it’ll just get worse til finally I’m in so much pain I can’t move my arm hand fingers. Can’t sleep or concentrate on anything its so bad. I’ve tried elevating it Ice heat etc nothing works. Its also accompanied by these big red purplish dots on back of arm(which look like they are on veins) in same spot I shot up on inside of arm. This pain will last bout 16 hours non stop just horrific pain. Also I noticed when I shoot up in this spot, again not all the time, that when I push it in I get this very weird lil painful pressure. And when I get that feeling is the only time all this pain etc happens. And every time this happens seems to slowly get worse pain is lasting longer than 16 hours and getting lots more spots. Is there any idea of what might be going on? I’m getting concerned especially since I already have damage done to that arm. And any ideas to help when it happens? Naturally I’ve paid very close attention so I can usually avoid spot or try to. Any advice would help. I’m scared but more scared to see a Dr. They r just very aweful judgmental in this town n I can’t always drive an hour to b seen. Thanks.
Karli
/ January 12, 2017Sounds like carpal tunnel. I have it as well and I have IV’ed since 2012
Dylab
/ January 21, 2019Sounds like your not in a vein I had similar issues because I’m over weight and thought my veins were shallow I would draw blood at the very tip of my skin and inject and get the same pressure pain and pullout immediately I think it’s another thing like a vein an artery called capillaries helps veins and arterys
Maria
/ August 10, 2016I have a friend who has been shooting coke for a few months now in her neck but both side have become very hard to get now. So today she tried two new places and didnt get such a great out come. Left hand ring finger right under knuckle, registered fine but now scared she hit an artery. Now she tried right arm inside she thought she had a vein looks just like one leading from juat under thumb side of palm to right near the inner side (part where arm touches ur body) right before elbowe. Everytime she uses that one its kinda burns how would she know that she hit an artery besides burning… No swelling or serious pain… Really no pai. Until afterward and only slight burning sensation. Helpppp… No veinsss!!
ewrewrerwer
/ December 26, 2016shooting cocaine is probably the dumbest thing you could do out of any drug. because cocaine is cut with that worst kinda of cuts you can use.
, but coke, can be cut wiht baking soda, laxative, laudry detergent, lidocaine…that shit is horrid on your body.
wendy presley
/ August 3, 2016I used the inside palm of my hand 4 tek. 2 days later I wake up and my hand is so swollen and tender and burns non stop. I have sum antibiotics. Dies anyone know a home remedy to get this pain to subside and make the swelln go away
Missy
/ July 25, 2016I shoot up subutex been using this area and couple times it’s in the palm of my hand. The lower part where my wrist and hand meet its looks like the blood is rising to the surface and there a blister in therror middle of it. Please help can’t go to the doctor with this and if my partner finds out the resonance where done please help thanks
Erin
/ August 1, 2016Missy -it does sound like you may have an abscess – remember in the hands there is nowhere for all the infectious material to drain so its more likely to turn into a big mess that can damage nerves -sometimes permanently. You must go to the doctor – it will be a lot worse if you dont. Believe me – if you go now you might only need a course of antibiotics – if you wait though, you will end up needing it drained and a big scar left behind for you boyfriend to really inquire about! Are you filtering your subbies as well as you could be? Have you ever looked into buying WHEEL FILTERS? Have a look at this clip about them – they are filters for pill injectors -to get all of the shit out of the mix so you inject clear solution. They are expensive to buy at about £0.80p each but some countries will stock them in the needle exchange. If you are regularly shooting pills – for godssake – get some wheel filters and save your hands and limbs. Good luck and see that doctor ok?! BP x
Vanessa
/ July 23, 2016How long does it take for the swelling to go down after hitting an artery
Erin
/ August 1, 2016I think it can vary a bit Vanessa so I dont really have an answer for that one, other than -if there isnt any other damage thats been done then it seems that most of the swelling goes down in the first 24hours but the hand/foot will remain slightly swollen and sore for days, and you may bruise a fabulous shade of purple.
claaudiaxoblog
/ August 20, 2016URGENT!!!!After shooting in the same spot repeatedly my arm starts to swell up bad it doesn’t hurt but it swollen & I can’t put it straight there’s no signs of infecting well not that I know of but its bruised & swollen & its been like this for a couple days…
mike
/ July 3, 2016i didnt really feel amiss but probably did to the top nof my right wrist,, hours later it hurts like hell and i cant really move it. well i cant move it soo painful ive read what i might have done to it but what can i do to make this go away? hot or cold compression. its only been hurting me for a few hours. will the pain go away buy tomorrow or should i just go straight to the er tonight? what are they going to do for me that i cant do. it was meth or dilidid im not sure, its been a long couple of days. please help ppplllleeeeaaaasssseeee help am i at risk of losing my hand ore wrist mobility.. URGENT URGENT
kathy
/ June 30, 2016I stuck the needle in my wrist and automatic got pain and didn’t do anything further but my wrist and round my wrist is swollen and hurts and it’s been 3days what do u suggest I do I don’t like going to dr. Because of the way they treat you I prefer to try and do what I can first this is kinda urgent I start a job in 2 days and I would like to be there
Rajiv Soni
/ June 19, 2016I just wanted to ask a question relating to my own hand problem.Actually I had used a glucose drip for about 3-4 days as I was in hospital for a treatment.The nurses changed the drip from one hand to another as sometimes they noticed swelling over the hand.And now it’s been a month since it happened but I think a vein (Cephalic vein) of my left hand is swelled from some parts (from the hand and from the elbow).
What should I do in this case?Should I go to a doctor and get some treatment or it is a normal thing?
Terrible pain
/ June 15, 2016URGENT I injected meth into my arm the cephalic vein, it was a slight miss but stopped and then moved and then shot. However 24 hrs after had slight lump and bad pain when moving arm but not when relaxed. Now today the pain is there still the same but not I can hear a crinkling sound and feel it in my arm near site of injection and it has me worried is this normal? There’s not any discoloration or redness and there’s no liquid or fluids built up so I’m at a loss as to what I need to do and don’t or can’t go to ER for something that doesn’t really need to. Also it’s been 4 days
xoambernicole
/ June 2, 2016What vein is in your lower arm / wrist area? Where you feel your pulse.. I injected there and it shot pain throughout my hand.. Help?!
Jana Davis
/ May 31, 2016I shoot meth in the underside of my wrist right in the middle then and now my tip of my thumb is kind of numb the tip of my pointer finger is getting Dumber tip of my middle finger isn’t too bad and my pinky finger is completely numb and tingly not sure if it was from that or from being tweaked and sitting Indian style for probably 8 hours color I’m pushing hard on the colored pencil also using that hand just want to know if it’s going to go away or did I really damage myself and it’s going to stay like this forever because it’s so annoying I’m trying everything I can to make the tingling stop the best thing I found is pressure and heat not sure what to do about it please help
Big ricc
/ May 26, 2016I missed an injection in my foot now it’s swollen and hurts to walk on and move toes.
Ashleigh
/ May 25, 2016I shot coke last night. I went in the back of my hand.i missed even though I registered blood.its swollen and hurts terribly.what do I need to do?
Becca
/ May 12, 2016I missed near my wrist,and it’s been swollen hard and red since friday (5 days ago) it’s very tender. How long until it goes away???? I’m so worried.
jennifer1976
/ May 7, 2016I have been injecting in my hands for about 3 months they are so swollen warm red and hurt to touch something or to open a bottle of water.I have appointment to see a hand specialist but I am so embrass to even have him to look at them. They are bruised and so ugly. I was on antbotics but that didn’t work. Can u please help me. I don’t want to have my hands cut off. This is the only spot I can inject her I on into.I am always going to detox very soon and try it again.
Mike
/ July 27, 2016I understand the embarrassment. Been there many times. But trust me when I say that you will feel so relieved once you actually get checked out and the embarrassment will go away immediately. Heroin use has become such an epidemic that the stigma is practically gone when it comes to seeking medical help. Be honest with your physician and not only about your use but also if you feel like you are being judged or receiving inadequate care. If it comes down to it, request to see a different Dr. While this reply is 2 months late, I’m sure there are more people in your position that hopefully find this helpful. Just because antibiotics didn’t help, doesn’t mean that you don’t have an infection and need urgent medical care. Oral antibiotics may not be strong enough to get the infection under control. I had severe cellulitis and almost lost my hand. Thankfully, I went to the ER and after 6 weeks of IV antibiotics, I am back to normal besides a huge scar where they drained it. Had I waited any longer, I would have most likely gone septic and things could have been A LOT worse. Time is of the essence in these situations so PLEASE, if you find yourself in a similar situation, brush your pride and nervousness aside and get help ASAP. IV drug users deserve to be treated like everyone else and nowadays are increasingly being so.
Erin
/ August 1, 2016Well said Mike, thanks for that comment BPx
Stuart lilley
/ May 1, 2016Hi, I was a heroin/crack user for 20yrs, injected both into my wrist area and hands on a frequent basis. I’ve been clean for 7yrs now. Latley, I’ve been getting an excruciating sharp and tight pain around my wrist, thumb area, also losing grip and strength. Anyone got any ideas? Do I need to go c a doctor?
Cat
/ July 16, 2016Yes you do need to see a doctor. I had similar and ended up having two operations. The blood had stopped flowing into the area that makes your thumb work. I had a pain followed by being unable to use my thumb. Since the ops it’s better but I still find opening jars a nightmare.
derek
/ May 1, 2016e been shooting dope for 15 years now the only veins i have r in my in my hands everytime I hit themI don’t miss but it will go up to my forearmturn bright red and burn
Mike
/ July 27, 2016Sounds like you’re hitting an artery. Be careful. Things can go south REAL quick.
Elizabeth
/ April 2, 2016I keep swelling, my skin is so tight , and I’m afraid I messed up my hand for ever. What do I do besides going to the hospital?
Elizabeth
/ April 2, 2016I think I shot up in a tendon in my wrist ,cause my hand is swollen to the point of not being able to make a fist. My skin is stretched to the max.
Amber
/ May 26, 2016Hi Elizabeth! Im sorry to hear about your hand!. I hope its doing better now im sure it is being that was almost 2 months ago though. But Im messaging you because that same thing just happened to my friend. She injected into her wrist and believes to have hit a tendon. Its swelling, painful and she can’t make a fist. She’s works with her hands and wondering if this is something that needs to be seen by a doctor for or will go away on its own. And if so anything you did to help/ relieve the pain? Thanks for any advice!
Estrella
/ March 15, 2016I injected suboxone into the top of ny index finger. My fingers are now going numb and turning purple. I have hit on the same area before. I know I shouldn’t and never will again. But what can I do?
Erin
/ March 23, 2016Oh dear! Im sorry to get back late – I daresay you have probably already been to the doctor? The fact that your finger/s was numb is concerning – that means the blood isnt getting to it -If the purple bruising continues and darkens further you MUST get to the Dr asap or risk losing a finger! It sounds like you either hit an artery -remmeber you have one in every finger -have a look at where the arteries lie in fingers -basically they are up the inside and outside of each finger but you have tiny veins too, so if a teeny vein gets blocked by a sediment of a pill, it could cause the finger to start to loose blood supply -have a look here – http://www.wesnorman.com/lesson5artofhand.htm Just keep a very close eye -expect the numbness to come back in a couple of days -if it doesnt you MUST go see the dr, especially if thats accompanied by darkening and bruising and you finger/s are cold to the touch – blood supply means warmth -cold clammy fingers mean danger and get to the dr! Good luck my friend. PS – Have you ever heard about WHEEL FILTERS???? They are for the PILL INJECTOR and you can buy them online for around 80pence each (UK) you’ll want the 2.2cm Wheel Filters wheel filters_ you tube demo and buy them here – they are the ONLY way bar not injecting pills that will help stop sediment entering the veins from injecting pills -they filter everything out, even bacteria! read this too http://www.bluelight.org/vb/threads/481622-Micron-Filtering-Mega-Thread-and-FAQ -and buy them on ebay! Stop shooting pills but if you MUST do it – then you MUST have these filters! good luck friend, BPx
dali28
/ March 8, 2016thanks so much for the info.. and yes believe it may just be getting a nerve or artery. U guys r awesome. I love we can find info or just seeing other experiences without the criticism. Thnx and I soon hope I can quit shooting without DT’s. Pray 4 me!!! Thnx again
dali28
/ February 26, 2016Hello. I have a question. I see some people have asked but I believe they weren’t answered yet .. (I understand).. I hope u can reply. So I have been using IV drugs for about 4months now. I use subutex .. I recently noticed i’ll get a bight red blood and when I get it I assume a vein. However when I get it I notice (BTW IM DOING IT IN UPPER ARM) it sends a very warm burning almost tingling feeling especially running Towards my hand.. afterwards it seems my hand swells a little and gets (mostly the fingers) and almost a blah feel like tingling, I guess… it doesn’t do this in the same spot when I get dark blood just brighter blood. What does this mean? Thank you and I’ve always wanted the answer but seems people always say missing but it doesn’t hurt at all near the site.
Erin
/ February 27, 2016Hi, It is difficult to know but it sounds like you possibly COULD be just nicking an artery when you inject there. Normally you get a huge amount of pain when hitting an artery, or a fright, or the blood will shoot back in the syringe very fast. But when you say you get a tingling that goes DOWN from where you inject to the hand, then the hand swells a little….Its really hard to say, is it possible you could be injecting anywhere near an artery deep nerve? Does it happen EVERY time you use there -when you are SURE you havent missed the hit? You could be getting the same or similar response from missing your hit. Thats possible to Id say (but we are not medics please remember that). But think if you are injecting where an artery could be. Is it deep in your arm? It is always better to stay shallow re veins. But it sounds like you might be just very very slightly, nicking or touching, an artery. Stop doing it there -move slightly -dont go so deep, stay shallow. Hope that helps! BPx
Dana
/ February 29, 2016Dali28…. The bright blood and yukky tingly feeling shooting down ur arm/body means your hitting an artery.. I often accidentally do this in the upper arm. Most people would say to pull out and try to hit the vein again but I just make sure to push in extra slow and apply pressure to the injection site afterwards..I’ve been doing suboxon for almost 2 years.. U should look up about injecting in an artery vs a vein tho if u don’t know the difference bc it’s safer to hit a vein and the vein walls are thinner so it’s less painful.. And remember to rotate and always always be safe 😄
Erin
/ March 9, 2016Hi Dana/Mike; I just wanted to make sure you meant that you actually werent injecting into an artery? If you ever, I mean EVER think you have hit an artery, or even nicked it -Take the needle out straight away and apply pressure. There is NO POINT trying to hit an artery -it takes blood AWAY from the heart to the limbs and the end of the limbs -like your hands and feet -and is then fed out into the capillaries and then oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and wastes are exchanged. This is basically why if you hit an artery and manage to inject even the TINIEST bit of substance into it -it has nowhere to go but get stuck at the hand or foot (depending what vein is used) and you have to pray to God that it manages to disperse into the surrounding tissues -which is hard considering the capillaries are only one blood cell wide! It just that I wasnt 100% clear on your reply, thinking you might have said that sometimes if you think you might have hit an artery, you dont pull out but just go really slow. To be fair, arterial injection is EXTREMELY painful so you would not be able to inject into it without hitting the roof either during it -or straight afterwards! Nightmare! Remember -stay away from ANYTHING WITH A PULSE! good luck and thanks for your reply.
BeBe
/ November 19, 2017I have been using for 16+ years. I am on SUBS now and I do shoot them. My husband and I both use the artery in our neck… It does not cause the kind of pain so many ppl describe, but I know other ppl who go in the same place and it doesn’t cause that kinda pain either… Some, yes. But not a 10+….
But I do also know how dangerous it is to inject into any artery being I have injected in arteries in hands/fingers and that was serious pain and swelling both! In fact my husband hit his hand several days ago and it is so swollen he can’t even make a flippin fist and had to miss work on Friday!! Hopefully he won’t go there anymore as I have been telling him for a year not to, but as a “last resort” he does anyways and this is always the outcome…
Idk why hitting this artery in our necks doesn’t hurt us in the same way as others but it doesn’t…
This is NOT a place I recommend anyone to ever go though!!
Katie
/ January 27, 2016I believe my mom is using drugs. If she is shooting up in her hand is it a possibility that she would get a wound/assess on her knuckle? And what do they look like? Hers almost looks like a burn, it’s red and discolored. Is there a difference between a meth wound and a heroine wound? Thank you
Chelse
/ January 23, 2016Urgent**
Hello, my hand is swollen, red, and hot after I injected with the yellow insulin syringe to my hand it’s causing the symptoms of an infection. Is this possible?
Thanks so much. Please reply. I’m scared to death!!
Meg
/ December 21, 2015Hi. I’ve just experienced three days of drug use. it’s been 6 years since I had a hug binge like that. It really helped to read your page and know that I’m not alone. I had some the first day and due to my anxiety I just lock myself away hoping no one comes over. Last night I picked all night. They will heal amd I will have more scars to feel ashamed of every day I wake up and I’ll find my way of working past that point everyday.
My concern is that I I have never followed the stringent sterile use of needles. As in I don’t prep my skin. I’ll be picking and not carefully wash before sshooting again. I’ll make 20 attempts with the same needle and i re use my own needles. I have this horrible feeling that means I will die from a blood disease. if I have caused bacteria in my blood stream how will I know and what happens from it.
.
Frank
/ February 14, 2020URGENT! URGENT! I hope you still answer on here. I was using in my hands for some time now. I ruined all veins ontop of my hand and fingers so I found a couple spots on palm of hand. I missed shot of subutex in left and right hands both on the palms. Now I’ve had misses before and cellulitis and abscesses. These feel different they are just red circular spots the skin feels weird like almost like real sensitive. When I touch it my finger feels like sandpaper to the spot. With some deeper tissue pain but not bad at all. It’s been 4 days now and they haven’t gotten any worse or any better. I’ve hit artery before I don’t think that’s the problem. I’m scared because I’ve never seen it before and I can’t find any information. I think maybe I injected and missed so I pulled out and got blood but was almost injecting between layers of skin? Any help would be great.
Tera
/ December 14, 2015I injected suboxen in the back of my hand yesterday and immediately afterwards a little knot formed. I expected this because I felt like what I thought was a miss at the very end of pushing the meds thru. However, a few hours later the little knit had turned into a swelled and puffy hand. The entire back of my hand is swollen up to the knuckles but none of my fingers are swollen. The swelling has went down a little and it doesn’t hurt but I can feel the circulation is off in my hand. I’m not sure what’s going on or how to handle this. I have some antibiotics. Do you think that would help? Can you give me some tips on how to bring the swelling down?
Erin
/ December 14, 2015Hi Tera, We have just massively updated our page on abscesses -and it talks about both sterile and infected abscesses -yours could be sterile, which basically means your body has isolated it and is slowly dealing with the foreign tissue / bacteria by encircling it and sealing it up, then sending white blood cells and other stuff to break down the stuff inside ‘the zone’. So in your case that is a missed hit of liquid and sediment from the tablet the irritation surrounding the area is from your body trying to break the stuff at the site down, and its become an irritation causing infklamation. This could mean it might become an abscess. Its important to keep a very close eye on things now -and look at the abscess page. Also try using the hot and cold compress idea -on the abscess page – for reducing swelling. Remember we are not doctors -any sign of redness, heat and pain mean you have an abscess and should go to the doctors as hands are one of the worst places to get an abscess. (Tablets are bad idea Tera -but see if you can buy WHEEL FILTERS online; esp sold in Australia, pharma medical supply stores -they are literally PILL FILTERS – they filter out sediment and bacteria and are a MUST HAVE for any pill injector. See http://www.aivl.org.au for info on them. Good luck.
Danielle
/ December 9, 2015Hey guys I have an issue here and searched all over online and still can’t find some good answers. I’ve been using the vein on the crook do my arm… Towards the outside… On each arm. So I’ve only been rotating between these two and they are both hard and I can’t hit them anymore. I tried hitting my hand and a big lump appeared which I assume will go away soon like it did once before. My veins are really small and I can’t see any vein besides the ones on the back of my hands and the one on the crook of my arm towards the outside. Does anyone have any opinions on where I can hit? I’m trying to ween myself off as I just got a new job and tried cold turkey and almost quit my job halfway through the day because the withdrawals were so bad. I just need a couple safe options and maybe some good direction on where to find a safe vein. I tried to do on the crook of my arms towards the inside but left huge massive bruises without registering. I just don’t know what to do and find myself freaking out with blood everywhere everytime I try to hit. Any advice would be helpful. I’m fairy small and my boyfriend has bulging veins everywhere and can rotate between 6 veins while I sit here with two dead veins and no options or direction. Please help. If anyone could even email me and help me through this… I would appreciate it.
Erin
/ December 10, 2015Hi Danielle, I will answer your question over the day or so -but we have massively updated this hand injecting page, so give it another look -there are some good images of veins here and there is good text on really preparing, finding and injecting your drugs, in the best possible way -there should be some new things to learn in there -it is very comprehensive and heavily researched to ensure we are saying any rubbish! I understand your grief and distress, it is truly upsetting -I will reply to you shortly. Speak soon, BPx
Erin
/ December 11, 2015Hi Danielle, well there are some things you can do that will help and having a good slow read through this article will help you as well, as I am sure there will be something in this piece that will help you improve your injecting. Females do indeed have a harder time than guys (not fair!) and we can get quite distressed because it ‘appears’ we have no veins. But there are several things you could do to help things along: You need to get used to 1) being hydrated beforehand -plenty of water (being asleep for hours on end can also leave you dehydrated when you wake up and try to have a hit. Keep your water up and leave a bottle by your bed and in your car etc. 2) warm up all your veins; do this by literally having a warm shower, warm, relaxing bath -really chill out in there in lovely hot water (not too hot obviously or it makes the veins disappear) and after 5 mins just out, wrap up in a towel and have your fix. An extension of this is exercise: (if you really cant get a hit) exercising before a fix can be surprisingly helpful (athletes don’t have spaghetti veins for nothing! If you got a litre of milk in each hand, or a 3-5 kilo book in each hand -something that provides some weight without being stupid, and do lifts: 15 then rest for 1 mins, 15 then rest for 1 min, etc. Then – no 3 comes into play -ie -a warm to hot flannel over the arms or hands or wherever you are going to keep all your main potential sites warm and ready until while you look for that place to inject. 4) Lastly -but almost most importantly -the tourniquet. Read the info above about tourniquets (also in Bad habits Vs Good habits) and stick to it religiously. Sooo many peeps pull the tourniquet too tight -literally as their hand looses colour, gets sore etc -some even inject while the tourni is still pulled tight! It MUST only be a squeeze -a colleague describes it as the force you would use on a child if you had to pull it across the road quickly. A firm squeeze -using material that is an inch wide (so it doesnt dig in and cut off supply to the artery) -like a mans tie. An American user group advocates the inner tube of a small pushbike -its really soft, washable, easy to fold, pull, release quickly etc. I like this idea personally. Let me know how it goes if you decide to use one?! Lastly -a brand new sharp, sterile syringe is a MUST, for hard to find veins. Re sites -if you still cant find any after all this, look round the back of your arm. It is harder to reach but we are all creative so you may find a good spot thats comfortable or your boyfriend can help you. Remember though -always aim the syringe towards the heart -never towards the hand. There are also some veins you can use around your knee and thigh area -again, operate as you would your hand, and always go slowly -that is crucial -your blood is trying to be pushed back up the leg towards the heart all by itself, so gently does it -and always towards the heart -NOT down towards the foot. Legs and feet can be used -they are delicate however so you must ROTATE and ROTATE. Have a form where you start at 12.00 and move around your sites clockwise -that way you know how often you are using your sites and one site doesn’t get overused. Ok, nuff said, I am just about to upload part 1 of several parts about the circulatory system -images of our veins and arteries and nerves in each part of our body, in detailed drawings, photos, slides, videos etc. To help us all understand better what goes on in the train-tracks we use to shoot drugs into! OK, write back if you get stuck or have other queries and I know other readers will help you out as well. Good luck Danielle, please be careful, gentle and good to yourself. And please both read our overdose section so you are prepared in an emergency (practice with your partner or see if your local needle exchange has workshops) and while you are there ask them about Naloxone -the injection being given to users across the world now to use in an opiate overdose situation: just like the paramedics have used all these years -now we get to have it at home -so ask, ask, and if you get a no -ask why not?! Ciao Danielle! BP x
Danielle88
/ May 24, 2016Erin,
When I was reading.your post above I noticed you said how after you register you shouldn’t inject until you undo the tourniqut… now obviously being an iv user for over 10years I have heard this before.. but because my veins are so so bad I can’t register unless the tourniqut is tied extremely tight and I can’t untie it until after I hit..(I have untied it before and lost the spot) any suggestions for someone who has lost pretty much every vein in their arms, hands, thighs? And I know it’s pretty bad not to untie the tourniqut but I’m not sure what to do at this point..
Danielle88
Eric
/ August 2, 2016My friend just injected heroine in the top of his wrist hand and missed suddenly his hand started burning sensation while stinging he said and fluid moving across his whole hand then hand thumb and index finger going numb and swelling what does he do it’s been a couple hours and nothing has changed should He see a doctor like I told him too or use that naloxine he has I told him to put it under warm water and salt and coconut oil but he keep freaking out should he go to the ER
Erin
/ August 2, 2016Hi -thanks for your email – to be honest it sounds a bit like he might have nicked an artery. There is a big artery that goes up the thumb side of the wrist – can you feel the pulse there? Was that where he had the hit? Usually an artery hit will feel like an electric shock followed by burning heat spreading across the area, followed by throbbing and swelling and numbness – sounds like your buddy doesnt it? If thats the case there isnt much he can do at this stage. Here is some useful text I found:
It is likely that a bruise will appear after you have nicked / hit an artery. The bruise may look dramatic and some people can find this worrying, especially if it appears away from the injection area. Bruises will disappear with time but this may take several weeks. It is normal for bruises to spread out before fading. If you do experience a bruise the following advice may help during the first 36 hours after the bruise appeared.
Treat your bruise like this:
Rest – allow time for the bruise to heal. Protect the bruise by avoiding heavy lifting, e.g. at the gym or carrying heavy shopping, and only light, gentle movement is recommended. After 36 hours return to normal activity.
Ice – do not place directly on the skin but under a cloth.
Compression – pressing on the point where the needle was inserted when a bruise has appeared may reduce the size of the bruise which is forming.
Elevation – if possible, raise your arm above the level of your heart when at rest.
If you require pain relief take paracetamol (according to manufacturer’s instructions) but avoid aspirin and ibuprofen for the first 24 hours.
After 36 hours contrast bathing may help reduce any swelling. This requires putting a cold cloth on the affected area for 10 minutes followed by a warm cloth for 10 minutes and repeating this several times, ending with a cold cloth.
Follow this advice and you should be ok – but stay away from the wrist area – its dodgy -or avoid the thumb side of the wrist at least. NEVER use a big needle here or go deep as you could damage a nerve which can fuck up your hand function!!! Look at the 3d vein and artery images to check where approx they lie and avoid the area! Hitting arterys is extremely painful and can be very dangerous. Good luck friends, BPx
J
/ November 28, 2015Will the nerve on the wrist heal it feels like a zap to my thumb abd worries me? Lease lmk what u think swim is using methadone.
Kerri
/ November 25, 2015URGENT!! I did a fairly large shot of coke on side of my hand near the wrist, yes it was a miss and it was numb and all those things, but it’s like 7 hrs later and I can barely turn my wrist, I’m used to stuff like this happening but not for this long, my fingers still bend and it’s not even too swollen I just can’t turn it? What’s that about? Is it going to fall off? Of get that weird blood disease shooters get from shooting? I don’t have insurance so unless u say er I feel stupid for going, and here’s the kicker I am a hair designer, thanks for listening and pleeeeeeeeeease help
J
/ November 28, 2015Apply pressure is it a nerve?
Erin
/ November 28, 2015Dammit -I just answered this in a large comment but accidentally deleted it! Grr! But -please remember -we are NOT medically trained -just long term students of harm reduction and health issues as they affect people who use drugs… -Ok, so that aside, it sounds like you have inflammation and irritation that comes from a missed hit -especially when its in an area where there is not much fat or skin to absorb the liquid. So it is going to swell, feel inflamed because its a foreign substance under there, and hurt. It will probably go down -in fact if everything goes normally, it will go down. But as ever with your hands, it is Don’t faff about -as a hair designer your hands are your life -so don’t take any risks. I hope it all goes well. PS -make sure you look at where the arteries in the hand lie because there is a main artery in the wrist and a huge nerve -damaging either could be disastrous. -The wrist is a dangerous place so check out a few charts on vein and artery positions and be really careful -never use anything other than a one ml syringe for hands. Take good care! BP
Erin
/ December 10, 2015Hi again Kerri -I forgot to add -make sure to have a look at our newly updated abscess page -and, may as well come back to our massively updated hand injecting section too! Just finished it this evening!
Sam
/ November 14, 2015Yesterday i have had a deep cut on my arm, below my wrist. The cut seems small but maybe deep, im worried if it have damaged my nerves as i could lose sense in my fingers. Doctor checked pulse of each of my finger it showed 98. My fingers are functioning normally right now . is there any chance i could develop major nerve injury later?
Erin
/ December 1, 2015dude, im no doctor -please dont ask me a question like that -i can only give harm reduction advice, okay? good luck, best thing is you went to the dr, sounds like you avoided any long term problems. But ask the doc ok?
Mosetsanagape
/ November 11, 2015I was being at the clinic and taken the blood test at my left hand side vein.after few minutes it was paining and day blue and reddish now it is painful again.What I want to know is that,can be any chances that it is broken or hurt?
Amandaee
/ November 8, 2015How do I ask a new question ,I did a shot in my thumb on the inside *palm side like right above the top knuckle on th side closer to my ring finger now it’s numb and blotchy kind of usually itz fine. In the the rest of my fingers but my thumb is swelling up, I’ve hit a artery before and it made my hand really hot right away and swell and had re d spots all over my hand and it was super painful but this is different so is don’t know what happend
Xaviar Trautwein
/ November 6, 2015Thank you for the response. The swelling went down and the bruising is subsiding. I’ll keep a eye on it. Thanks again!
JuliaURGENT
/ November 4, 2015URGENT URGENT
I shot into my hand last night around 10:30pm and everything went normally until I finished the shot when it felt like my hand was on fire. My hand almost immediately swell up to twice its normal size. I ran it under hot water and spent the next 2 hours massaging it under hot water or with it wrapped in a heating pad. I have been alternating between heat and cold packs on the hand. It is now 1pm the following day. My fingers are back to normal size and the swelling overall has gone down but the main part of my hand is still considerably swollen, sore, and slightly warmer than usual. I believe that I hit an artery however there wasn’t a lot of bleeding, actually, there was less blood than normal. How should I proceed? Should I go to the urgent care and request antibiotics? I have prednisone, should I start taking that to bring down the inflammation? PLEASE reply ASAP
Erin
/ November 6, 2015Hi Julia,
Well done you! Yes it all sounds textbook for an artery hit -and a text book recovery so well done! Your right though, there should have been more bleeding than with a vein after you took the needle out, but are you a long time injector? It may be possible that your blood is a little thicker or more viscous -I’m no doctor remember but I would have thought that you would have seen a bit of extra blood leaking out after you withdrew the needle. However -all the signs you have reported sound like classic artery hit -but it seems like it is going down -and it WILL be painful for a few days for sure -you just want to make sure the pain is not increasing in any way and there isn’t any heat remaining. This should be slowly subsiding if all’s going well. This can also depend on what you injected. Re the Prednisone -again, we are not doctors here -but I did look around the web for you about this cortico-steroid -while it is used as an anti-inflammatory -when one compares its use for swelling with using Ibuprofen (iso-butyl-propanoic-phenolic acid) which is a is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) -it appears that Ibuprofen would be the recommended choice; its safer in the scheme of things and I couldn’t find anything to suggest that Prednisolone would be a better choice. Nice work though -I liked your hot and cold compress idea -as this is a bit of a confusion area -but the hot and cold compress is a recommended way to deal with the early stages of abscess -when one is trying to get the skin to do all the work and reabsorb body liquids into the tissue and prevent swelling. I would be interested why you thought the hot and cold compress was best suited, as, before I would have said warm compress, but then sometimes cold, like a bag of frozen peas, has been said to be useful for swelling as well -perhaps though, not for the ‘injected liquid’ kind of issue? Interested to know your thoughtful views Julia, thanks again! and best of luck of course! BP x
Xaviar Trautwein
/ November 4, 2015Hi ERGENT!! ERGENT!! I shot into my right arm I went threw the artery. My biceps started to fill with blood and brusing. Is bad. I’m not sure if it stop. I think it has and the bruising has subsided. But I’m new to this. Please help. I can’t go to dr for abvious reason..
Erin
/ November 6, 2015Hi Xavier – Well, by what you have said -the large amount of bruising of your bicep -it sounds like you might have just touched on an artery or – just nicked it. If you injected anything in the artery -it would have been very PAINFUL -like an electric shot or red hot poker!! As soon as you begin to push the needle in you will feel extreme pain -did that happen? If yes -then you will experience swelling (but this should be in your hand though as artery’s take blood AWAY from the heart -not like a vein which takes it TO the heart). If this is the case all you can do is wait for the swelling to go away but pay VERY close attention to the area – any heat on area, or pain that gets worse, or deep blackness that starts creeping outwards or on any fingers, or any areas where you cannot feel your skin or fingers etc – THEN you MUST get help as things are turning serious -gangrene can result form a bad artery hit watch closely over the next 24 -48 hours -that will tell you what is happening. IF -it is only your bicep that is bruised -then it may be just a case of a missed hit -in which case you should just keep an eye on it, and wait for the sswelling to go down. BUT – make sure you read our update on abscesses -you can have a sterile abscess from injecting an insoluble substance -or an infected on -you will need to watch the whole are /injecting site to what it does over the next few days. Remember though – anything like extreme pain or you feeling physically sick or feverish, or any loss of feeling -get straight down to the doctors -OR -go and see a nice pharmacist/chemist -they can be very helpful at times like this and should be able to tell you straight away whether you need a doctor. Go to one out of the area if you are worried about being identified! Good luck Xavier! BP x
Candy
/ November 2, 2015I have a few questions, when injection herion into me and after there’s white blotches all over wat does tat mean?? I was TD it means tat its very good dope is tat true??
Erin
/ November 6, 2015It sounds like it was from either your tourniquet being left on too long, or an irritation from something in the heroin -white blotches is NOT, I repeat NOT indicative of good heroin! More like the opposite Im afraid – don’t buy it from the same dude again, is the best advice.
Matthew
/ November 1, 2015My hands have swolen to hell after injection in my hand
Austin shad
/ October 31, 2015I injected black tar heroin into my left hand and it’s now very swollen and red and skin is cracking there is no sign of abcess bubble or puss that I can see but it’s painful when I try and close it. It’s been three days and the swelling hasn’t gone down but hasn’t gotten any bigger either. I also notice my knuckles are swollen as well. What could this be ? Please help URGENT
Erin
/ November 6, 2015Hiya, please have a look at our major update on abscesses -hands are very dangerous places for any kind of lumps and swellings -and peeling skin or cracking skin sounds like you did some damage in there -please read our update and decide from there – I would say if there is any pain or heat – get to a doctor straight away -you cant fuck about with bad injections in the hand area. Good luck my friend, BP-https://blackpoppymag.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/abscesses-a-major-update/
Venus
/ October 28, 2015I’ve shot in my hands for awhile there are times the stuff is to thike and it will swell skittle and go down but this time it is acting more like a miss were is swells up and hurts alittle Know it’s clean and no infection so what can I do to help the swelling and keep it from getting worse or infected.thanks bettyboopdooloop
Erin
/ November 6, 2015Hi -I know this is a little late but thought you might be interested in our updated abscess section which gives loads of new info on dealing with lumps under the skin!
kevin
/ September 20, 2015I am now going to snort anything I decide to do!!! fuck shooting up.. just be reading everyone post…. almost everyone in this chat forum.. we all suck!!! none of us can hit …. we all used to be able to find a good vein 3 years ago.. but now.. were all at that point in our addiction were our veins are destroyed.. and I prey for everyone to stop n get help
kevin
/ September 20, 2015hi guyS! 5 days ago I shot some h up into my wrist.. and of course I missed… I hit a artery.. my whole hand was swollen for 3 days… now all of the swelling is finnaly gone.. but the spot were I missed the shot… is still a red fire hot lump.. and it hurts I can barely use my hand..,. see im confused.. while even though the swelling on my hand has went down.. on my wrist were I missed.. is hurting.. I shot a lot into my artery… I was really high and I got mad shot my first shot.. missed.. then shot a whole second shot and missed. im not sure if both shots went into the artery but at least 1 did.. anyways. im scared to tell anyone but I don’t wanna loose my hand.. I suppose I will go to hospital in next few days if the paid don’t let up.. I used ice first 3 days and ib profen 800 for the swelling.. anyways guys.. I have given up injecting since this day.. I finally had something happen to me traumatic anuff to get me to stop!!!! damn I just hope it not too late and my hand will be ok!>.
Stefani
/ September 1, 2015I just did a shot of meth on my left wrist and I’m pretty sure I hit an artery. It didn’t hurt or burn its not swollen or red either but the miss on my forearm from a couple days ago is what has me worried. I didn’t feel the hit as much as it should have but I’m wondering if its because I hit an artery or the miss on my arm blocked it from circulating and thats why its red and swollen??? Are misses affected depending on what vein you choose or do they swell up after hitting anywhere below them?? If I would’ve hit above it would it prevents my old miss from swelling??
Alec
/ June 22, 2015I was trying to pry a sticky tape on a steel container using chef knife. Suddenly, the knife slip very fast and my palm near with middle fingers was plunged by knife that i’m using. I can see my blood bubbling and a thin white veins. The thin white veins are broken and it is very painful when I try to move my middle finger.. Did I just damage an important veins or it is just a painful sensation?? I didn’t go to clinic yet..
Deanna Lynch
/ May 7, 2015my hands have swollen for two years now, doctors don’t know what it is… I did it by shooting up. Is their any thing I can do to get the swelling down, please help its so shameful to me. I have not shoot up in my hands for way over a year. thank you
Renee
/ May 9, 2015Mine is going on 7 months. I think we permanently disfigured. Apparently damaging the veins causes it and there’s no way to reverse the damage.
Lisa
/ May 2, 2015for the first time tonight I used meth… I gave myself an injection in my wrist. I didn’t get high, but my two middle fingers are numb and I can’t feel them. My husband is freaking out. Should I be worried?
mike
/ April 27, 2015Help please I did a shot above my wrist and keep pulling plunger back and registered whole time right after between my thumb and index finger on left hand started burning and swelled up today is the second day since and has gotten much more swollen and hurts so bad. Can bairly move my thumb pain is 50/10 ugh what do I do I’ve tried to ice it an helps s little not much
Alex
/ April 5, 2015Hi i was using meth and I missed my vein on the top of my hand and i now have a big lump there and it’s very red should I be worried?
Abigail
/ April 4, 2015Yesterday I tried to shoot up for the very first time. I tried it in my left wrist where you can see the two veins a little clearly. I injected very little but I stopped and pulled out when I could tell it started to form what looked like under my skin. It’s been sore and today it is a little red. It is also a bit puffy. What do I do? I’m kind of freaking out. I’m never trying it again
Bill
/ March 24, 2015URGENT _ URGENT_ URGENT_URGENT_URGENT_ URGENT _ URGENT _ URGENT I injected subutex in pinky knuckle 7 days ago… At first nothing happened. Two days later the finger became cold…MUCH COLDER THAN THE REST OF MY FINGERS. Third day it started to turn white on the inside finger pad and become numb. Fourth day the pad of my finger became slightly wrinkly, like it was waterlogged. Now for the last two days it is different variations of purple or white depending on the temperature I keep it, It is also becoming slightly painful, the way a bad bruise would feel. There has not been any swelling at all, so that is not a symptom. I went to the hospital on the 5th day and the doctor wrote Junkie on the chart… the only thing on it besides the information i filled out at registry… so i left before being diagnosed. PLEASE HELP?!?
Erin
/ March 28, 2015Dear Bill, Im so sorry to hear whats happening! It must be frightening. But hang in there – now, you know we are not doctors but we have come across hundreds, even thousands of peoples injuries over the years and we always discuss these issues amongst us whenever it is possible. It actually sounds like you have done some damage by injecting the crushed subutex into a vein that perhaps was just too small and it could be that sediment from the tablet has blocked up the vein or capillaries somewhat. It was interesting you said there was no pain upon injection, so that usually would rule out an artery. The coldness and the whiteness of your little finger really does sound like lack of blood supply. Try and encourage your blood circulation by keeping warm, cut right back on your smoking (if you smoke) and massaging and exercise your finger where possible. However, it does warrent going back to the doctor. It is typical for drs to write ‘drug user’ on your notes, its fucked I know, and it often carries a lot of prejudice with it. You COULD go again to a dr and say, this was your first hit and feign ‘innocent syndrome’ so you at least dont get the bad attitude that comes with some drs treating ‘junkies’. If it is still white and the colour is not coming back – it is very important you go to the dr, as you could be losing blood supply to the finger which could have very bad consequences…Remember though, we are not drs here at BP, but it does sound like either blood supply is being lessened OR there was liquid from the hit which missed the vein and is, through being too much liquid in a small space, again preventing blood supply reaching the tips. Good luck. If the colour is coming back – you may have been very lucky and the sediment is moving about and dissolving. There are many sites about injecting subutex -the dangers and the safest way possible (there is no safe way to inject tablets). Do you filter? Do you have access to wheeel filters for pills? You can buy them online. https://drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140986 which is a discussion from other drug users. theres quite a few good ones out there. if you have any trouble finding info – please do get back to us and ill search out some sites for you – in the meantime – I think you really should get back to the doctors -remember, be really nice, polite, (im sure you are) but after many years as a ‘junkie’ you can get to know how to ‘engage’ with doctors. Its wrong but sometimes you have to work hard to get them on your side. It can be really worth doing. Dont ever tell them more than they need to know. But always try and make them understand and support you – look for their weak spot and try and make them conect with you. Its fucked I know – but its your heath that really needs protecting here. A shitty doctor is not going to help. good luck, BP xx
Lucy
/ February 27, 2015*URGENT*
Its been about a month now that someone tried to hit a vein in my wrist. My middle finger has since been going numb and extremely painful and tingly anytime I use my hand or touch my wrist against anything and even the smallest amount of pressure is applied. It is not going away and Im afraid to go see a doctor about it due to how it happened. I dont know what to do or if it will go away. Please help if possible. Im getting scared.
jade
/ February 19, 2015I shot up yesterday in the van that is between my ring finger and my pinky on my right hand and now it is so swollen I can’t even close my hand I need advice on what to do. I don’t want to have to go to the doctors unless it’s absolutely necessary. Is there any advice.
jade
/ February 20, 2015I did it on top of mu hand betweeqn my pinky knuckle and my ring finger knuckle. It hurts something bad and I can’t close my hand. It is red and swollen a lot. It Looks like I got into a fight and I punch something or someone.
Gabb
/ January 28, 2015So I injected in my left forearm. got red n was sore. redness went away lumps still there and still very sore. Tried my right arm missed again same thing redness not sore tho. So I tried my left again and where I missed the first time turned blue where the lump was.. what does that mean ? N it worried me so I stopped and then where I poked myself is also red n kind of poofy but no lump because I just pulled the needle out. My skin is kind of clammy now mabye just because it scared me a bit but idk what to do neither miss seems to be infected just sore.. any advice ??? I’d really appreciate it thanks
karen
/ January 19, 2015I’ve never been too successful using my hands but wrist works pretty good. I’m old school so I’m not up on the latest. When I went to prison I lost all my old peeps. I’d like to make friends who I could relate to on my level and vice versa. I’m 45, blond, with a pretty face, and a thick figure with some junk in the trunk (for a cracker!) Lol.
!pod
/ November 25, 2015U there?
Erzebet Bathory
/ January 6, 2015**URGENT** injected into my left thumb on top where those smaller 2 veins are that run across through to your haind. I had it in the vein the whole time & flagged multiple times while injecting. Blood was definitely rushing in every time. When I pulled it out, after fulling loosening my belt, it was like intense fire pain and my thumb is now swollen. It took a day for it to get this swollen and now it’s even made a third of my hand and palm swollen. Did i hit a nerve? Did I do something wrong? I used a once-used 1cc insulin syringe and was injecting subutex. This has happened once before but NOT to this degree. Please help me! I want to know how to help it dissipate! URGENT**
Boris Sirob
/ January 28, 2015This happened to me last night. The swelling has gone down, but fire is the only word to accurately describe the feeling. I wonder if it has to do with the type of dope. This stuff was some dirty smack, it was blueish purple, in fact. But thats my 2 cents, i’ll keep you posted to my progress.
vinnystax
/ September 30, 2015It sounds as if you may have blown out your vein. By not releasing the tie after registering (and before pushing/injecting the shot into your vein), you put massive loads of pressure onto your vein(s) which can result in what you had experienced that night. What you need to do is as follows: Proceed as you normally do through the shooting routine until you are able to successfully register blood. At this point, you need to first remove the tie or whatever you are using as a tourniquet, then go forward with the actual injection process. A few tips I would suggest are as follows: First, when I register with a tie on, I generally will go ahead and push the needle a little deeper in (possibly even just slightly out of the actual vein, or “through” it), because of the fact that I know the vein will be most likely receding backwards just a tad once I release the pressure of the tie. Once you’ve released the tie, always be sure to re-register and make sure you are still properly inside the vein. If you use my method of pushing it a little extra in the forward direction and find that you are no longer registering once you remove the tie, just simply pull the needle backward toward where it was when you originally registered, taking care to move very slowly and pay incredibly close attention to when/if you are able to re-register successfully. It is very rare that you are unsuccessful in those types of scenarios. Once you’ve got the tie off and have re-registered, proceed with the shot as normal and enjoy happy and healthy veins that will last you about 100x longer while also never making you worry about having to deal with what you went through the night you made your post. I have been indulging for around 5 years and have never blown out a single vein, and I like to think its because I am a stickler for harm reduction techniques. Best of luck!
hopper
/ December 4, 2014I believe I shot in my artery it didn’t burn or anything until I got done injecting and then my thumb felt like it went up in flames. Now my thumb is swollen at the end above the first line I can still bend it somewhat no other fingers or anything is infected should I go to the er or will it go down after a while? I’m super freaked out.
hopper
/ December 4, 2014I mean no other finger are affected
stan
/ October 28, 2014I just shot maybe 10ml at the most, probably less, into an artery between my wrist & palm of my hand, i felt fire & instantly stopped but my hand & fingers has ballooned up so much i cannot come close to making a fist with my hand… i dont know if i should use heat to try to increase circulation or cold to reduce swelling.. barely any went into the artery so I dont understand how there is so much swelling.. how long should it take for swelling to go down? what should i do? ice or heat? or heat then iice or ice then heat? should i try to bend my fingers? hold it above my head or below my heart? try to take some blood thinners? i have never had this happen & am scared
Erin
/ October 31, 2014Hi! I hope we arent too late for you i cant see the date. Here is some excellent text from the terrific blog HEROIN HELPER and i hope it helps a bit (www.heroinhelper.com) http://www.heroinhelper.com/user/admin/avoiding_arteries_part_2.shtml
“Stop!
The moment you determine that you have injected into an artery, you should stop. If you have not flushed all of the contents of the syringe, stop flushing the syringe and remove it from the injection site. The less that is injected into the artery, the less damage will be done.
Ice It!
As soon as possible, the injection area should be iced. Since this limits the area to which heroin spreads, it will also limit the swelling of the tissue and the amount of tissue that is damaged.
Massage It!
Massaging the area that has been affected also can be helpful. This encourages the flow of toxins out of the tissue. The user must be careful, however. This should only be done as much and as intensely as is comfortable. It is possible to do further damage to the tissue. Don’t follow the philosophy, “No pain, no gain”!
Long-Term Care
After 24 hours, the swelling of affected area should have gone down substantially. It should be within 90% of normal. Even though the area will look much better, the user should still monitor it and treat it until the area is completely normal.
Ice? Heat?
Professional opinions differ regarding the long-term care of the swollen tissue from an arterial injection. Some say that the patient should continue to apply ice to the area. Others say that the patient should apply heat to the area. Still others say that the patient should alternate applications of heat and ice. All sources agree, however, that ice should be applied for the first 24 hours.
Massage
Massaging can also be used in the days following the arterial injection. The same precautions taken immediately following the injections should be taken later.
Cleaning
One thing should definitely be done: keep the area clean. How often the sufferer cleans the area will depend upon his environment and activities. It should be done at least once a day. This should be done gently with soap and water, under most circumstances.
If the wound is opened–this is called a fistula and is normally a sign of an infection–it should be rinsed with hydrogen peroxide. Sterile syringes work very well for this purpose.
Medical Attention
If after 24 hours, the swelling has not reduced substantially or it is still quite painful, the user should seek medical attention. The body responds quickly to a normal arterial injection. If it has not repaired itself within a day, it means something more is wrong that should be investigated.
Jacob
/ October 27, 2014I don’t think it’s urgent, but I injected in my hand and it’s SLIGHTLY inflamed but only in the upper left part of the back of my right hand. It has also restricted the movement of only my pointer finger. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I don’t know how worried to be or even the best way to take care of my hand right now.
Erin
/ October 31, 2014It sounds like it is a ‘missed hit’. It should just go down but it can depend on what was injected. If it continues to get redder, hot, sore and swollen, you will need to get treated at the docs im afraid – antibiotics…if it swells, is red but is NOT hot or sore, it could be coping itself and will go away in aat couple of weeks. if it is just an average missed hit which is a collection of fluid not infection, under the skin, that should be gone in a day or 2, sometimes in a couple of hours. Good luck with it! You could try ice to reduce swelling as well…(frozen peas are great) BPx
Nikki
/ December 2, 2014Frozen peas for a missed hit? I thought you were supposed to use hot compresses? Heat… not cold. No?
Renee
/ October 22, 2014I shoot up meth and it seems the only places I can go is my hand or neck. But my hands have about had it. Does any have any suggestion on where else I could go? Its so hard to hit me that no one wants to even try and when they do I either bruise or swells up even with it not missing at all. My friends say its not meant for me to shoot dope maybe there right and I hit my self today and I think I hit a artery and vein at the same time the blood was light at first then it got real dark when I pulled back to check a second time cause I had a pain and tingling feel for a second but it didnt hurt,After I pulled out the spot was hot and alittle red and swelled for like 10 mins. I dont know im kinda new at doing this by myself I only been shooting like a year
Kristina
/ September 2, 2014I’m worried one of my family members are using drugs intravenously . I keep finding wads of bloody toilet paper with blue substance. I’m curious what the blue color is. . .
Erin
/ September 4, 2014Dear Kristina,
Im sorry to hear about your concerns. It is very frightening when we think some we love is injecting. You didnt say what country you come from? sometimes that can make a big difference for us if we are trying to analyse what might be going on as some countries use different combinations, mixtures, different methods etc..Wads of bloody toilet paper with blue substance…what does the toilet paper and blood stain look like? Is it a very small blood stain like it might be over an injecting site? I cant think what bloody toilet paper -with blue on it could be…? GHB can be coloured but pople dont inject that so there shouldnt be blood on the same tissue. Could the blood be coming out of the nose? You might have to actually gently confront the person and ask them outright. You would have to think pretty fast to come up with an answer for what is blood plus blue stuff on loo paper. Ill go and ask our international list of INPUD colleagues as see if anyone knows what it might be. Ill get back to you as soon as I can, couple of days. Hang in there – at first glance it soundsmore like they might be using it on a sore or pimple or something then they also put iodine (i think that can be blue or yellow) on it or some chemist cream or liquid. That is all it might be. Ill get back to you but consider asking them, they maybe able to produce the blue cream or liquid and its all very innocent?back soon, BP
Erin
/ September 5, 2014Hi again, i have got quite a number of replies from very experienced user activists and noone seems to think it could be a drug. It would certainly serve best to gently ask the person if they have a health problem that is doing this and you are worried for them and could you help in any way? That would probably be your best option. we really dont think it is drug related. Are there lots of other worrying signs? If this is it then im sure it is all very innocent. good luck and do come back if your worried further. We dont suggest spying on your loved one in any way and it certainly wouldnt help a drug user – best advice is always a gentle chat offering lots of love and support BPx
Erin
/ February 17, 2021Thanks to our lovely readers who suggested it cud be oxycodone. In the UK we were yet to have them prescribed so it just wasn’t a thing that came to mind but…if u were living in the UK, I’d say our readers cud be right….not sure about the toilet paper guys tho, what do they use that for with oxys? Snorting and cleaning up the counter after?
Dexter
/ September 10, 2014If it’s light blue it could be the 30mg oxycodone pills.
Amanda
/ June 23, 2015Im pretty sure its probally roxy 30s n yes they r probally shoorubg them. Its a pain pill generic form is oxycodone like Percocet but no tylenol and thry are blue and very small in size….
kevin
/ September 20, 2015stop snooping.. if u dig 4 dirt u will find it!!! the blue is perk 30… btw
Brusher
/ May 27, 2014At the end of the day, you will lose an arm, a leg, a hand- there are no `good `ways to inject.
I was on snowballs ( speedballs for you USers) for 24 years; the veins become more blocked and broken, you use every type of needle, your habds look like boxing gloves and the only place to end up is in your groin.
Everyone i grew up with who had similar habit is either fucked up or dead.
The greatest junkie of them all was Keith Richards as he used the best gear and injected in the fat of his ass- as for his coke hit ???
Jack Bruce went our route and has fucked his body; so much so the Hep got him but he was lucky enough to get a liver transfusion.
Just say-`i would REALLY REALLY love to….but NO !`
Chris
/ April 25, 2014first time shooting I was told by some dumbass that the back of my hand was the best spot -__- my hand swelled up like a motherjumper last night when i shot it i assume I missed a shot but it substantially (sorry about my spelling) went down. Still have pain in my hand and my wrist it hurts a decent amount and really sucks balls URGENT
pamela torres
/ March 7, 2014I lost my left wrist and hand due to injecting into my artery.
It swelled, and died…I’m still in shock over it….
Stay away from the wrists
Ashley J Reeder
/ January 11, 2014When anyone misses a.shot i’ve used alcohol every time u think about your sore miss an in a few days after applying the alcohol on cotton ball every chance you get it seems to take the hottness, swelling, an big bump away.
Erin
/ March 20, 2014Without a doubt te 1st best thing is Hirudoid, in a cream and gel. Both contain heparinoid, which is a similar to heparin, the blood thinnner used to prevent blood clots. Hirodoid is used to improve circulation after bruising or soft tissue injuries such as injecting. Honestly, this stuff is THE BUSINESS for injecting bumps, swellings and redness. But remember, anything tat is hot to the touch is INFECTED! Alcohol will be good for removing any chance of an infection taking hold so its great to always swab the site BEFORE injecting, although the latest research says that it is better to use a tissue for AFTER the injection as alcohol slows down the clotting process -and thus, the healing of the site. But keeping anything clean if it slightly red and sore is a good idea but remmeber wit alcohol you are killing the good bacteria as well as the bad. Thans for writing in. BP x
Read more: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/skin-and-hair/medicines/hirudoid-cream.html#ixzz2wWGwvD3L
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summer
/ October 7, 2013I shot into my wrist in the artery where they check ur pulse my uand got so hot like 130 degrees what happend please respond
Erin
/ October 28, 2013Jeez, yes it truly is awful and one of the worst things about injecting; is it avoidable – yes it is. I would presume you were using a long spike? when going anywhere in the superficial veins one should really never use anything other than either a 1ml insulin syringe or, for guys or those with harder to find veins, a small orange -(25G x 16mm or 5/8 inch long). There is a few others inbetween these two, click this link for detailed list http://www.exchangesupplies.org/shopsect_needles_and_syringes.php and check out our page on injecting in hands for a look at vein and arterial issues.https://blackpoppymag.wordpress.com/a-z-of-health/injecting-in-the-hands/. Re your question tho, and i guess this wont help since this answer wasnt available to you immediately after you posted, but after 24hours most of the swelling should have gone down – now if it hasnt – then you definitely DO need to seek medical treatment. But if it should ever occur to you or a mate again -sources agree that ice should be applied immediately. Here is a nice quote from the Aussie user magazine NUAA; “Blood in veins travel to the heart and arterial blood travels away from it. So any particles in your mix go straight to your limbs and bodily extremities when you inject into an artery. These particles get stuck in your capillaries (which are tiny blood vessels little bigger than the size of blood cells), cutting off your circulation. Eventually, lack of blood flow causes the tissue to die….Instead of going to the brain receptors where they give you your buzz, opiates will react with the muscle tissue that the arteries are supplying. This causes swelling, redness and tissue damage. Eventually the opiates might find their way to the right receptors, but this could take hours if at all (ed-in other words, you definitely wont get stoned by injecting here although hours later you MIGHT realise you arent exactly sick)..The biggest long-term concern about injecting heroin into an artery, is that blood clots may form. Blood clots can stop the flow of oxygen to near-by tissue–causing the tissue to suffocate and die and this is why some people end up weeks later losing fingers or toes. Unfortunately pieces of a blood clot can break off and lodge in another more dangerous location like the brain, causing a stroke or lung, but if this happens -it mostly happens right there and then, just after the injection. So if someone hits an artery and soon collapses or feels very weird, DONT hesitate and ring an ambulance. Really hope your ok! Please check out venal charts -see where your arteries are located and where they are near veins so you avoid this happening. We will publish a page on it soon but here is an excellent website for info on this and other things: http://www.heroinhelper.com/user/admin/avoiding_arteries_part_2.shtml
Erin
/ October 28, 2013ps – im yet to find out why exactly it feels so damn hot when it happens. There is the theory that there is more pain receptorslinked to the artery than the vein, but why so hot? Anyone know the answer, please do write in! Thanks! BPx
forsakengoddess
/ March 25, 2013I missed on my finger & its really swollen,to the point its numb also blistering what do I do & how long will it stay this way?
louise
/ November 30, 2012How can my husband inject tight vain leftarm.